The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
If you are one of many people who use a slow cooker to make delicious foods like chili, stew, or taco filling, you might want to take a second look at your model. Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex is recalling six hundred thousand Slow Cookers. These appliances were sold exclusively at Wal-Mart between August 2000 and December 2002.Ê Since then, the manufacturers have discovered that the handles on the base of the slow cookers can break, posing a risk of burns from hot food spilling out.Ê Over 500 incidents have already been reported, with a number of consumers who were burned by hot food. You can identify the faulty slow cookers by their appearance. The units have a white base and an olive or honeysuckle graphic.Ê Or you can look at the model numbers printed on the front of the units, which are 106661 or 106851.Ê If you have a defective slow cooker, call the Wal-Mart Slow Cooker Recall hotline at 888-293-3343 anytime, or go to their Web site at walmart.com. Many new slow cookers on the market have exciting features, most of which are designed for safety.Ê Countdown timers continuously display cooking time left. If you miss the end of the scheduled cooking time, many slow cookers will automatically switch to a warm setting to prevent overheating or fires.Ê Other features include heat-resistant handles, temperature-change adaptable inserts, and retractable cords. In terms of basic safety, never use a slow cooker with chips, cracks or breaks, and do not add hot food to a slow cooker unless you pre-warm the pot with hot water.Ê Slow cookers are great for year-round use, because they give off less heat than ovens, and don't use as much energy.
