West Bend Slow Cooker Clean Before Using The First Time, Condition Inside of Cooking Pot

•ALWAYS follow care and use instructions in this booklet to avoid chips, cracks and scratches due to hitting rims using metal utensils, using abrasive scouring pads or cleansers or from accidental impact.

CAUTION: To prevent personal injury when removing cover from pot:

•ALWAYS use oven mitts when removing cover from pot.

•ALWAYS tilt cover toward you to prevent steam burns. See diagram.

CARE AND USE

•Clean Before Using The First Time

Wash slow cooker pot and cover in hot soapy water with a dishcloth or sponge, rinse and dry. If roasting rack is included, wash in same manner as cooking pot and cover. Wipe non-stick finish of slow cooker heating base with a damp cloth and dry with a soft cloth.

CAUTION: To prevent personal injury or electric shock, do not immerse slow cooker heating base its cord or plugs in water or other liquid.

•Condition Inside of Cooking Pot

After initial cleaning, wipe the non-stick finish on inside of cooking pot with a teaspoon of vegetable oil, using a paper towel. This will condition the non-stick finish to prevent sticking. Do not use shortening, or butter to condition the finish. Leave a light film of oil on finish. The cooker is now ready to use.

The non-stick finish will need to be reconditioned after each time the cooking pan 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 white distilled vinegar 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. See that section in this care and use instruction booklet.

•Using Slow Cooker

1.Place heating base on a 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 pot to heating base.) See additional tips for slow cooking later in this booklet.

3.Attach cord to base, then plug cord into 120 volt AC electrical outlet ONLY.

CAUTION: To prevent personal injury or property damage, inspect cordset for damage or wear before each use. Do not use your product if it or its cord has been damaged of if it is not working properly.

4.There are five numbered heat settings on the heating base, 1 to 5. Heat setting # 1 should only be used to warm dinner rolls, muffins, etc. Heat setting # 2 should only be used to keep warm cooked foods for serving, whereas Heat Settings #3, #4 and #5 are to be used for actual cooking of foods. Set the dial directly at the numbered heat setting or midway between the numbered heat settings for complete temperature control. DO NOT USE A HEAT SETTING BELOW # 3 FOR ACTUAL COOKING OF

RAW FOODS AS SLOW COOKER DOES NOT GET HOT ENOUGH TO COOK FOODS AT SETTING #1 OR #2. 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 Setting #3 (low), 4 to 6 hours of cooking at Setting #4 (medium) or 2 to 3 hours of cooking at Setting #5 (high). Meats will become the 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.

CAUTION: To prevent personal injury, always use oven mitts when handling cover and cooking pot as handles become hot. Also be careful when removing cover to avoid steam burns.

5.After food is cooked, reduce heat to Setting # 2 for serving OR unplug cord from outlet to turn cooker off. Slow cooker must be unplugged from outlet to turn off. Allow slow cooker to cool before cleaning.

•Using Cooking Pot on Top of Range

The slow cooker pot (without heating base) can be used for range top cooking. Place pot on large range unit. Use medium to low heat. The use of low to moderate heat will prevent foods from overcooking, reduce spattering and help retain natural juices. Do not use high heat except for bringing liquids to a boil. If cooking on a gas range, do not let flames extend up the side of the pot. ALWAYS USE

OVEN MITTS WHEN USING POT AND COVER ON RANGE UNIT.

When cooking meats, preheat empty cooking pot over medium to medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until a drop of water sizzles in pot. To prevent sticking of lean meats, you may wish to add a small amount of cooking oil. Add meat and brown as desired. Cover pot and reduce heat to low for cooking on range top OR transfer cooking pot to heating base and cook at setting #3, #4 or #5.

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