CONSTRUCTION AND LOOKS
This model is slightly higher than the previous one and doesn't quite have the same sleek good looks. The finish of the cooker body is brushed stainless steel which looks fine. The plain dull metal band at the top looks rather cheap and liable to marking - ours was marked even when new. The glass lid looks to be OK but the handle is more flimsy compared to the previous model even though it it larger. The overall shape is oval as is the cooking bowl which allows the cooking of whole chickens.Neither the lid nor the cooking bowl are
dishwasher safe which means they need to be hand washed. The unit is
supported well away from work surfaces on small legs which have non-slip
bases. Overall this slow cooker appears to well built although some
parts have a slightly flimsy feel to them.
SIZES AND CAPACITIES
We tested out the claimed capacity of 3 litres and this was correct. This is just about large enough for cooking a meal for four.The overall weight is 4.8kg with a pot weight which is average for a slow cooker of this type. The length of the electrical lead is 94cm which is more than long enough for most kitchen setups. The approximate dimensions are 22cm high, 32cm wide and 25cm deep, nothing surprising there either.
COOKING PERFORMANCE
For our practical cooking test we slow cooked two large lamb shanks and they cooked to perfection. We started the slow cooker off for an hour on high and then seven hours on low. So, no criticisms at all as far as the practical test was concerned.We then set the switch to high and the maximum temperature reached was 88°C which is ideal. See our article on slow cooker temperatures here. The keep warm setting gave a temperature of 74°C.
FEATURES
At a target price of £12 for a 3 litre slow cooker the Tesco SCSS12 is definitely in the budget range. At that price it's good therefore that they have included a red light which glows when the slow cooker is in use. There are also three heat settings, high, low and keep warm which again is good at this price. Neither the cooking pot nor the lid are dishwasher safe. The instructions are very basic covering only three pages and there are no suggested recipes.Energy consumption is slightly higher than the previous model, it is between 152 - 180 Watts which is still on the economical side although not the best anymore.
OTHER REVIEW OPINIONS
This article is probably the first major review of this slow cooker and there are currently no other meaningful reviews out there. However, the reliability and build quality of the previous model are very good so the expectation is that the new model will follow suit and last for many years.SUMMING UP
Low setting cooking | |
High setting cooking | |
Keep warm | |
How easy to use | |
Setting up | |
Cleaning | |
Build quality | |
Value for money | |
Overall rating |
Review by David Marks.