Cuisinart PSC-400 4 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Brushed Stainless Steel Instructions
Cuisinart PSC-400 4 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Brushed Stainless Steel
- Touchpad control panel with LCD timer display and 24 hour timer. Off/On, Keep Warm, Simmer, Low and High settings.
- Removable 4 quart round ceramic cooking pot that automatically shifts to "Warm" when cook time ends.
- Brushed stainless steel housing with chrome-plates handles with glass lid with stainless steel rim and chrome-plated knob. Non-slip rubber feet.
- Dishwasher safe lid and ceramic pot.
- Includes cooking rack for use with ramekins or other bakeware and spiral bound recipe book with 70 basic to gourmet dishes and instruction book
Programmable technology makes homemade meals easier than ever! This Cuisinart Slower Cooker features 24 hour programmable countdown timer, three cooking modes- and it automatically shifts to Warm when it's done cooking! Whether preparing one-pot entrees, sides, or desserts, operation is easy. Meals can be served in the ceramic pot they're cooked in, and cleanup is dishwasher-quick. Designed for today's busy lifestyles, all the work is done ahead of time. Dinnertime is as relaxing for the cook as it is for the diners. Enjoy!
Rating: 
(out of 48 reviews)
List Price: $ 145.00
Price: $ 70.00
Maxi-Matic MST-800V Elite Gourmet Large 8-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker, Stainless
- 300-watt slow cooker with 8-1/2-quart removable stoneware oval-shaped pot
- Control dial for selecting Low, High, or Auto/Defrost heat settings
- Clear tempered-glass lid traps in moisture and nutrients for delicious results
- Stay-cool lid knob and side handles; "on" indicator light; brushed-stainless-steel housing
- Measures approximately 17 by 10-3/5 by 13 inches
Elite by Maxi-Matic's large 8.5-quart slow cooker with removable stoneware pot is great for all of your large gatherings. Features include beautiful stainless steel body, convenient lowhighauto defrost settings, keep warm function, large oval capacity, tempered glass lid, and cool-touch handles and knobs.
Rating: 
(out of 45 reviews)
List Price: $ 39.99
Price: $ 21.99
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Tagged with: Brushed • COOKER • Cuisinart • Instructions • Programmable • PSC400 • quart • SLOW • Stainless • Steel
Filed under: Slow Cookers
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Review by HMC for Cuisinart PSC-400 4 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Brushed Stainless Steel
Rating:
We have had this slow cooker for three months, using it twice a week. So far we are very satisfied.
In researching our purchase and reading numerous reviews, we found that the Cuisinart generally received positive evaluations. There were a few negative ones, but obviously we discounted them and went ahead with the Cuisinart anyway. Some reviewers criticized it for overheating food, but overheating in a slow cooker is usually a sign that the pot was underfilled. A good slow cooker should have the power to heat a full pot to over 200 F, so it should come as no surprise that the heater can boil a low pot. The Cuisinart instructions specifically warn against underfilled pots, and we have had no overheating problems with even half-full pots.
We have not had this cooker long enough to comment on durability. Contrary to some opinions, our impression is that the Cuisinart is a solidly constructed, well-designed appliance, made with high quality materials. No sign of a lemon here.
We use our 4 qt cooker to make meals for a family of four. We debated whether to get a larger size, but in retrospect we realize that a one gallon pot holds more than enough for our family.
Programmability was important to us, and we like the userfriendliness of this unit. A few reviewers have lamented the lack of a delayed start program, but a feature that encourages you to leave raw food at room temperature for a prolonged period did not sound that desirable to me. The cooker will automatically switch to a safe warming mode in case you are not around at the end of the cooking cycle.
A cookbook is included, but most of the recipes are one or two steps beyond the convenience of a mix-and-go meal. We have bought cookbooks with simpler recipes, and have been happy with the results.
There are other slow cookers that will perform the basic tasks competently for less money than the Cuisinart. For the extra cost you get programmability, a nice appearance, superior quality, and a few unexpected extras.
Review by wileykat for Cuisinart PSC-400 4 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Brushed Stainless Steel
Rating:
I was interested in a smaller size slow cooker but I wanted the programming features of the larger cookers. The Cuisinart 650 model has a lot of criticisms and plenty of 1 star ratings, but most of the reviews for both the CSC-400 and PSC-400 were positive. Unfortunately, every negative comment of the larger model is true with the PSC-400 I bought:
-the low temperature setting is too high
-the high setting boils the food
-escaping steam causes the lid to rattle constantly
-condensation runs down the outside of the pot
After researching how a slow cooker is “suppose” to work, I find descriptions such as this: “Slow cookers are designed to emit very little steam, so food braises in its own juices, as well as any cooking liquid.”
