Features:

  • Extra-large blue backlit LCD display with easy-to-read time and temperature settings
  • Glass lid with cool-touch handle for clear view and comfortable handling
  • Steaming rack included
  • Instruction Book
  • Limited 3-year Warranty
Easier to handle and clean than traditional "crock" pot - works great too!

I should get a sales commission! I talk so often about how wonderful my 6-quart Cuisinart Multi-cooker is that my friends are starting to think I work for the company. Had mine for about 2 years and use it several+ times a week. So far, I've had nothing but wonderful results. When I had shoulder surgery a few months ago it became all but impossible for me to work with my nice (but heavy) Le Creuset cookware. The multi-cooker came out of the cabinet and hasn't left the counter top since. The lightweight cooking vessel is so much easier for me to handle. It cleans easily and performs very well. I can actually manage to hold it with one hand while using my other and a spatula to remove food or sauce. There are even indented places in the four corners that make it easier for pouring. Slow cooking is sometimes how it's used, but the saute feature is used more. My non-stick skillet with its low sides contributed to stove-top splatters. The deep sides of the multi-cooker prevent all that mess. It's great for cooking bacon! We've steamed shrimp in it with great success and also done a vegetable medley (had to stagger the "in" times to get all the veggies done correctly). It's also perfect for recipes (like chili) that call for sauteing meats and vegetables followed by a slow and low cooking period. Plus, the slow cooking features do everything I need them to do. Wishing all my friends who love to cook had one of these.

