Proctor Silex 33442 is a four-quart slow cooker that offers a basic timer and settings interface. While it doesn't show you the exact cooking time, it gives you a general idea of how much longer your food needs to cook. This is the perfect device for a small family who's looking for a slow cooker on a budget. It provides some of the costlier conveniences while still being relatively inexpensive.
Our testers liked the beef stew this slow cooker created. Many told us that the flavor was more full and the beef fell apart in their mouths.
In our evaporation test, the slow cooker lost 13 percent of its moisture when left on high for four hours which is pretty average. When left on low for four hours, the device lost only 4 percent of its moisture, which is hardly any. These results mean that the device should help keep your food from drying out while cooking as long as a decent amount of liquid accompanies your cooking.
We also measured the exterior of the device to see how hot it got. Just above the settings interface, we recorded the temperature at 136 degrees, which isn't as hot as some but definitely hotter than others. Near the handles the temperature reached 176 degrees, which is definitely on the warmer side. In fact, when we were cooking, we noticed that while the handles themselves remained fairly cool, the base of the handles touching the sides of the slow cooker were painfully hot. You will want to be careful when carrying and moving this slow cooker, as its sides reach very hot temperatures.
While it does offer a timer, it isn't digital like the BELLA 13973W. You can set the cooking time to 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 hours, but there is not digital display to show you exactly how much time is left. The indicator light does move down from one time setting to another to give you a general idea of you remaining time. For example, we set this slow cooker to cook for six hours. When we checked in on the devices three hours later, the red indicator light had moved from the six-hour setting to the four-hour setting. When we checked in again, there was less than two hours left, the indicator had moved down to the two-hour setting. We were pleased to see that this unit switched to the warm setting on its own once it was done cooking.
The Proctor Silex 33442’s four quarts can cook recipes that feed three to five people. We measured the cord on this unit at 27-inches long, which made it easier for us to reach our outlets without straining the cord. This device also only weighs 8.4 pounds when empty, so it should be easier to carry around and lift when full.
It doesn't come with any accessories or any recipes. The manufacturer only covers this slow cooker with a one-year warranty, which is average for this kind of device but not the best.
