VitaClay VM7900-6 Smart 6-Cup Programmable Multi-Cooker Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I could not be more pleased with the VitaClay rice cooker! It is everything I hoped it would be.
I probably invested about $1000 of my time researching rice cookers before making this purchase. I was very concerned about the VitaClay due to prior reviews I read here. I called VitaClay's manufacturer twice and I also did research at a lot of other sites. Ultimately, I decided to take a chance on the VitaClay, but I also planned to order a purely stainless steel model too.
However, now that I have used the VitaClay for a week (cooking with it every day), I know this is the rice cooker for me. I do not need to look any further.
It cooks perfect brown rice. I have also cooked rice + mung dal in it many times. The food doesn't stick to the clay pot. The flavors are great.
I am satisfied that the quality of the clay pot is good. It passes California's tough regulations. These days I hesitate to purchase anything from China, but I'm comfortable that this product is safe.
The rice cooker does not give off any unusual smells. My concerns about potential toxic materials in the cooker have disappeared after inspecting and using it. The construction quality is very high. It is super easy to clean. The controls are easy to use. The design looks nice. I feel I got a lot of value for my money.
UPDATE:
I have had my VitaClay rice cooker for almost two years now. i like it more than ever. It has held up well. It still looks like new even though I use it almost every day. I have had zero problems with it.
BTW, the heating element does not come into contact with the food. The heating element is outside of the clay pot. The food only touches the clay. And, at the time I purchased mine, the owner of the company told me they do not use a non-stick coating on the heating element.
Is there a better and safer rice cooker on the market anywhere? I have not found one. I think the VitaClay rice cookers are the best available - and the price is incredibly low too. If I ever find myself in a position to give a rice cooker as a gift, I will only give a VitaClay. And I will not cook with anything else myself.

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With the use of computerized clay-heating technology, this fully programmable 6-cup multi-cooker works great for making 30-minute meals, pasta dishes, steam and whole-grain rice, hearty stew, and more. The appliance provides an all-natural clay cooking pot made of mineral-rich Zisha clay, which enhances the flavor and texture of food and preserves essential nutrients. Due to its slightly porous nature and low thermal conductivity, the clay pot absorbs heat while maintaining a steady temperature--perfect for making rice or slow cooking. The cooking pot also offers a naturally nonstick, unglazed design, which means no nonstick chemicals coming in contact with food. Choose from four pre-programmed settings--regular rice, brown rice, stew, or soup. The cooker quickly brings food to a boil--up to four times faster than conventional slow cookers--then reduces the heat to a simmer for the desired time. Other highlights include a cupped heating pad to promote uniform cooking, automatic keep warm for up to 12 hours, a large LCD and 24-hour clock display, and an easy-to-clean design. The cooker measures approximately 10-3/5 by 9-4/5 by 14-2/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Crock-Pot 3040-BC 4-Quart Round-Shaped Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel Review

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(More customer reviews)I love to cook in crockpots. I am a working mom and wife and need to be able to use a slower cooker a lot. We bought this one because it is so pretty and seemed to be good quality. After four uses, the handle on the left side cracked and half of it broke off. The right handle is cracked as well. The temperature knob was the next to go. Since I like the look of the pot, I was going to take advantage of the good price on Amazon to buy another, but after reading the other reviews with the same problem, it appears that Rival is not going to do anything to fix these known defects. Do not buy this pot!!!

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Rival 4 Qt Slow Cooker - Black and Chrome

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Nesco PC6-25P 6-Quart Electric Programmable Pressure Cooker, Stainless Steel Review