Now my primary cooking method

UPDATE: The cord is 44" long. It is not retractable or detachable - it lays on the kitchen counter. UPDATE: Yes - it is Made in China UPDATE: No - you cannot use the insert on top of the stove nor in the oven. The insert has stay-cool handles made of hard plastic. The insert is aluminum, not ceramic, and is Teflon coated. I've had both type of inserts and definitely prefer the aluminum/Teflon insert - lighter weight & easier cleanup. UPDATE: No - there is no delay timer of any sort. You cannot, for instance, set a timer to cook on high for 1 hour, then drop to low for 4 hours then drop to warm to keep the food at a safe temp. Nor can you set a delay timer to start cooking at a future time. The closest there is: you can select high, low, or simmer slow cook and set the number of hours up to 24. At the end of that time it will automatically down select to warm to stop "cooking" the food but keep it at a safe temp. Every time you open the lid, add 15-20 minutes to the recipe cooking time. UPDATE: Slow cook temps are HIGH = 212 degrees, LOW = 200 degrees, SIMMER = 185 degrees, WARM = 165 degrees. Saute temps are: default is 350 degrees, programmable from 140 degrees to 400 degrees in 25 degree increments. UPDATE: The entire instruction & recipe booklet is online at Cuisinart's web site in pdf format. Search for manual "MSC-600". I read the instructions and many of the recipes myself before I bought the unit. UPDATE: Q: "Will this unit really "brown" meat well? (i.e., as in browning meat for a pot roast or browning beef chunks for stew?)". A: Yes, very well. See the saute temps elsewhere in my review. It has a large sort of oval shaped saute heating element underneath the insert which provides more than adequate heat for saute. However, if you put 5 pounds of stew beef in there all at once it is hard to brown it - just like a skillet but better temp control in increments of 25 degrees. Many of the recipes tell you to brown large quantities in shifts and remove the browned items before adding more - I use a left-to-right (raw-to-brown) rotation method to do that. UPDATE: Do not cook chicken breasts in a slow cooker - it dries out the breasts. Read the manual. UPDATE Jan 2014: Contrary to what others here have told me here, I agree with Cuisinart, put the chicken breasts in the oven, not the slow cooker - better quality and faster. UPDATE: After 13 months, here are my current observations as of January 2014: I have not had the problems others have had with the electric panel on the front. I have had no odd things go wrong with the electronics of this item. So far so good. I have not had the problems others have had with being unable to turn it back on once you turn it off. I have waited a few minutes to let it cool down first then start it back up like advised and have had no problems. I mean I wait maybe two minutes not 30 minutes. Not a problem for me. This thing takes up space - lots of counter space and storage space. Wasn't a surprise though - I had visualized it with a tape measure and it is every bit as big as expected on the counter top for sure. But that's how you get the 6 quart capacity. UPDATE Jan 2014: Keep your old 3.5 quart ceramic crock pot for smaller meals, this 6 quart unit is too big for cooking 2-3 quarts of food (although the manual says "at least 1/3 full" it seems too big for 2 quarts of food to me). I am a single guy who can't cook, doesn't like to cook, and I love this slow cooker. Years ago I had the standard 3.5 qt round 'crock pot'. Then branched out to the new stainless steel ones - 3 different sizes. Hated them, too hot to touch or move. Gave them all to Goodwill - including my old trusty ceramic one (sigh!). I missed my slow cooker so went on another slow cooker hunt. Decided on this one and I am very pleased with it. I use this as a slow cooker for sure. But also use it to stir fry, saute, and sear/brown. Really like the fact that you can brown in this and immediately add the other ingredients for slow cooking. I like the depth of this to keep the grease from splattering around the kitchen as much. Even though it's just for one I like the capacity. Once I got this and started using it I got on Amazon and also ordered the Reditainers for fridge and freezer storage along with the freezer tape. I like having the digital temp on the front for very accurate temperatures. The low heat and high heat temps seem perfect to me on the slow cooker. The super hot stainless steel things I had before were either not hot enough (low) or way too hot (high). I think Cuisinart got this right on this model. Read the manual and understand the temps for high, low, simmer and warm and what they are for (and not for). Duh - read the manual! So far I have made tomato soup (very rich/earthy flavor), hot and sour soup (OMG!), stuffed bell peppers (8 large or 10 small), chicken stir fry, steamed corn on the cob (4 full ears or 8-10 half ears), and a bunch of other stuff I don't remember. From the Williams-Sonoma "Essentials of Slow Cooking" cookbook I also bought on Amazon, I have made: Beef Stroganoff(!), Italian Braised Short Ribs, Pot Roast w/ veges, Belgian Beef Stew, Asian Braised Short Ribs(!), and Chicken Mole (disaster, tossed this one). I intend to try Jambalaya in it and do something with Mahi Mahi steaks as well but I haven't tried any seafood in it yet. UPDATE Jan 2014: Yep, it makes great Jambalaya. Internet search "Crock-Pot Solutions" for perfect pre-mix quantities for this 6 quart unit. I recommend the Jambalaya and Chicken & Dumplings mixes. Ooops: If you fill the thing full it will overflow once it reaches temperature. You must leave space for it to expand - do not under estimate this. Also, if you put it on saute to get the heat going it will very quickly overflow with a little explosive force as the expanding juices break the seal around the lid to escape - that was a mess to clean up all over the kitchen and had to take the bottom off the unit and clean the insides. One design flaw it seems - if it overflows the vents are wide open with no drip line design so it catches all the juices running down and takes them directly inside the unit. Dumb design - the vents need a drip line (flared vents) to prevent this. But I haven't made this mistake a second time. Do...not....over....fill! You can make up to 24 cups in this thing if you fill it to the max. The 'loose' fitting lid is NOT a problem. Steam goes to the top, drips down the lid and creates a seal all the way around the top of the unit where the lid sits. The 'loose' fitting lid works perfectly. Although the lid and the insert are dish washer safe, the lid is simply too big for the dish washer, let alone the pot. I use the dishwasher for everything - except for this. It's simply much easier to just wash it by hand and put it in the dry rack. It cleans very easily because of the Teflon and is much lighter to hold than the ceramic inserts were. I have had no problem with the Teflon coming off or bubbling - I have no scratches yet. I use wooden spoons to stir and move things around, and carefully use metal prongs to turn meat over. But I have been very careful to not scratch it so far. I also follow the instructions and do NOT put the insert in the oven nor on a the stove top and my Teflon is not coming off nor is it bubbling anywhere. My Teflon looks like it the did the day I got it. I also do NOT run cold water into the insert when it is still hot. I prefer my rice cooker/vege steamer for steaming veges other than corn. But I've purchased Risotto and plan to learn how to make it and plan to use this slow cooker on saute to do it. That way I can learn the exact digital temperature that works and repeat the success. Then expand to many different versions of Risotto. I like the digital read out since I don't have that innate cookers sense of temperature. You can up the temp in increments of 25 degrees for saute. Read the instructions to understand how to use the digital panel - couple of things aren't intuitive but easy once you get the point. Yes - I recommend this slow cooker and I have had and used many over the last 30 years. This slow cooker plus the Williams-Sonoma Slow Cooking cook book on Amazon makes me feel like I can cook. UPDATE Jan 2014: I haven't touched the Williams-Sonoma Slow Cooking cook book in 6 months.

