Everyone likes to eat tasty food, however, the taste of the food depends to a large extent on how it is cooked and the ingredients that are used.
Usually, spices are added to the food to improve its taste. If the food is cooked at a high temperature for a short time, some of the flavors are lost, and some of the flavors may not get absorbed in the food properly. Hence increasingly, cooks are opting to use slow cookers, which cook the food at a lower temperature for a longer time.
The Elite Gourmet MST900D Slow Cooker is one of the most popular slow cooker models available.
Design
The cooker has an aluminum body with a stainless steel brushed finish. The cooker has an oval-shaped ceramic crock-pot of size based on the capacity of the cooker. The largest crock-pot for this cooker type has a capacity of 2 quarts, making it sufficient for cooking a large chicken or turkey.
This slow cooker has a length of 16.34 inches, a width of 11.73 inches, and a height of 11.81 inches. The weight of the slow cooker is 14.55 pounds. The slow cooker is black so that it absorbs and retains heat better. It can be removed from the cooker after cooking to store the food in the refrigerator. The cooker has a heating unit made from brushed stainless steel for greater durability.
The glass-tempered lid of the cooker allows the user to check the condition of the food being cooked without removing the lid. It also helps to retain the moisture and flavor of the food. Like the handles of the cooker, the lid has a knob that is cool to touch, so that the user can safely remove the lid, remove the cooked food, or transport it from one place to another. The cooker conforms to UL safety and quality standards.
Electrical Parameters
The slow cooker is rated for a maximum power consumption of 280 watts, though the actual power consumption will depend on the settings of the cooker after it is switched on. Depending on the requirement of the cook, she or he can choose from different options like high, medium, or low, with power consumption being more for the high settings of the cooker. The crock-pot is designed for use with a 120-volt power supply and plugs used in the United States.
Display and Controls
The cooker has an adjustable timer and the time duration for cooking can be set to up to twenty hours depending on the type of dish being cooked. The LCD and controls are located on the stainless steel cooking base. The user can set the temperature as low, warm, or high depending on the cooking temperature required. A led is provided for each of the cooking modes. After setting the mode/temperature for cooking and time duration, the food will automatically get cooked for the time set, the user is free to do other activities.
Cleaning
The crock pot in the cooker can be easily removed after the cooking is over to clean it. Both the glass lid and the crock pot can be washed in a dishwasher. The heating unit of the crock pot can also be wiped with a moist cloth periodically to remove any dust or dirt, keeping it clean.
Options
The 8.5-quart crock pot is the largest size available. In addition to the silver-colored crock pot, the user can also choose from red, and metallic red, based on personal preferences and room décor.
Benefits
Increasingly people who like to eat tasty food, prefer to have their food slow-cooked since the flavors of the food are preserved when the food is cooked at a lower temperature. The nutritional value of the food is also retained since many of the nutrients may be lost at a high temperature.
Additionally, since the food is cooked for a longer time, the seasoning or spices that may be added to the food are absorbed better, improving its taste significantly. Also, people who are purchasing cheaper meat or vegetables, often find that slow cooking will greatly improve the taste of the food, tenderizing the meat.
Elite Gourmet MST-900D Specifications
| Item Dimensions | 16.34 x 11.73 x 11.81 inches |
| Capacity | 2 Quarts |
| Wattage | 280 watts |
| Control Type | Programmable |