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Hamilton Beach®
About The Hamilton Beach Test Kitchen
The Hamilton Beach Test Kitchen plays a key role in the development and approval of the company’s appliances. Many important activities take place in the Test Kitchen: recipes are developed, product performance is tested, use and care guides are developed, and corporate visitors are fed. No detail, large or small, escapes the expert eye of these kitchen professionals.
The Test Kitchen is headed by Betty Byrne, Senior Home Economist and highly regarded Hamilton Beach consumer advocate. One of the key issues she’s currently concerned about? Food safety. “It’s a real hot button for consumers,” she says thoughtfully. “I feel good that Hamilton Beach appliances and recipes are carefully tested, because I think about everything from a consumer’s point of view! I’ll fail a product if it doesn’t measure up.”
Betty has years of experience slow cooking. What is Betty’s favorite tip about slow cookers? “Here in the Hamilton Beach Test Kitchen, our favorite method to use a slow cooker is to cook a large cut of meat, then use it for several meals. A beef roast, pork loin roast or chicken breast can be cooked with onions and garlic and served as a main dish the first night. The leftovers can then be used for tacos, fajitas, pulled barbecue sandwiches, or salad toppings.”
Test Kitchen Tips about Hamilton Beach® Slow Cookers:
- Your Hamilton Beach® slow cooker has been designed to cook at the appropriate wattage to ensure food reaches food safe temperatures. Browning/searing your meat is not necessary. However, browning/searing meat prior to placing it in the slow cooker will give your recipe added flavor.
- Hamilton Beach® slow cookers have a Keep Warm setting, which is great for serving meals that were cooked in it and for meals and side dishes that were not. Use yours on the table for easy buffet serving during your next casual party or gathering. However, do not use the keep warm setting to cook food — it is not effective for this purpose.
- Some models of Hamilton Beach® slow cookers have steam vent holes in their lids. Do not plug the steam vent with paper towels or other objects. Steam vent holes allow steam to escape and the wattage of the unit has been adjusted to compensate for any heat loss.