It does not work like the straightforward Crockpot

I read the previous reviews carefully and took the risk of it not working or the nonstick finish detaching, because I wanted to try the saute/browning feature. I used it twice this first week. The first for chili, and sautéed the beef and then the vegetables before slow cooking. Next I made pot roast and browned the meat and sautéed the vegetables, and when it was done I removed everything but the gravy and used the sauté setting to thicken and simmer the finished gravy. I can tell you what the problem was for a lot of buyers who thought the machine was defective. It does not work like the straightforward Crockpot! The same things happened to me until I took the manual and did it step by step. First, choose the function (let's say sauté). Then SET THE TIME. And only then, PRESS START. And when the time runs out, the machine turns off. If you are browning and the time was set for 15 minutes and it's over, the machine turns off and you wonder what happened...so you have to leave plenty of time for your function. After I got that straight, it was perfect. I used silicone spatula, whisk, spoon,and ladle...and treated the nonstick interior like it was glass. It is in perfect condition. Be mindful when you use this and you will be as thrilled with it as I was. I would give it 10 stars if I could!

Superior slow cooker worth the extra $$

My old Crockpot finally gave up the ghost - the enamel internal pot broke. I decided to upgrade to this model and am SO pleased I did. This slow cooker rocks. First, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact you can sauté/brown in the slow cooker itself. Browning the meat and onion first is so important to slow cooking and I finally I don't have to wash a frying pan every time I use the slow cooker. Secondly, I noticed immediately that this slow cooker cooks at a significantly lower temperature than my old cheapo Crockpot. I had hoped I could put my old Crockpot on to cook before work and come home to a hot meal, but I found that after 6-7 hours food would be overcooked or even slightly burned, even with extra liquid and putting vegetables underneath the meat. This model however really does allow you to cook for 10-12 hours. Thirdly, I love the fact that the internal pot is so light. It is so much easier to lift out and clean. Don't go with the cheaper models - this baby is worth every penny.

Awesome Appliance

I have been using mine for over 3 years mainly as a slow cooker. But I always brown my meats on the brown setting first and saute my vegetalbes as well. I think this is one of the best electric appliances in my kitchen. The slow cooking settings, I like to use low and keep it cooking for 7-8 hours, seems to be accurate without boiling my food. The pan is easy clean up. The oval-ish shape doesn't move around when I am stirring. All of the modes, brown, steam, slow cook just work. I sometimes use the timer on my slow cooking which will automatically switch it over to a warm setting after slow cooking. I like how the top insert overlaps the electrical housing all around the edges so I don't get spilled food and gravy in places that are hard to clean on the unit itself. I can Highly recommend after more than 3 years of use.

Awesome!

I love this so much that I have given it a permanent spot on our counter. Being able to brown right in the pot opens up a whole new world of minimum-mess-cooking, as well as the steaming function. My husband loves coming home to homemade meals if he has to work late as keeping things warm on the "low" setting works really well! This product is very well made, the pots coating is excellent quality which makes for a super easy clean up. I was a bit skeptical before the first use if it's really going to work for a decent browning, but it browns PERFECT! An added plus is that when you do brown in this there is VERY LITTLE splattering in the surrounding area, if any. I opted for the 6 quart and it works out perfect for us. This will give you enough to have a complete meal for two people and save/freeze at least another two meals. I also love that it is rectangular and not oval, it fits different foods much better. Yet the slightly rounded corners make for easy cleaning. I can't say enough about this and it is for sure an appliance that I would not want to miss anymore!

