One of the more modern developments in crock pot technology and styling is represented by the Rival 5 quart Versaware crock pot, a slow cooker that has been gaining increasingly in status ever since its release. Unlike the heavier stoneware crocks found in many slow cookers, this one is made of lightweight Extreme Temperature Cookware (ETC), also called VersaWare, a stoneware so handy it can be used on a stovetop, in an oven, below a broiler, and within a microwave. The lid is also made of ETC, which makes the five-quart pot perfect for storing pre-assembled foods in the freezer or fridge, and baking covered dishes in the oven. The idea is an intriguing one to be sure: a removable stoneware crock liner or insert that you could use on top of the range to "Sauté, Cook, Serve, Store and Reheat all in one pot!" according to the product sheet. The reality has not been everything the manufacturer's promo material promised, but on the whole the product is sound in more than one way and makes for a refreshing and novel approach to slow cooking.
First, allow me to bring up the product's downside. (sorry for the pun) Sorry, but I have to say that there is no way that this unit sautés suitably; Of course, you can put the Versaware liner on top of the range, yet it's not supposed to be over a high heat, and if, like many folks, you use electric the insert must sit on top of a diffuser. Sensibly, no high heat means no saute – and that's just by definition of the technique of saute cooking. Another catch with the versaware is that you cannot use conventional metal utensils inside of it without using tremendous vigilance. (better not to attempt using them with it in the first place) For those who are use to continually using metal utensils and feel the itch to use them in the kitchen regardless of the situation would probably find themselves walking on egg shells throughout the cooking process.
In all honesty, however, these drawbacks are too little to get a thumbs down on this Crock Pot. Though it is not destined for intense heat, the Versaware insert is good on top of the stove, in a microwave, or (and here I am just guessing) atop a hot plate to keep the contents heated enough while sitting out on the table. Peculiarly enough, the crock liner also rests in the slow cooker base with an atypical cradle design, and sports a design that features four metal legs with rubber stopper feet. I was able to fit an intact roast inside it without having to cut it up in advance, and I think you could without difficulty get a four-pound entire chicken in the unit. I enjoy the preference of high or low cooking settings (the former about twice as rapid as the latter) and the warm setting to keep stuff hot when the cooking is done. A single knob sets the cooker at low, high, and maintain warm, a handy setting for maintaining cuisine at just the suited serving temperature. With these abovementioned two cook settings, low and high, this crock pot can slow cook a broad variety of stews, roasts, and soups, recipes for which are printed in an included 79-page recipe booklet. Meats can be braised initially on the stovetop, and casseroles can be browned underneath the broiler just previous to serving. Though the basic piece is $59.99, I’d say pay out the extra $20 for the automatic, which switches to warm after the built-in timer (you set it in half-hour increments) has completed its countdown. Both the base and crock sport loop-style handles for easy lifting. Measuring 9 by 13 by 10-1/2 inches, with internal dimensions of 9-1/2 by 4-1/2 inches, the slow cooker comes with a short, 32-inch cord that removes from the base unit for storing and lets the intact piece stand alone on a serving buffet. The crock and top go right into the dishwasher for clean-up. If you choose to wash the versaware crock by hand, don't be surprised if you find that the mass of the liner and cover make washing more difficult. Rival covers the slow cooker with a one-year warranty. Overall, the Rival Versaware crock pot is an user-friendly slow cooker with an exemplary degree of control that sports a number of convenient features. If the versaware is a sign of where the crockpot is going, in that case the prospect for Rival cookware is looking pretty positive.
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