Gourmet Simplicity Standard Cooking Master

All the positive reviews prompted me to write this one, and they're all correct. Inside the canister there is a removable pot with a stirring paddle on the bottom, much like the stirring paddles on bread making machines. There are 2 different settings, one for stirring and one for simmering, when the stirring paddle does not move. The stirring function can be set for 4 or 2 minutes (4 minutes stirring is considered the main function.) The simmering can be set for 6, 9 or 12 minutes. If simmering, the stirring paddled does not need to be removed. When I received it, I was flummoxed by the recipes...not what I wanted to cook. But I tried my own recipes and quickly learned exactly what this cooker does. You can throw in a packaged, frozen stir fry mix or similar mix from the grocery store, and after 4 minutes of cooking, it's done from frozen. If it is not quite done, add another 2 minutes. The directions said when making, say, a stew, with potatoes, cook them a bit first, on the stove top, so they finish when other veggies do. However, I just throw the potatoes in first with a bit of liquid and simmer them for a few minutes before adding other items. I've made recipes in the cooker that I used to make on the stove top. Even former favorites come out better in the cooker. Somehow, the sauce is more evenly distributed and everything is all around moister. The downside is the inner capacity of the pot. (By the way, the pot has a non teflon but teflon-like easy to clean surface that really does clean beautifully, easily and quickly.) The directions say not to put more than 4 cups of ingredients in the pot. I haven't measured, just checked that it is not overfull. I don't think overfilling would hurt the machine, but the recipe wouldn't cook evenly. I don't really mind the small capacity, because it's easy to cook something for 4 minutes then empty it and cook more for another 4 minutes. However, my family is small. It might be frustrating to cook for a large family using this. I recommend it along with the Sunbeam Rocket Grill, another great new kitchen gadget that I find priceless. Between the two, I cook far fewer hours than before, with tasty, even tastIER results.

I haven't cooked any meals in this yet. We love making kettle corn in it. I love toasting nuts and also toasting them with sugar for our favorite salad which has pears, gorgonzola and candied walnuts. We were surprised that the actual cooking pot is pretty small compared to the size of the appliance. But, it is a fun thing to have and seems like it will be durable. I am looking forward to cooking a dinner in it.

I love this machine! A freind of mine got it for me and I couldn't be more excited about it! I made a great Italian dish with it and it turned out perfectly- the chicken was juicy and the vegi's were tender. I would highly recommend this product to anyone! I agree that the recipe book is redundant, but if you are someone who likes to create your own recipes, then it's not a problem. One tip- stick to the "no more than 4 cups of cooking material" rule, it is easy to overfill the pot if you are not careful.

I received my Gourmet Simplicity Cooking Master a week ago and have used it twice. The instructions are very easy to follow and the cooking master is simple to operate. My family loved both meals that I prepared. This is an especially wonderful appliance for those families that have limited time but still wish to eat healthy. You can vary the meal easily by the type of seasonings you add and also by varying noodles, rice, and pasta. I would highly recommend this product.