Bella 5 QT Programmable Slow Cooker Instruction Manual

Bella 5 QT Programmable Slow Cooker

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

WARNING: When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the following:

1. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles or knobs.
3. To protect against electrical shock do not immerse cord, plugs, or appliance in water or other liquid.
4. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.
5. Unplug from outlet when not in use and before cleaning. Allow to cool before putting on or taking off parts.
6. Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug or after the appliance malfunctions, or has been damaged in any manner. Bring it to a qualified technician for examination, repair or for electrical or mechanical adjustment.
7. The use of accessory attachments not recommended by the appliance manufacturer may cause injuries.
8. Do not use outdoors.
9. Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter, or touch hot surfaces.
10. Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric burner, or in a heated oven.
11. Extreme caution must be used when moving an appliance containing hot oil or other hot liquids.
12. To disconnect, press the power OFF button, then remove plug from wall outlet.
13. Do not use appliance for other than intended use.
14. Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as adding refrigerated foods into a heated stoneware liner.

FOR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

CAUTION HOT SURFACES: This appliance generates heat and escaping steam during use. Proper precautions must be taken to prevent the risk of burns, fires, or other injury to persons or damage to property.

1. A person who has not read and understood all operating and safety instructions is not qualified to operate this appliance. All users of this appliance must read and understand this owner’s manual before operating or cleaning this appliance.
2. If this appliance falls or accidentally becomes immersed in water, unplug it from the wall outlet immediately. Do not reach into the water!
3. When using this appliance, provide adequate air space above and on all sides for air circulation. Do not operate this appliance while it is touching or near curtains, wall coverings, clothing, dishtowels or other flammable materials.
4. Do not leave this appliance unattended during use.
5. If this appliance begins to malfunction during use, immediately unplug the cord. Do not use or attempt to repair a malfunctioning appliance!
6. The cord to this appliance should only be plugged into a 120V AC electrical wall outlet.
7. Do not use this appliance in an unstable position.
8. Never use the stoneware liner on a gas or electric cooktop or on an open flame.
9. Lift off lid carefully to avoid scalding, and allow water to drip into stoneware liner.
10. CAUTION: To protect against damage or electric shock, do not cook in base unit. Cook only in the stoneware liner provided.

NOTES ON THE CORD

The provided short power-supply cord (or detachable power-supply cord) should be used to reduce the risk resulting from becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord. Do not use an extension cord with this product.

NOTES ON THE PLUG

This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). To reduce the risk of electric shock, this plug will fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully into the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician. Do not modify the plug in any way.

PLASTICIZER WARNING

CAUTION: To prevent Plasticizers from migrating to the finish of the counter top or table top or other furniture, place NON-PLASTIC coasters or place mats between the appliance and the finish of the counter top or table top. Failure to do so may cause the finish to darken; permanent blemishes may occur or stains can appear.

ELECTRIC POWER

If the electrical circuit is overloaded with other appliances, your appliance may not operate properly. It should be operated on a separate electrical circuit from other appliances.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR 5 QUART PROGRAMMABLE SLOW COOKER

Product may vary slightly from illustrations.

INTRODUCTION TO SLOW COOKING

Slow cooking occurs at temperatures just around boiling. The Programmable Slow Cooker can operate at LOW all day or night if required. When cooking on a HIGH setting, it is very much like a covered pot on the stove top. Foods will cook on HIGH in about half the time required for LOW cooking. Additional liquid may be required as foods do boil on HIGH. To turn the Slow Cooker OFF, press the power OFF button. Always unplug from electrical outlet when not in use.

BEFORE USING FOR THE FIRST TIME

1. Carefully unpack your Programmable Slow Cooker and clean, see CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS.
2. It is necessary to operate the Slow Cooker one time before placing food in the stoneware liner. Pour 4 cups of water into the stoneware liner and place it inside the base unit. Cover with the glass lid.
3. Plug into a 120 V AC outlet. The 3 program indicator lights will flash until the unit is programmed.
4. Press the LOW/HIGH/WARM selector button until the HIGH program indicator light illuminates. Press the TIME program UP arrow until “0:30” appears on the time display. The Slow Cooker will begin to heat in 2 seconds.
   NOTE: You will notice a slight odor; this is normal and should quickly disappear.
5. After 30 minutes, the Programmable Slow Cooker will automatically switch to OFF. Unplug the Slow Cooker and allow the unit to cool.
6. Wearing oven mitts, grasp the liner handles carefully to lift and remove the stoneware liner from the base unit; pour out the water from the stoneware liner.
7. Rinse stoneware liner, dry thoroughly and replace inside the base unit.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare recipe according to instructions.
2. Place food into the stoneware liner and cover with glass lid. DO NOT FILL THE LINER TO THE TOP WITH FOOD. For best results, the slow cooker should be at least half filled. If cooking soups or stews, allow a 2-inch space between the food and the top of the cooking pot, so ingredients can come to simmer.
   NOTE: When cooking a meat and vegetable combination, place the vegetables in the bottom of the stoneware liner first. Then add the meat and other ingredients.
   NOTE: When cooking on HIGH, keep checking progress, as some soups may come to boil. Remember that frequent lifting of the lid during cooking delays the cooking time.
   WARNING: The stoneware liner CANNOT stand the shock of sudden temperature changes. If the liner is hot, DO NOT add cold food. Before cooking frozen food, add some warm liquid.
3. Plug cord into a 120 V AC outlet. The 3 program indicator lights will flash until the unit is programmed.
4. Following recipe instructions, press the LOW/HIGH/WARM selector button until the desired LOW, HIGH or WARM program indicator light illuminates.
   NOTE: WARM is not a timed function. It is possible to reheat or keep cooked food warm for an indefinite period of time.
5. Press the TIME program UP arrow and “0:30” (30 minutes) will appear on the time display. Continue to press the UP or DOWN arrows until the target cooking time appears on the time display. The Programmable Slow Cooker can be programmed in half hour (30 minute) increments from “0:30” (30 minutes) to “12:00” (12 hours). After 2 seconds, the Slow Cooker will begin to heat.
   NOTE: Press the UP or DOWN arrows to adjust target cook time at any time while the Slow Cooker is cooking.
   NOTE: Press the OFF button at any time to turn the Programmable Slow Cooker OFF.
6. The time on the display will begin to count down in minutes until “0:00” minutes is shown on the display.
   CAUTION: The base unit will get very warm during cooking. This is where the heating elements are located. Use pot holders or oven mitts when moving or handling the unit.
7. When cooking time is complete, the Programmable Slow Cooker will automatically switch OFF.
8. Using oven mitts, carefully remove the glass lid by grasping the lid knob and lifting the lid slightly away from you. This will allow the steam to escape before removing the lid.
9. Allow a few seconds for all steam to escape. Then, using oven mitts, remove the stoneware liner from the base unit. Serve contents. If serving directly from the stoneware liner, always place a trivet or protective padding under the liner before placing it on a table or countertop.
10. Unplug from electrical outlet. Allow to cool completely before cleaning, see CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS.
    NOTE: If you are moving the Slow Cooker, grasp the unit by the base unit handles; use pot holders or oven mitts. (See Figure 2.)
11. Even when turned OFF and unplugged, the Slow Cooker remains hot for some time after using; set aside and allow unit to cool before cleaning or storing.

