The “Cook and Carry” Oval Slow Cooker: Not Your Grandma’s Crock-Pot

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In my series on what items to include on your wedding registry, I included a crock pot, because I think it’s an essential tool for any home cook.

Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker by carried by female in black shirt and grey pants. Shows only torso and hands of woman with detail being centered on the crock pot.

Even if the idea of a make-ahead meal isn’t appealing to you (in which case, I’m going to have to call you crazy), it’s perfect for preparing beans, homemade stocks or bone broths, and even baking bread.

Of course, my favorite way to use mine is to let a stew simmer all day while I’m at work and walk in my front door to the smell of a delicious hot meal, but it’s also handy for keeping dips or fondue warm during college football games every Saturday.

The Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker available on Amazon

I recommended bypassing the itty bitty crock pot and the cheap $15 one that will make do, and going for Crock-Pot’s SCCPVL610-S Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker. I, unfortunately, had two other crock pots before upgrading to this one and ended up wasting a lot of money by not investing in a better small appliance from the start.

Capacity

This crock pot is most certainly considered large, although it’s not quite the biggest. For most families, it’s going to be the perfect size. Like I said, my first crock pot was incredibly small. My thinking was that I was just feeding my fiancé and I, how much space did I really need?

Although I was able to make basic dishes in it, I had no flexibility and had to really cram food in it to make it work. Believe me, you will use all the space and you’ll be grateful you went big when you want to cook a pot roast in it for eight people ahead of time.

If you’re regularly using it to feed more than eight or so people, you might look for something bigger, although you’re only going to find options with a few more square inches of space. If you’re only feeding one or two, having a second smaller crock pot might be a good option for recipes that don’t call for a liquid.

Lock and Go

One of my favorite things about the SCCPVL610-S crock-pot is that it’s actually designed to be transported as alluded to in its moniker of “Cook and Carry.” That means I can get chili cooking in it before bed on Friday night and take the whole thing to a friend’s house to watch the game the next morning, without it ever leaving the crock pot or worrying about it spilling along the way.

Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker being transported in trunk of a car demonstrating how easy it is to take this appliance with you to events.

The locks are hinged and use a lid gasket, so you’re going to have to try hard to get food to spill. There are handles on its side making it easy to carry. Once you’re at your destination, just plug the whole thing back in to get it nice and hot again.

No more duct-taping lids down and lining my car seats with towels! Now that I have this slow cooker, I might be able to finally admit to my fiancé that this transport “system” didn’t quite cut it and yes, our car does still smell like soup. Just make sure you don’t lock the lid while it’s cooking.

Programmable Settings

Compared with my previous cheap-buy crock pot, the most noticeable difference with the SCCPVL610-S is the programmable settings. Although crock pot meals are thought of as “set it and forget it,” that’s not really, truly the case until you have a programmable crock pot.

You can absolutely overcook food in a slow cooker, even if it’s set to low! Set this one on its countdown timer, though, and it will automatically switch to the “warm” setting once the timer is done. I love this option because I will often find myself stuck in terrible traffic on my way home from work, and I don’t have to worry about getting home in time to switch it off!

You can program the model SCCPVL610-S to cook for as little as 30 minutes or as long as 20 hours. This feature is especially great for when I’m making chicken stock, which I sometimes like to cook for as long as 18 hours. Now, I don’t have to babysit it quite as closely.

Using this setting is very easy. Once all your ingredients are in the programmable Cook and Carry Crock-pot, plug it in. Then choose which setting you’d like your meal to cook at by pressing “Select” until “High,” “Low,” or “Keep Warm” is selected.

Set the timer by pressing the arrows above and below the word “Timer” until the display has reached your desired cooking time. Then leave it! Seriously, it’s really easy.

The warm setting is not a fail-safe, though. Some users have complained that they thought it was too hot, and your food can still cook a bit at this temperature. Your food should stay great on the warm setting for a few hours, but make sure not to leave it longer than that.

Each crock pot’s temperature settings are going to be a little different, so if you’re switching, check your dishes an hour or two before you would usually stop the cooking time until you’re used to the way the device functions.

Clean Up

Before cleaning your crock pot, even when just wiping it out, always make sure that it’s unplugged and completely cool. The removable stoneware is made from coated ceramic, making it incredibly easy to clean. Although its size and weight can make it difficult to maneuver in the sink, it’s at least a quick process.

The lid is glass and can be scrubbed down with ease. The stoneware and lid are also dishwasher safe, so if you’ve got the room, you can always go that route instead! The ceramic coating can be chipped if metal utensils or especially rough scouring pads are used on it, so make sure to only use gentle sponges.

As with any other ceramic materials, the crock pot can crack and break if subjected to extreme temperature changes. Another reason it’s important to let it cool completely!