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(More customer reviews)11-03-10 - Not all electric pressure cookers are created equal!
Before purchasing this item, I researched several models. Being that most recipes are written for pressure cookers reaching 15 psi, the pressue level the cooker could attain was critical. I contacted Nesco's customer service (1-800-288-4545) to MAKE SURE this model reaches 15psi. On the low side, they advised the cooker reaches 5 psi (for veggies, custards, etc).
During my research, it was evident the disappointment people showed in other models was likely due to their cooker only coming up to 9 to 11psi on the high side, creating a MAJOR problem with food being undercooked and requiring more time. Thankfully, recipes written for a stovetop model should do great in this cooker without having to fiddle with and refigure cooking times because of insufficient pressure.
Another thing I really like about this cooker is the fact it doesn't have "pre-set programs" you can't override. I may not want it to cook a full 30 minutes. I may only want to cook 20 or 25 and then add veggies and cook another 2 or 3 minutes - it can be programmed according to YOUR specifications - not that of some engineer. YOU program the cooker for exactly how many minutes YOU want.
The final factor for me was quality and price. I have a NESCO Roaster and the quality is there, so I don't worry about buying NESCO products. Will post again when this item arrives and I have a chance to work with it. I posted 4 stars for the unit being engineered for the correct psi and freedom from pre-set programs.
UPDATE: 12-20-10 Have upgraded review to 5 stars. (I was sent the new model #PC6-25P - it has a removable power cord which is great for storage.)
Absolutely no regrets with this purchase. This cooker is everything I had hoped it would be and I use it A LOT. Any recipe written for a stovetop pc can be prepared AS WRITTEN in this unit without a problem. In addition to the pressure cooking, it does a fantastic job browning meats. I use it when browning rather than a skillet because it does such a good, even job - not to mention it prevents cleaning up splatters all over the stove. It is the easiest pot I own to clean up. Would definitely purchase again without hesitation.

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Rival SCV603-SB 6-Quart Slow Cooking Crock Pot Cooker w/ Little Dipper Review

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(More customer reviews)Was delivered in a timely manner. When arrived and used for the first time, product functioned as advertized on Amazon.

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Rival RO180 18-Quart Roaster Oven, White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this a couple of years ago to help with the Thanksgiving load on the oven. But now we wouldn't cook a turkey any other way, and I love it for big batches of soup and chili. The turkey cooks in far less time than in an oven, and it's wonderfully moist and flavorful. It makes huge batches of soup that are not possible in my crock pot, so is invaluable for those extra large recipes. And it's very easy to transport.
I really appreciate having the oven available for other dishes when I use my roaster. And when my oven was being repaired ,we used the roaster in it's place, and I was pleasantly surprised at what I could cook in it! I just used it dry, and put my baking pans inside, and my dishes came out just as good as when using the conventional oven. It's large enough to easily accomodate a 9x13 pan.
The one big drawback is you have to really watch the temperature. It gets hotter than you set the dial, so I compensate and cook at a lower temperature. It can be annoying at first, but once you get used to your roaster, it's not so big of a deal. But be prepared until you know what your roaster will do. And the removable pan you cook in is very big and not very nonstick, so can be a pain to wash unless you have an extra large sink. Spraying it down in the sink while it's still hot does help with clean-up, but it's never easy to wash. It does take up a lot of counter space while using it.
I have the buffet inserts, and they work great for taco/nacho parties. I put the hot items in their own compartment (meat, beans, cheese sauce), and they stay hot the entire time. And, again, it's portable, so you can take it to an event to use this way. If we have a big crowd at the holidays and serve family style, I put in the buffet insert after the turkey is done, fill them with the hot sides (potatoes, stuffing, veggies, etc), and it keeps those 3 hot dishes hot through out the entire meal. Very handy!! If you do a web search, you'll find a ton of great ideas and recipes for your roaster. There are very dedicated roaster users out there that have great information that I recommend you look at.
Like I said, I initially got it for holiday meals, but find I'm reaching for it for so many other events. Just watch the temperature!

