I am usually one to give a Super-LONG review about the products I’ve purchased (and it is no different here — as I want all of you out there not to be BURNED ???? as many may have already been so). So let me give you both the SHORT and the LONG version (read the LONG version, if you need more details). SHORT: This Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker is NOT truly/truthfully 10 quarts????. And it also has A LOT of quirks you should know about (so read on, for more details, if your interested). Here is the start of the LONG part: I mean, there shouldn’t be too much to a [simple] “Slow Cooker,” Right?!? — Don’t get me wrong, as I am absolutely PASSIONATE about the Slow Cooking genre. — As it is (in my humble opinion), the very BEST way how to cooks foods, to the point of absolute [tender] food PERFECTION! ???????? And I NEED a [bigger] Slow Cooker, so that I can fit my 9 lb Turkey ???? breast into them. But, I have also been BURNED (MANY times), by various Slow Cooker products (I’m speaking figuratively, not literally - as in, being “burned,” by BAD/junky products). As an example, I’ve [Recently] had to TRASH an “Elite Cuisine” 9qt (by Maxi-Matic). (In fact, I’ve gone through at least THREE (3) of these Monsters [so it would be WISE to AVOID the Maxi-Matic Slow Cooker line, as they seem to be one of those “Cheap” Chinese products]). I know!, I KNOW.... I should have given up, after two, but I LOVED ❤️ its bigger size, which was the the very “Largest,” for its time (plus, it always worked PERFECTLY, from anywhere 6 months to a year ????). With that, I was somewhat “Skeptical” when I received my (this) Hamilton Beach 10qt (today), as it looks ???? VERY similar to the Maxi-Matic in make & structure (maybe a wee bit, Taller). Frankly, the MAIN problem that I’ve had so far with these [similar] Slow Cooker models, is that their Heating???? Elements will usually [eventually] either, burn out or, just stop working altogether ???????? But enough “Bloviating” ???? - let me just run down the Pro’s & Con’s of this Hamilton Beach, as I see it (so far). Pros: 1) It is a wee bit bigger, being about an inch or so [Taller] - (but see my Con on this). 2) I like the “Locking” top lid (but see Con). 3) The top lid is also “Vented” (with two [2] holes ????), so steam can escape, being self-bast a little. 4) The controls are “Old School” (which I like), as opposed to the Digital Controls, on most “newer” models. 5) I do like the Black color, as it “Hides” stains or scratches (Things that you can more easily see ???? in the more common White ones, that I’ve had in the past). 6) It does get VERY hot ???? [FAST!, so WATCH out!!????????????] — and KEEP AWAY any plastic object, at least a few INCHES! ???????? (which is also a Con, somewhat). Cons: 1) When I said it was a wee bit bigger I didn’t mean by much. The Hamilton Beach SAYS it’s 10qt, but when you test this then it comes out a wee bit SHORT. You see, 10qts SHOULD add up to 40 cups. But, when I tried to put 40 cups into the ceramic pot, I found that the liquid comes ALL the way to the Very TOP rim (and NO ONE is going to fill this up to the very TOP ????). More than likely, you’ll fill it up to where the LID rest. At this level, the liquid would only reach 9.5 qts (or 38 cups). But NOT 10qts. So this is [somewhat] deceptive ???? 2) The Power Cord is VERY short!! (2 feet, MAX), so you WILL need an Extension Cord. 3) There is NO Power Light ???? (almost every Cooker I’ve ever had, had a Power Indicator [Light] included — NOT HERE! ???? (So you’ll have to do what most reviewers have suggested (to know it is on), which is “Feel” the heat???? coming from/off the sides ????). 4) Some reviewers have noted a “Burning Smell” when you first turn on the Unit. — And this is TRUE!! (Hope this will eventually go away, as many have claimed). 5) The Black color is both a Pro, but ALSO a Con (as the color may HIDE left-over food residue [that you CAN’T see ???? ]). So both Bad, and Good (Break-Even, and/so not a Deal-Breaker). 6) As noted, the locking Lid IS nice, but the only PROBLEM is that it is sometimes VERY FINICKY (where, if you don’t latch BOTH sides, at the SAME [Precise] time, then one side will FLIP, back up). (This is obviously a [weird] “Alignment” issue). Not a “Deal-Breaker” (Just ANNOYING ????????). 7) And lastly, the “Fit” of the Ceramic Pot (within the heating container) is VERY “Loosey Goosey,” with about at least a Quarter to Half-inch of Play. I’ve noticed this seems to be a “Common” thing with these [Bigger] Slow Cooker models (I just wished these would “Fit” in better). Again, not a Deal-Breaker (as long as it cooks effectively and efficiently, I’m fine). So (again), as my Title states/implies, the Jury is still out on this Hamilton Beach (I will update, when/if anything Pops up). I mean, seriously, if it works (Last) LONGER than my old [Cheap] Elite Cuisine/Maxi-Matic, then I’d be OVERjoyed ???? (We’ll see ????)