The USDA website says: “The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking and steam created within the tightly-covered container combine to destroy bacteria and make the slow cooker a safe process for cooking foods.”
The Cuisinart PSC-400 does not slow cook. It boils. It rattles.
Lastly, yes, it looks great, but it is a space hog.
Review by Manju Kandula for Cuisinart PSC-400 4 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Brushed Stainless Steel
Rating:
This is a perfect slow cooker. Perfect size when following slow cooker recipes for “medium round.” Very stylish…matches my Cuisinart rice cooker. I like the fact that I can set the timer for whatever time I want. When the time is up, the cooker sets to “keep” mode. Very easy to clean and takes up little space compared to my larger slow cooker. The lid fits perfectly with no escape of liquid.
Review by RSD48 for Cuisinart PSC-400 4 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Brushed Stainless Steel
Rating:
My very old slow cooker is rarely used. It has no keep-warm setting and is huge. It was a gift. Since there is only two of us, this was just not an appliance that I reached for. Then I found some really good cookbooks for smaller units and with much more interesting recipes than the old dump ‘n run versions with ingredients like the ever present cream soups. Those older recipes were too high in salt and fat for us. These newer books recommended tailoring the crock size to the recipe. I needed a smaller unit.
After agonizing about multiple choices, I chose to go with truly modern features. What I have come to like the best is being able to set a specific time and having it automatically move to warm until I am ready to serve. This really came in handy a few days ago when my husband and I were delayed 2 hours getting home.
I have read criticisms about the temperatures being too high. If you read the intros of modern slow cooker cookbooks, they emphasize that newer cookers try to run at temperatures that ensure food safety. This one has an automatic aspect in the first 30 minutes that brings food rapidly up through temperatures into the safe zone before settling down on either the high, low or simmer cooking setting. This stage could be misunderstood as being too high if you have not read the manual. Advice: Use simmer for making soups.
This does mean that some older recipes may need adjusting. But of the recipes we’ve tried from the enclosed recipe book, as well as from two excellent cook books (Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker Recipes for Two: For the Small Slow Cooker OR Art of the Slow Cooker: 80 Exciting New Recipes everything has come out beautifully. Some have been done on low and a couple have been done on high, whichever was called for. Both settings worked well.
This 4 qt size has turned out to be the most versatile for us. The crock cleans up very well. Be sure to read the instructions about not rapidly changing the temperature of the crock with either cold ingredients or when washing it.
Review by J. Dallas Dishman for Cuisinart PSC-400 4 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Brushed Stainless Steel
Rating:
Great little slow cooker/crockpot.
The unit cooks well and evenly.
The sleek design is suitable for a permanent home on the counter (unlike my older crockpot with it’s 1970′s floral print, which is best hidden in the cupboard). The retractable cord is an added bonus that makes it easy to keep on the counter or store neatly on a shelf.
The digital display is great – I love being able to set the time and walk away. But, calling this a programmable unit is a bit misleading – it’s equipped with a digital timer, that’s where the programming ends. The only thing that kept this review from being 5 stars is the lack of a “delayed start” option, which I thought would be included on a “programmable unit”. However, to be fair, that short-coming, if you can call it that, is compensated for by the “warming feature” that keeps food warm after the cooking cycle.
The 4 quart is great for a small household. However, since you technically should only cook about 3 quarts in a 4 quart unit, if you have a household of 4 or more or love to eat “left overs”, I suggest you consider bumping up to the 6 quart unit. Otherwise, you may find that your regular recipes don’t quite fit into the pot.
All in all, well worth the investment.
Review by Allen White for Maxi-Matic MST-800V Elite Gourmet Large 8-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker, Stainless
Rating:
We have a family of 7 and required a larger crock pot. This one is excellent as it holds twice what we could normally get in our old crock pot. As the exterior is stainless steel, it does get hot. But the upside is that the cooking time is about the same if not better than with the smaller pots. Definetely worth the investmest if you are cooker for larger groups.
Review by R. McAdams for Maxi-Matic MST-800V Elite Gourmet Large 8-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker, Stainless
Rating:
I should have listened to the negative reviews here, before I bought this. First of all, it does not hold (inside the volume of space available in the ceramic “cooker” part, 8.5 quarts. When you leave the rim clear for the lid, it BARELY hold 8 quarts. I did a water test with a 1/2 gallon milk carton to measure this.