Five Stars

I am still SOO tanked about this slow cooker. As a whole food/vegetarian lo temps with > cooktimes are necessary to not break down macronutrients: this slow cooker does that.It totally preserves the integrity of the food,& personally I like the versatility of variable settings.with this slow cooker on simmer throughout my entire workday I was able to make beans, legumes,soups(of course)even GRILL but not only that:ROASTED a spaghetti squash to perfection!By using brown/saute setting I've been able to caramelize & ROAST:YES roast!My oven is currently unusable & I have been able to cook everything I've wanted in this slow cooker AMAZING.I agree:having lived the apt lifestyle>10 yrs I realize the value of counterspace.But I have yet to come across a device >suited to my needs & as for clean up:I too was hesitant to put the removable pot in my D/W b/c I have EXTEMELY HARD H2O,& worried about coating integrity,but time constraints convinced me & when sparkling clean/no damage to surface resulted was very pleased!This is my new "go to" kitchen appliance:I highly recommend to anyone considering a slow cooker;trust me, I've had quite a few!It is well worth the investment.

How do I love thee...let me saute the ways

I'm a big fan of crockpots in concept, but I've really relegated them to things like soups and whatnot. I mean, if I was gonna have to break out the dutch oven to brown my roast, why wouldn't I just cook it in there? In just the few weeks since I've had this, I've made pot roast, roasted a chicken, steamed artichokes, made bread pudding, and of course, made soup. (I think it's the law, you have to make 15 bean soup or the crockpot patrol takes you away.) I even made bacon, just to see if it would work. (It did!) I'll admit, I lost the directions almost as soon as I unpacked it. So, some of my usage has been trial and error, but praise Flying Spaghetti Monster, I haven't found a way to burn the house down with it. The user controls are pretty self explanatory. The outside of the container stays considerably cooler than any other similar cooker I've owned, which is wonderful. The quad rubber feet keep it stable and non-slippy on even slick counter-tops like marble. The interior pot cleans up easily. I have not tried to put it in a dishwasher, since non-stick surfaces and dishwashers are two things that do not go well together. The only thing I can think that might be a problem for some people is the sheer size of this thing. It's massive. I love that, it's what I wanted, but if you have a tiny kitchen or limited storage, you may want to check the dimensions to make sure it fits where you will be storing it. Also make sure you keep the cardboard that wrapped around the rack, or some other soft item that can buffer the nonstick surface from the metal of the steamer rack while it's being stored, so you don't chip your surface. All in all, I'm pleased with this purchase, and would recommend it to anyone who needs a really large slow cooker.

I'm not a chef but i love this

I'm not a chef but i love this. I bought this for it's 7 quart capacity and design. It is attractive and very easy to use. Personally i don't use the brown feature or the steamer function but the high and low setting on the slow cook i use. I have had this over a month now and have made stuff like pinto beans, beef stew, cabbage and smoked sausage so far. My wife and i like to make up enough of something to eat on for about 3 days on the weekends so we can eat better in the middle of the week. Wow everything i have cooked in this has came out like my grand mother had made it, sooo tasty :) Also after your cooking time has completed this defaults to and automatic 8 hour warm cycle so the food will still be hot when you get home. You can use this to keep food warm for a gathering and not have to worry about burning it. One thing i discovered about this that i didn't read is the cord retracts inside of the cooker. If you wanted to take something you cooked to a party, just unplug it and pull release the cord, that is a nice feature to have. No one wants to struggle or trip on a cord hanging down. I almost didn't buy this because it is kinda pricey but in one month i have already saved most of the money i paid on groceries. It can get expensive eating everything out of a box. Another month and this thing actually paid for its self.

You won't be disappointed! (see update)

This is the greatest Slow-cooker!! My first meal in it was braised short ribs. It was so neat to be able to brown them in the pan and then change the cooking to slow-cooker!! Ingenious!! It cooks very evenly and is a snap to clean. The insert is not as bulky as the heavy ceramic slow-cooker inserts, so much easier to handle. I look forward to many delicious meals coming from my 4-in-1 slow cooker. Update March 5, 2017: I've used this slow cooker many times since I purchased it in July 2016. Yesterday I slow cooked a corn beef brisket for 8 hours. We weren't quite ready to eat, so I set it to warm. When I came back into the kitchen, it was bubbling over and made a big mess. Some how it malfunctioned, which makes me nervous about leaving a cooking device unattended. Today I was going to slow cook a pork shoulder with veggies. I got the dish all prepared, went to turn on the cooker and the display went haywire. Thank goodness my mother-in-law had a slow cooker I could barrow. I hope Cuisinart with either repair it or send me a new one. $198 is a lot to spend on a slow cooker only to have it malfunction 8 months later.

Full Reviews