The 4-Quart 360 Cookware ID004-GC Gourmet Slow Cooker
Price Point: $390
Indoor slow cookers have been with us since 1970 when the Rival Crock-Pot debuted. In the mid-70s, the popularity for slow cookers exploded as women began to enter the workforce. Promoting easy cleanup and one pot, all-day cooking, most models were very basic.
However, over time more advanced models like the 4-Quart 360 Cookware ID004-GC Gourmet Slow Cooker ($390) have emerged. With the ability to cook without water or oil and also offering wonderful energy-saving benefits, this gourmet slow cooker by 360 Cookware has earned a nearly perfect 4.7 out of 5.0 star rating on Amazon by customers who have purchased it. It’s a big investment, but one some find worth the cost.
Since you do not need to use oil when cooking with this model, you can create healthier meals for your family. The solid stainless steel construction of the pot and lid, as well as the design of the heating element on the base, also allow for energy-saving use when compared to the typical slow cooker. The ID004-GC Gourmet Slow Cooker can handle all the basic cooking jobs that an entry-level model can, but you can also brown meats on medium heat with the lid off, and benefit from the expanded heat settings the variable control knob offers.
The nearly perfect customer satisfaction rating is based on several factors. For starters, buyers pointed out that they really liked the attractive brushed stainless steel pot and lid. It simply looks better on your table or in your kitchen than ceramic slow cooker models. Also, the three layer stainless steel construction allows you to use the pot and lid in your oven or on your stove, creating a very versatile product.
As with all products, this one is not perfect. The high-end price tag might put this powerful and good looking slow cooker outside of some budgets. And because the circular design of the pot, which is a nice space-saving feature, lets it rest atop a special heating element, the sides of the pot can get warm to the touch and the heating element can be a fire hazard.
With a heating knob that allows for more control than just a high/medium/low setting, beautiful and durable stainless steel, the ability to brown meats, and the versatility to use in your oven and on your stove, the 360 Cookware ID004-GC Gourmet Slow Cooker is a good choice for some families.
[…] The Instant Pot (<– that’s my review) makes it so easy to do so many tasks, and so much quicker to cook certain things with the pressure cooker function. For instance – did you know that making hard boiled eggs that peel perfectly is super easy with the Instant Pot? And in fact, anything you like to make in your crockpot, pressure cooker, or rice cooker can be made in your Instant Pot instead. […]