Let’s be honest: nobody wants to cook dinner after a long day at work. Ordering some Chinese takeout seems like the best option, despite the guilt creeping up inside you about not eating healthy.
But there are ways to have healthy homemade food even on such days – you just need to own the right gadgets.
One such kitchen asset is a pressure cooker, of course. Just drop all the stuff in the pot, set the timer, and voilà! You’re making your favorite recipes at home, without any fuss, in half the usual cooking time.
This post reviews the Crock Pot Express Easy Release Steam – a pressure cooker/multi-cooker meant for busy moms, workaholic dads, and gadget-savvy people in general.
We’ll talk about the Crock Pot Express cooker’s features, the pros and cons of owning it, and lots more. Keep reading!
What CrockPot is All About – An Overview
For over 40 years, CrockPot has been inspiring home cooks and chefs to turn their culinary dreams into reality. With a range of different slow cookers and pressure cookers, CrockPot is a name trusted nationwide for its impeccable quality and reliable performance.
It was initiated when a young man called Irving Naxon had a stroke of brilliance. After his Jewish mother narrated stories to him about a bean stew that was cooked over 24 hours during Sabbath, he came up with the first-ever model of a slow cooker.
His device got so popular that by the 1970s, he sold his brand to Rival Manufacturers, who rebranded the entire thing. Today, millions of people use the trusted CrockPot to stew up flavorful meals – all thanks to Naxon’s dear old mother who loved beans!
Crock Pot Express – Features You’ll Love
Here’s our take on how the Crock Pot Express cooker performs in the kitchen with its nifty features and design:
Minimalistic Design
Right out of the box, the Crock Pot Express isn’t exactly a stunner. It has the usual shiny stainless steel exterior with a black lid and control panel. While it may not be winning any appliance beauty pageants, the minimalist design is actually a plus.
The simply-labeled controls and a big wide display make it easier to operate the device amid all the cooking fuss. No crazy symbols or colors – just black and white for your convenience.
Apart from this, the lid has clear markings to indicate where the steam and power valves are. The power cord, on the other hand, seems to be a bit short for our liking.
Truly a Multi-Cooker with 8 Functions
One of the frustrating realities of home cooking is the mound of pots and pans waiting for you to clean them.
This pressure cooker solves that problem for procrastinators like us. With eight different modes, you can now perform an array of cooking functions with just one pot.
Firstly, the Crock Pot pressure cooker can pressure cook stuff like a champ. Your favorite meals will pop out in a third of the usual cooking time traditional methods take.
Second, this device can also slow cook, sear, saute, simmer, boil, sterilize, and steam stuff when you want it to. So when you’ve finished braising those short ribs, you can cook your favorite sauce in the same pot using the saute option. Easy and delish!
Easy Release Steam Valve
Old school pressure cookers risk burns with the way they release steam. Hence, CrockPot’s commitment to consumer safety gave birth to the idea of their Easy Release Steam version.
Just turn the steam release valve, and the pot will release all the pressure from the opposite side of the lid.
Note: you will still have to be careful of staying away from the vertical gush of steam.
Preset Settings
The temperature and time for steaming and other functions are preset, so you don’t have to manually enter them. Not just this, but you can also select what you’re cooking and the device will automatically set the time and temperature needed to cook that food.
For instance, if you select beans/chili, the cooker will cook the stuff for just the right amount of time and let you know when it’s done – all with just a one-touch action.
Crock Pot Express cooker with Easy Release Steam has preset settings for the following items:
- Meat/poultry
- Beans
- Soup
- Grains/Rice/ Risotto
- Desserts
- Yogurt
LED Status Bar
If you’re unnerved by the fact that you can’t look through the opaque lid, the status bar just below the big digital display will keep you informed. It displays in a bright blue LED light how much it has pressurized.
Delay Timer to the Rescue
Not going to be home in time to cook the food? Just drop all the ingredients into the pot before you leave, and set the timer to start cooking at a specific time of the day.
This way, your CrockPot will start cooking while you’re away and have it ready in time. Talk about being smart!
Keeps Your Food Warm with Auto-warm
This Crock Pot pressure cooker goes into a warm setting called auto-warm mode as soon as the cooking process ends. This way, you can have a steaming plate of food whenever you’re ready to eat.
Just be sure not to leave your Crock Pot Express on for too long, or the food might get burned.
Reasons to Like the Crock Pot Express Cooker
Here’s why we think it’s worth buying:
- Cheap to moderately priced, especially considering its smart features.
- The inner pot is non-stick, which means it reduces the risk of burning food. Also, it’s removable and dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. When we said CrockPot is no-fuss, we meant it.
- The air-tight locking lid remains locked until the pressure is fully released.
- Has a manual pressure option so you can customize the pressure and cooking time.
- Comes with a spoon, a steam rack, and a recipe book that’s actually helpful and not just a marketing gimmick.
- Available in sizes that are fit for all kinds of households.
- In case you want to keep track of how your food looks while cooking, the Crock Pot Express is also available with an optional glass lid.
Reasons to Dislike it
Below are some cons of the Crock Pot pressure cooker, which aren’t exactly dealbreakers, but worth considering:
- The non stick pot might get scratched by a spoon during cooking. Also, it doesn’t allow for the same kind of sears as a steel cooking pot does.
- Preset settings won’t cook to perfection each time – you may have to tweak the temperature and time settings.
- Not easy to store since it’s bulky and heavy.
Luckily, the Crock Pot Express Easy Release Steam family is available in four sizes:
Crock pot 4-Quart Multi-Use MINI Express
Specifications
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 13.5 x 13.2 inches
- Weight: 11.77 lbs
- Fit for the average bachelor/bachelorette who likes home-cooked meals. Small families consisting of 2-3 members can also use it.
Crock Pot Express 6 quart Black Stainless Pressure Cooker
Specifications
- Dimensions: 13.4 x 13.2 x 14.8 inches
- Weight: 12.8 lbs
- Perfect for a household with 4-6 members.
Crock-pot 8-Quart Multi-Use XL Express
Specifications
- Dimensions: 14.9 x 13.9 x 16 inches
- Weight: 16.76 lbs
- Appropriate for cooking large hearty meals for 6-8 people.
Crockpot 10 Quart Express Crock Multi-Cooker with Easy Release
Specifications
- Dimensions: 15.94 x 15.94 x 14.88 inches
- Weight: 22.6 lbs
- Fit for the ultimate Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner for 8-10 people.
Conclusion
When compared with other cookers in the same price range, the Crock Pot Express stands out as an affordable device that is fully functional and works as well as any cooker.
Yes, it may not be a life-changing, insanely impressive gadget – it definitely has downsides. For instance, apart from the cons we discussed above, sometimes its electronic controls may go haywire and you’ll have to refer to its manual to get it back on track.
But hey, considering the price and its multitude of functions, we’re not complaining, as it certainly gets the job done 99% of the time.
In a nutshell, the Crock Pot Express is ideal for those who don’t want to spend a ton on gadgets but want that melting-in-the-mouth kind of tender meat ASAP.
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Welcome to Julie’s kitchen site, where we like to share everything food-related. Starting from raw ingredients. How to pick, store, cook, freeze, and reheat them, moving to all the kitchen appliances that would be an indispensable necessity to you, that would make your life easier. Ending with the most flavorful, fancy, and amazing detailed food recipes that you can make at the comfort of your home, and easily impress all your guests with, all while enjoying cooking them.