To make clean up even easier, most crock pot liners will fit the stoneware. Just wrap the liner around the stoneware before adding your ingredients and after you’ve eaten, toss the liner into the trash. Only the lid will need a quick washing!

Make sure that you never submerge the heating base in water or run it through the dishwasher. When necessary, just wipe it down with a clean cloth and warm, soapy water.

Other Pros and Cons

One bonus that is minor but I feel needs to be mentioned in this review is that Crock-Pot Brand SCCPVL610-S Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker is an attractive small appliance. My previous slow cooker was white, which I didn’t think twice about when buying.

It showed every tomato sauce stain and small spot I had missed when cleaning.

This crock pot is black and stainless steel, which will hide small spots and clean up easily. The display isn’t overly large or obnoxious looking. The design overall is sleek and looks great sitting on my countertop.

Many have found that oval-shaped slow cookers have far fewer hot spots than their round counterparts. Another benefit to the oval shape is that it can easily hold a bread pan, giving you the opportunity to come home to a freshly baked loaf. The shape also makes it easy to place a plank in the crock pot if you want to try this cooking method to give your meat extra flavor!

Included with the manual are recipes for your slow cooker. This model has a 1-year warranty, so if something does go wrong, you can likely get it replaced.

This particular model is also oven and microwave safe, in addition to being dishwasher safe! This provides another means of reheating its contents, which can be especially helpful if you only brought the stoneware, not the entire slow cooker, outside your home. Crock-Pot recommends that you not preheat the stoneware, though, and the lid is not oven or microwave safe.

Some people notice that this slowcooker gives off a funny smell during the first use, but it doesn’t seem to affect the taste of the food and is usually gone by the second time its operated. Some users recommend cooking water in it for 6 hours before using to get around this issue.

Summary

The Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker is a great mid-range option for any home cook. There are more high-end slow cookers out there, but this option will meet all of your basic needs and then some without paying an arm and a leg.

Both the lock-and-go and programmable features have won me over from simpler crock pots. There is nothing worse than chili-stained seats and knowing that half the meal I was supposed to contribute to an event is gone.

With the programmable timer, I have so much more flexibility and it makes it much easier to ensure that my fiancé and I get to eat a hot meal after work in the evenings.

Although this crock pot does seem to run a little hotter than others I’ve used, I’ve never had overcooked food and know to just decrease my cooking time by a half hour or so. All slow cookers run a little differently and require some adjusting, so this wasn’t altogether that big of an inconvenience for me.

Read more customer reviews and check prices on Amazon

I hope that my review has given you confidence to look further into this particular small kitchen appliance and that you enjoy the Crock-Pot Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker as much as I have! May there be many potato chowders in your future.

Look for more slow cooker and Crock-Pot options? Take a look at our in-depth buying guide now!

About Chelsea Miller

Chelsea Miller, born and raised in Portland, Oregon, graduated from the University of Oregon where she discovered both her love of football and cooking great food. She's the founder of the food blog "A Duck's Oven" and began writing for Foodal in 2014.

16 thoughts on “The “Cook and Carry” Oval Slow Cooker: Not Your Grandma’s Crock-Pot”

  1. A programmable crock pot? Have things advanced that far already? Wow! And I though integrating technology into everything was just a silly fad. The picture you’ve painted of walking in through the door after a long day of work to a cooked meal clearly shows everything I could want out of a kitchen appliance… I’ll be sure to check this one out!

    Reply
  2. I’ve always been put off because they are so big and bulky to store. (I like to put things away) so if there are small ones that are portable, I may give it go. It doesn’t look too heavy in the photo as well, as that’s another thing that puts me off using them.

    Reply
  3. It took me a long time to get into cooking with a crockpot but now I have no idea how I ever lived without mine! I would love one with extra features that this one has. Mine is very basic. Having a locking lid and programmable settings would be divine. Hopefully I can upgrade for Christmas 🙂

    Reply
  4. A crock pot is a definite must when registering for your wedding. I wish I had known this when I made my registry. I didn’t even put one on mine! I wish I had because I use it so much! And mine is an ancient hand me down one. I think its time for an upgrade soon, The Crock Pot Cook and Carry just may be my new best friend come Christmas time. 😉

    Reply
  5. I would love to have one of these, even just for the portability. I love picnics, and this would make everything so much easier.

    Another thing: the reason for the Keep Warm setting running a little too hot might be because a lot of food have a ‘safe zone’ where it can be kept without promoting bacterial growth. A lot of crock pots’ (mine included) warm settings actually fall outside of this safe zone, which gives a chance of food poisoning when left outside the fridge for too long, especially with tomato based stews.

