Cuisinart CSC-650 6.5-Quart Slow Cooker Review

I'm not one to experiment in the kitchen and I'm always looking for shortcuts and other ways to simplify the process of meal preparation. Thus, it shouldn't surprise anyone that crock pots are one of my best friends. And when I need to cook up a big batch of food, I reach for my Cuisinart CSC- 650 Slow Cooker, a large crock pot for large meals.

Slow Cooker Commentary:

I own two slow cookers and my Cuisinart CSC- 650 is my favorite of the two. First, I like the large size of this crock pot. At 6.5 quarts, I can prepare a very large meal and have plenty of leftovers to eat at another time. It also makes a good choice for food preparation when you have a large number of guests to feed. Second, I like the greater amount of control that I have with this crock pot. Rather than have a few hourly settings to choose from in increments of 2 hours, I have complete flexibility with this crock pot. Each individual hour is marked and if I need a fraction of an hour, I can set the knob between two of the hourly settings, for maximum control over the cooking process.

One of the other nice things about this slow cooker is that it automatically switches to warm when it is finished and it has a warm setting so that you can switch directly to warm if you desire. I have another slow cooker that doesn't allow the user to switch directly to warm. With Cuisinart, I have total control over my cooking. If I think the food is already hot enough, I can turn the bottom knob to warm and discontinue cooking while still keeping the food at a constant temperature until ready to serve.

One thing I have noticed with Cuisinart CSC- 650 Slow Cooker is that you have to be careful when it comes to the temperature setting. As a rule, I avoid using the high setting because it can often get very hot (to the boiling point) and it can overcook some foods. The low setting seems to work best. With the setting on low and the hours set to four or five, food seems to come out just right.

The ceramic pot included with this slow cooker is quite large and I have found it best to bypass the dishwasher and clean it by hand. It is dishwasher safe, of course, but it takes up a good deal of space on the lower dishwasher rack. I have had little trouble cleaning this ceramic pot, even when the food has been cooking for a long period of time. It can get a little burnt, but the food cleans off easily with soap and water.

The appearance of the Cuisinart CSC- 650 is rather utilitarian. It doesn't have the pretty floral patterns or the curvy body that some crock pots offer. Instead, this slow cooker takes on the appearance of a piece of industrial machinery. The square, stainless steel casing makes it look like a piece of equipment to take seriously. Since it isn't the prettiest crock pot I have ever seen, I pack it away when not in use. Unless your kitchen is full of polished stainless steel appliances, this slow cooker won't look right if left permanently on display on your kitchen counter.

Bottom Line Viewpoint:

Overall, I am happy with the Cuisinart CSC- 650 Slow Cooker and it ranks among my favorite and most practical gifts from over the years. The appearance isn't going to win it any beauty contests but the control it gives you over the cooking process make this a crock pot worth owning. The price is high, but it makes a good choice of crock pot for those who like the flexibility that slow cookers offer and who want a greater degree of control over the heat settings and the length of cook time.