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'd never heard of this appliance before seeing it on Overstock. I took a chance, ordered it, and I'm glad I did. We have yet to use it to its full capacity, but for any meal that needs to cooked in one pan or pot, this is superb--gather the ingredients, put them in, and set the timer. Sometimes you have to have ingredients later--but that's easy enough. Open the lid, add what's needed, and set the timer again. What would have taken 25 or 30 minutes on the stovetop takes 4-6 minutes. We have yet to have a bad meal cooked in this appliance. The recipe book that comes with it is somewhat limited, but once you understand the concept of how this thing works, you can adapt recipes fairly easily.

Kettle Corn is just ONE of the reasons's to buy this product! Quite frankly, I have never tasted better, even from those gourmet popcorn stands! And if you're the traditional popcorn person...this pops up old fashioned, stove top taste without standing there and shaking the pan. My popcorn never scorches! This cooker is amazing in so many ways...from tasty stir-fry, to scrambled eggs, to homemade Alfredo sauce. The vented lid keeps your kitchen fume free...this thing even makes BACON without all the splatter that comes with conventional cooking! I even use this to toast or carmelize nuts! This is one of those "best kept secrets"!

This cooker was a good idea, but someone forgot to think about spills. It is impossible to clean spills out of the main chamber. I would not recommend this product. The time you gain by using the product you lose when cleaning it. Keep looking for something more time efficient.