    Reply
  6. I love cooking with Crockpot. It makes my life so much easier, I’m glad that they are starting to become more popular with people now.
    I agree that this is an item that everyone needs in their kitchen. There is so much that a crockpot can do, but a better quality one will last longer. I really need to look into the Crockpot from above, it seems like it would be perfect for me. I’m always making things to take to dinners, potlucks, etc – so this would be so easy for me to use. If I don’t have to move into a different container for transport (and then heat up later) I am sold! Opening the link now to take me to the items specs.

    Reply
  7. The idea of a crock pot that you can program is amazing! Not only is this up with the times, but it is also really attractive looking. The crock pot I currently own, is huge and has this awful floral print with dark green on it. Having something more modern looking would definitely make me feel better about leaving it out, instead of rushing to hide it in my cabinet. I also LOVE how it will automatically switch to warm after it is done cooking. I have a rice cooker that is like this and it is honestly my favorite thing about it. It just makes things so much more convenient and you don’t have to worry about rushing home to switch it off before you ruin your dinner. I’m definitely interesting in buying this, thanks for the article!

    Reply
  8. Thank you for the wonderful review! I am always searching for more appliances and products for the kitchen and I don’t buy anything without doing my research. I am really impressed with this review because it leaves me with no questions at all about the product.

    Now, about the product itself, I actually own this one! I can 100% agree with everything the review has stated. This slow cooker is the best one I’ve ever used. I like to make what I call “Salsa Chicken” where I combine whole boneless skinless chicken breasts and a homemade tomato and pepper salsa in the crock pot. That’s it. It’s such a low-effort dish to cook and it’s absolutely delicious when topped with sour cream. This pot makes it so I can program the exact heat setting that I need to keep the chicken tender and juicy AND cook it all the way through. That’s a miracle by itself!

    Reply
  9. This crockpot seems brilliant! The idea of being able to program a crockpot I really like. I love cooking a really nice beef stew in ours. I like cooking a beef stew slowly and not over cooking it! With this crockpot I could do that. I think I will have to look into purchasing one of these. Coming home to a lovely beef stew after a hard days work sounds nice.

    Reply
  10. Ugh god this crockpot is like my re-occurring dream. My husband and I got a crockpot as a Christmas gift 2 years back and it is the 2nd most used appliance in our apartment (aside from the handmixer). There’s been times when I’ve wanted to make a crockpot dish and bring it to potluck, but realized how inconvenient the transport would be.

    And like you said, without a timer it isn’t really technically a “set it and leave it” appliance like many would think it is. Maybe I’ll have to put this crockpot on my wedding registry…it’s just too beautiful (and convenient)!!

    Reply
  11. I love that you can lock and carry this. Crockpots are so versatile and you can make some amazing meals with them. I’ve had mine for about two years and I only ever make pot roast with it. I’d like to try something new!

    Reply
  12. I haven’t used slow cookers much at all, but certainly want to try it more often – but I think it will wait until winter now as hot roasts and stews aren’t so appealing now it’s getting hot.

    What intrigued me about this post was the comment of keeping dips warm for football games. Keeping dips warm is a completely foreign idea to me – dips are cold and served cold with biscuits and vegetable strips in Australia. What sort of dips do you have warm?

    Reply
  13. I have a crockpot and it’s one of the best appliances in my kitchen. My family is always on the go so setting the slow cooker in the morning allows us to come home to a hot meal at the end of the day. Before we got it we would mostly eat left overs during the week, we were both so tired by the time we got home to start cooking anything. I would highly suggest this for everyone.

    Reply
  14. Thanks for all the great information Chelsea. You know, food that can cook on it’s own while I’m at work sounds awesome to me, and to be able to carry it anywhere sounds even better! I think I might take getting married into consideration just to have the chance of owning the Crock Pot SCCPVL610-S Cook and Carry Slow Cooker! LOL Just kidding! No but seriously, I would love to own one. Quick question, do you know if there have been any incidents where people have left food cooking on the SCCPVL610-S or a similar appliance and their food has burned or house caught on fire? Thanks in advance for your response.

    Reply
  15. This is definitely something I need! I love using my slow cooker but it’s one of those old, bulky ones that’s got a cord that barely reaches far enough to plug into the outlet by my counter. Plus, being able to travel with it would be so convenient. I love cooking and baking so usually when we have family gatherings I bring some cooking…this would just open up so many more possibilities of what I could bring!

    Reply
  16. Oh man I love my slow cooker, but I have to say that this one really looks like step up, and I would love to have it. I probably do not get as much use out of mine as I should, or as I would like, but that is a me issue that I need to work on. I am usually using it for soups and stews, so with the winter time quickly approaching you can bet that I will be using it more. Good stuff, and thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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