So clever and practical!
I've been wanting to purchase this for almost a year but I was waiting until it went back on sale. I'm so glad I've finally been able to get it. I wish I'd known about it when it came out! I've gone through a regular hassle using conventional slow cookers over the years for various reasons. Most notably and the "straw that broke the camel's back" has been the ordeal of transporting a conventional slow cooker (both empty and full, both hot and cold) from home to an event and back without risking making a mess or damaging any part of the cooker (especially its controls). We regularly have events at my work where slow cookers are used, and while I enjoy the cooking and competition, I dreaded the transportation and clean-up. Not only does this Presto travel-ready slow cooker resolve that stressful transportation scenario in all respects, it improves the overall slow-cooker experience in ways I hadn't even considered. Notably, the Presto is much lighter than a typical slow cooker, likely due to having a metal rather than ceramic inner "bowl". The handle is sturdy and feels good, and the size and shape make it very transportation-friendly, especially compared to the awkward oval- and circle-shaped typical slow cookers with just the small hands on the sides. The power cord even goes back inside the bottom and has a clever clip to hold the end in place, so no more having to wrap the cord around the pot or through the handle or any other nonsense solution. The dry-erase board and included marker are a brilliant touch. I also liked how the two locations to open the lid are at the front corners of the lid, where they'll be cool and easy to reach. Not only that, this location at the front corners nearly eliminates the chance of getting one's arm bathed in steam when opening the lid of a hot device, as is de rigeur for most other slow cookers (as the lid handles are almost always in the center of those lids, and there's no way to escape the heat when opening it). Again, such a clever touch that also fits the aesthetic of the design. I already put it to the test and it did such a marvelous job. It warmed up quickly on the highest setting, it kept warm as designed, and the shape allowed for easy stirring without making a mess. I did a package of ground beef (along with the beef stock and other ingredients), and it was almost like the cooker was designed for the size and shape of the "loaf" of ground meat. Clean-up was a breeze! The lid comes right off without tools (just open it all the way, and lift straight up), and the gasket is easy to clean out. The metal "bowl" - as mentioned before - is nice and light. All the surfaces around the cooking area are flat and easy to wipe down any splashes. Best of all, no tools are required to remove any major components, not even a screwdriver as I've had to do on prior slow cookers to remove the handles for cleaning, for example. There are screws holding on the cover for the power cord storage area, but they don't have to come off to facilitate pushing the cord back into its home. My sole tiny point of dissatisfaction - and it's almost trivial, as it's a personal affectation rather than a design flaw - would be the tension mechanism for the handle. Unless the handle is fully vertical (90°) the lid (and handle) aren't locked in place. So - for example - if I wanted to carry the device from underneath, then the lid could bounce around while walking unless the handle is fully upright. In the same vein, as the handle has to be fully upright to seal the lid down while cooking, it could possibly get in the way or possibly be an unintended target when moving around the cooking area; that said, the upright handle does serve as a partial physical barrier to putting anything on top of the lid while cooking (which is flat rather than concave like most other cookers), so that's a plus. The handle design does remind me of the Igloo coolers that this design is inspired by where the lid could only be opened/removed if the handle was fully folded down in one direction, and the mechanism would keep the lid tightly in place otherwise. However, I personally wish that the Presto had some sort of rotating ratchet or other latching mechanism at the hinge so that the handle could be locked into place at different locations (even if just the horizontal and vertical axes), and that it would also allow the lid to be locked down regardless of handle position. Again, this is largely a nitpick, but as clever and genuinely delightful as the design is ("it sparks joy!" ) it's the sole aspect that doesn't shine entirely brightly. TL;DR: I'm so glad I bought this, wish I'd bought it before, and look forward to many years of traveling with it! Read more