*Please take note of the following chart for cooking purposes

HINTS FOR SLOW COOKING

• Less tender, cheaper cuts of meat are better candidates for slow cooking than more expensive varieties.
• Meats will not brown during the cooking process. Browning fatty meats will reduce the amount of fat and help to preserve color while adding richer flavor. Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet and brown meats prior to putting into the stoneware liner.
• Whole herbs and spices flavor better in slow cooking than crushed or ground.
• When cooking in a Slow Cooker, remember that liquids do not boil away like they do in conventional cooking. Reduce the amount of liquid in any recipe that is not designed for a Slow Cooker. The exceptions to this rule would be rice and soups. Remember, liquids can always be added at a later time if necessary. If a recipe results in too much liquid at the end of the cooking time, remove the cover and re-program the Slow Cooker to continue to cook HIGH for 45 minutes. Check every 15 minutes. After about 30-45 minutes the amount of liquid will be reduced.
• Most recipes that call for uncooked meat and vegetables require about 6-8 hours on LOW temperature.
• Foods cut into uniform pieces will cook faster and more evenly than foods left whole such as roast or poultry.
• Vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, turnips and beets require longer cooking time than many meats. Be sure to place them on the bottom of the Slow Cooker and cover them with liquid.
• Add fresh dairy products (milk, sour cream or yogurt) prior to serving. Evaporated milk or condensed creamed soups may be added at the start of cooking.
• Rice, noodles and pasta are not recommended for long cooking periods. Cook them separately and then add to the Slow Cooker during the last 30 minutes.

USER MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

This appliance requires little maintenance. It contains no user serviceable parts. Do not try to repair it yourself. Any servicing requiring disassembly other than cleaning, must be performed by a qualified appliance repair technician.

1. Avoid sudden, extreme temperature changes. For example, do not place a hot glass lid or stoneware liner into cold water or onto a wet surface.
2. Do not use the stoneware liner to store food in the refrigerator, and then reheat in the base unit. The sudden temperature change may crack the liner.
3. Avoid hitting the stoneware liner and glass lid against the faucet or other hard surfaces.
4. Do not use stoneware liner or glass lid if chipped, cracked, or severely scratched.

CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS

CAUTION: NEVER IMMERSE BASE UNIT OR CORD IN WATER OR OTHER LIQUID.

1. Always unplug and allow to cool completely before cleaning.
2. Both the liner and the glass lid may be cleaned in the dishwasher. To avoid damage, position the stoneware liner in dishwasher rack so that it will not hit other items during cleaning. To clean by hand, wash the stoneware liner and glass lid in warm, soapy water.
3. If food sticks to the stoneware liner, fill with warm soapy water and allow to soak before cleaning. A paste of baking soda may be used with a plastic scouring pad.
4. To remove water spots or mineral deposits, wipe liner with distilled white vinegar. For difficult stains, pour a small amount into the stoneware liner and allow to soak. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
5. Wipe interior and exterior of the base unit with a soft, slightly damp cloth or sponge. Never use abrasive cleansers or scouring pads to clean the base unit, as they may damage the surfaces.

STORING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Be sure all parts are clean and dry before storing.
2. Store appliance in its box or in a clean, dry place.
3. Never store Programmable Slow Cooker while it is hot or wet.
4. To store, place stoneware liner inside the base unit and the glass lid over the stoneware liner; to protect the glass lid, it may be wrapped with a soft cloth and placed upside down over the liner.
5. Never wrap cord tightly around the appliance; keep it loosely coiled.

NOTE
If the supply cord is damaged, it must be replaced by the manufacturer or its service agent or similarly qualified person in order to avoid hazard. This appliance is not i ntended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use
of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety.

Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.

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Bella 5 QT Programmable Slow Cooker-FAQs