Second, and most importantly, this thing is NOT a “SLOW cooker!” It is a FAST cooker! I followed all directions, I read the manual, and then I put together our family chili recipe and put it into the “slow cooker” to simmer until morning, thinking that in the morning, I would discover well simmered chili. Nope.
I filled the ceramic portion, leaving about an inch from the rim, as the instructions tell you to do, having to alter my recipe to do so. I left the cooker on low, on a stable surface, not heat sensitive, and away from all disturbances. In the morning (about 5.5 hours later) I awoke to a “slow cooker” which had BOILED the food, and caused it to OVERFLOW the confines on the ceramic “cooker” part, onto the counter, over the lid, and even into the space between the ceramic “cooker” part, and the heating base under it. This created a huge mess, and almost inedible food.
I have since cleaned the thing as best I could, and contacted Amazon for a return label. This hunk of junk is going back to the store. I will try a “slow cooker” from another brand and see if I get better results, because this thing is not a “slow cooker.” Just to be sure it wasn’t a fluke, I put just regular water into it, left the same amount of space as I had with the chili, and set it on low, and went to go do some house work. About 3 hours later, the water was BOILING, and steaming, and overflowing the “slow cooker.”
Save your money for a different product by a different manufacturer.
Review by J. Hoffman for Maxi-Matic MST-800V Elite Gourmet Large 8-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker, Stainless
Rating:
Got this last week, cooked a first batch of chili yesterday, and this thing is going back. Why?
1. When you make a batch of soup, have a known amount for dinner and put the rest in standard containers to freeze, you find out the actual capacity of the slow cooker. This thing is between 6.5 and 7 quarts max.
2. The crock is a loose fit in the base and has to be carefully centered or you get “hot spots” where the crock is too close to the base. On the “hot spots” you get boling and sticking.
3. I don’t know what this fad with brushed stainless steel is about, but my experience years ago in a commercial environment was reinforced by this cooker. Brushed stainless steel mars easily and is difficult to clean without marking. And this thing gets hot!
Review by M. Repp for Maxi-Matic MST-800V Elite Gourmet Large 8-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker, Stainless
Rating:
DON’T LISTEN TO NEGATIVES THEY HAVE BUYERS REMORSE ITS A GREAT POT..I have had this crock pot for almost 2 years and use it weekly sometimes daily. I have never burnt food or had a blotched meal from it i don’t know where any negative comments are coming from other than maybe there cooking on high all day long. I just recently took first place in a chili contest which was all cooked in this pot. I cook roast,chicken ribs and much more. My family is big i have 6 people to feed and this thing will cook enough for left overs. DON’T LISTEN TO NEGATIVES THEY HAVE BUYERS REMORSE ITS A GREAT POT
Review by A reader from NY for Maxi-Matic MST-800V Elite Gourmet Large 8-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker, Stainless
Rating:
I’ve been using the Maxi Matic MST-800V Elite Gourmet 8-1/2 quart slow cooker for about 2 weeks now. The good:
–Relatively low price.
–Big capacity means lots of leftovers for tomorrow.
–Cooks well.
I recommend this product, especially given the price : value ratio. It’s worth it. I couldn’t find any other slow cooker this large at a similar price.
What would make it a five star cooker?
The following:
–The glass lid and the ceramic insert have gaps when one is on the other. Sometimes steam escapes through the small gaps, drying out the food. However, there is a specific combination of lid in one direction that fits better. I put stickers on the “good side” of the lid and the handle of the ceramic insert. When I match the stickered sides prior to turning it on, no steam escapes. Manufacturing the product so that this defect doesn’t happen would be better.
–An instruction manual that explains how the features actually work. For instance, the device as a “defrost” setting, yet the manual does not explain how this setting works. How long does it take to defrost by weight? Who knows. What temperature is the defrost setting at? Who knows.
–A “keep warm” feature. So that once the food is cooked it can be kept warm until time to serve. Perhaps the mysterious “defrost” setting is also a keep warm setting, but, again, who knows?
–The ability to set a timer and have the device go from say “high” to “keep warm” after X hours.
–A built in meat thermometer (ok, maybe I’m dreaming, but…) that would ensure the device switches off when the interior of the meat reaches X degrees.
If anyone reading this review understands how the defrost setting works, please add a comment and explain what you’ve learned. And if anyone from the manufacturer is reading this: a) fix your manual and b) comment here in the meantime to tell us how the defrost setting works.
Given these issues, it’s still a 4 star item. If you’re looking for a large capacity cooker at a good price, purchase this item.
Thanks.