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Not only does it roast, this 18-quart versatile roaster oven also bakes, cooks, and can be used for serving. It's especially handy around the holidays for use as a second oven when cooking for families and large groups. So whether it's a turkey, vegetable soup, or pecan pie, the countertop appliance delivers. The unit accommodates large roasts and turkeys up to 18 pounds, plus, it cooks up to 30-percent faster and with up to 77-percent less energy than a traditional oven. For ultimate control, the oven provides adjustable temperatures ranging from 150 to 450 degrees F. Special features include a removable steel roasting rack, a removable enamel-on-steel roasting pan, stay-cool side handles, and a convenient lid rest. The 18-quart roaster oven measures 23 by 17 by 9 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

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West Bend 85157 7-Quart Oval-Shaped Crockery Cooker Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this crock pot because I was looking for something simple, oval shaped, and with a minimum 5 quart capacity. This looked just perfect, until I got it home and opened it.
When I set the base down on my counter, it rocked. Thinking there was something underneath or that the cord was trapped under a foot rest, I picked it up and reset it. Still tippy, with the lightest pressure on one of the handles or adjusting the lid. Thoroughly confused, I took out the crock insert and turned the base upside down.
I discovered the problem: This appliance is designed with only *3* legs. There are two legs in the front, where you would expect them on an oval shaped crock. The back, however, only has a SINGLE leg, slightly off center. Not only does this make the product tippy, but makes filling with food tricky. If the weight of the food is not perfectly balanced, (think an end roast) the crock will not sit level, it tips up off one of the front legs. In addition, if you were to stir hot food, you could EASILY cause the product to tip due to weight redistribution or pressure on the bottom of the pot, causing the hot contents to splash.
I believe this product has a dangerous design, and recommend finding an alternate product.

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Crock-Pot SCR151-WG 1.5-Quart Round-Shaped Manual Slow Cooker, White Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a lovely little crockpot whose small size makes it uniquely useful for a number of purposes. I've owned larger crockpots for a couple decades (currently a 6 quart Rival Smartcooker is my mainstay for preparing family-size meals), but the larger pots take up a significant amount of counter space & aren't at all useful for heating or re-heating small quantities. This little crockpot, however, is perfect for heating or re-heating 2-4 servings of soup or stew. I originally bought it, however, because it is *absolutely perfect* for making hot cereal on cold mornings, especially those hot cereals that require more than a few minutes of cooking in the microwave or on the stovetop, such as steel-cut oatmeal (try the nutty goodness of traditional steel-cut oatmeal once (also available here at Amazon) & you're unlikely ever to return to instant or "quick cook" oatmeal again). There is nothing nicer on a cold winter morning than walking into the kitchen & knowing that a healthy, delicious hot breakfast is awaiting you. From mid-October to late-March, virtually every night I prepare my entire family's hot breakfast cereal for the next morning in this little crockpot, with no more effort than is required to make single serving of instant oatmeal or cream of wheat in the microwave.
Other uses we've discovered: it's perfect for making & serving hot mulled cider; keeping hot dips, gravies & warm sauces & syrups heated on the buffet; as a substitute fondue pot; & for heating soup at times when hovering over a stovetop or near a microwave would be incovenient (how nice to come inside from raking leaves or shoveling snow to a hot bowl of soup!). For single people or couples who prefer not to cook in large quantities or apartment dwellers with limited storage space, this crockpot would be a very acceptable slow cooker, especially if used in conjunction with Rival's inexpensive SP100-PDQ Smart-Part Module (also sold on Amazon as of the date of this review), which provides the same timed-cooking controls that are integrated with many of Rival's larger, more expensive crockpots.
The energy used is minimal, too -- only 80 watts -- & the stoneware bowl fits easily in the dishwasher, as does the lid, for very convenient clean-up.

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The perfect size for making party dip, this round-shaped slow cooker features a 1-1/2-quart removable stoneware pot. Simply add ingredients, then store it in the refrigerator for cooking at a later time or set it in the electric base. The slow cooker's tempered glass lid allows for keeping an eye on the cooking process, and its integrated side handles and stay-cool lid knob make it safe to lift the lid or transport the unit. The stoneware pot with its Rinse-Clean coating, along with the glass lid, cleans up easily by hand or in the dishwasher. A bonus recipe book with 25 great-tasting recipes comes included. The slow cooker measures approximately 9-1/5 by 9-1/2 by 7-4/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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