West Bend Cookers - Manual (Page 4)

4
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Using Your Slow Cooker – First Use
1. Before using, wash slow cooker pot, cover and roasting rack (if included) with
hot soapy water, rinse and dry.
2. Wipe non-stick finish of slow cooker heating base with a damp cloth and dry.
3. Wipe the non-stick finish on inside of cooking pot with a teaspoon of vegetable
cooking oil using a paper towel. This will condition the non-stick finish to prevent
sticking. NOTE: Do NOT use shortening or butter to condition the finish. Leave a
light film of oil on finish. The non-stick finish will need to be reconditioned after
each time the cooking pot is 1) cleaned in an automatic dishwasher, 2) the finish
is treated with a special cleaner, 3) the finish is cleaned with lemon juice or
vinegar is used to remove a mineral film, or 4) when sticking becomes a
problem during use. DO NOT CONDITION NON-STICK SURFACE OF SLOW
COOKER HEATING BASE BEFORE USING AS A SLOW COOKER. Non-stick
finish of heating base should only be conditioned when it is used as a grill.
• Some smoke and/or odor may occur upon heating due to the release of
manufacturing oils – this is normal.
• Some expansion/contraction sounds may occur during heating and cooling –
this is normal.
Using Your Slow Cooker – Everyday Use
1. Place heating base on dry, level, heat-resistant surface, away from any edge.
2. Place foods into slow cooker pot, cover and place cooking pot onto heating
base. If you wish to brown or precook any foods before slow cooking, place slow
cooker pot directly on range top unit over medium heat. After foods are browned
or cooked, transfer cooking pot to heating base. Note: Use only plastic, rubber,
wooden or non-metal cooking tools in metal cooking pot. Use of metal cooking
tools will scratch the non-stick surface.
3. Attach cord to base, then plug cord into a 120 volt AC electric outlet only.
4. Slow cooker base will offer heat settings Keep Warm, LO, Med and HI or be
numbered 1-5. Heat setting #1 should only be used to warm dinner rolls,
muffins, etc. Heat setting Keep Warm (#2) should only be used to keep cooked
foods warm for serving, whereas LO (#3), Med (#4) and HI (#5) are to be used
for actual cooking of foods. Set dial directly at setting or anywhere between for
complete temperature control. NOTE: DO NOT USE A HEAT SETTING BELOW
LO (#3) FOR ACTUAL COOKING OF RAW FOODS AS THE SLOW COOKER
WILL NOT GET HOT ENOUGH TO COOK FOODS.
Set heat setting and cook food for recommended time as given in recipe. As a
general guideline, most meat and vegetable combinations need 7 to 10 hours of
cooking at LO (#3), 4 to 6 hours of cooking at Med (#4) or 2 to 3 hours of
cooking at HI (#5). Meats will become most tender when cooked for the longer
time at the lower heat setting. Avoid removing cover when slow cooking as
cooking time will be increased due to loss of temperature. Remove cover only
when needed to stir occasionally or when adding ingredients.