The Crock-Pot SCR300 is one of the best slow cookers on the market for those looking for something smaller. The three-quart size is perfect for college dorms, one-to-three-person households, or for side dishes at a party or gathering. It is one of the cheapest slow cookers we’ve seen and It’s small and lightweight, making storage and transportation easy. However, since it is such a simple device, it is missing some features that are common with larger slow cookers.
Crock-Pot SCR300 3-Quart Manual Slow Cooker: Features
- No included accessories
- Unit will be easy to lift, store and transport
- Features a warm setting, which is a nice convenience
Since this is quite basic slow cooker, there are no included accessories. The cord only measures 24 inches, which made it somewhat difficult for us to reach a plug when testing, and there is no built-in cord storage, so you will want to be careful with the cord when storing it away.
This slow cooker is small, although not as small as the Crock-Pot 2.5-Quart Mini Casserole, weighing only 6.5 pounds, and is about the size of a medium cooking pot. This unit will be easy to lift, store and transport. Unlike most other slow cookers, you could perhaps even fit it onto a cabinet shelf to save some counter space.
This is a manual slow cooker, which is to be expected for the price. This means you can’t set a timer for the slow cooker to switch off when you’re out, which makes it less convenient if you work long hours or don’t know when you’ll be back.
There are four knob settings: low, high, warm and off. We were impressed that for a smaller and more budget option, this Crock-Pot featured a warm setting, which is a nice convenience feature for get-togethers where you may not eat immediately, or if your meal is done earlier than expected and you want to keep it warm before serving. When you are done using it, you can easily hand wash it or place the bowl and lid in a dishwasher. The ceramic insert is durable and high-quality, especially for the price you pay.
This Crock-Pot is round, with dimensions of 10.4" height, 11.41" width and 9.84" diameter. We like the round design for casseroles or sauces, but you might find it an unideal shape for certain cuts of meat. Despite this, Crock-Pot claims that this will fit a 3lb roast, making it great for a modest size one-pot dish. If you're after something a little bigger, check out the Crock-Pot SCR450-HX 4.5-Quart Round.
Crock-Pot covers this unit with a one-year warranty, which is standard. That being said, you'll find a better warranty on the Black+Decker SCD4007 7-Quart Digital.
Crock-Pot SCR300 3-Quart Manual Slow Cooker: Cooking experience
- Design overall is pleasing and attractive
- Glass lid
- Doesn't take up too much counter space
One thing that’s great about having a smaller slow cooker is that you can’t cook too much food, which can help with cutting portion sizes and reducing food waste and leftovers. That makes this perfect for a small family of 2-3, or those who are health-conscious, especially as one of the main advantages of Crock-Pot slow cookers is the need for less oil.
You will find 10 recipes in the included instruction manual. If you happen to lose the manual, you can find these recipes and instructions on Crock-Pot's website. Crock-Pot has a great blog which lists plenty of recipe inspiration based on meal, main ingredient, regional cuisine and flavor. We love the wide range of recipe types, from dessert to vegetarian to seafood.
We like that this slow cooker has a glass lid, meaning you can easily monitor your meal without having to take off the lid. The looped handle may be easier to grasp than some rounded handles and the design overall is pleasing and attractive, with brushed stainless steel exterior and black accents. However, it doesnt offer the convenience of the clip-on lid offered by the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart. The Crock-Pot SCR300 3-Quart Manual would fit into many kitchens and not take up too much counter space. There is also a black option if this is more to your liking.
Crock-Pot claims that this model has stay-cool handles which make it easy to transport. There are lots of advantages to a smaller slow cooker but it can mean that some of the more advanced features we’ve seen on other models, such as high-quality insulation, are missing. A lot of users reported that this slow-cooker gets very hot, to the point where the plastic handles melted off, which is a big problem when you consider the dangers of melted plastic fumes. For a higher-end model with an oven-safe pot, check out the Calphalon Digital Sauté.
It is normal for slow cookers to become hot-to-touch when they’ve been cooking for a while, if they become too hot this could be a safety hazard. We didn’t have any serious problems with overheating when we tested the SCR300’s little brother, the two-quart equivalent. However, like any slow cooker, you'll want to keep it away from pets and children, and keep this in mind if you do decide to purchase.
Crock-Pot SCR300 3-Quart Manual Slow Cooker: Verdict
This is the perfect slow cooker for first-timers who are new to this type of cooking and want to give it a go. It’s one of the most affordable models we’ve seen and this doesn’t come at the expense of multiple cooking modes, a keep-warm mode, glass lid and ceramic, high-quality dishwashable insert. The size makes it ideal for small families or those who are trying to cut down on portion sizes. It’s also great for smaller spaces such as apartments not much storage space or college dorms. Some users have reported issues with overheating and melting of the plastic handles, so take this into account when purchasing. Fortunately if you do experience this, Crock-Pot covers this unit with a one-year warranty.
