alpina BSJ40-B2B Slow Cooker Instruction Manual

alpina BSJ40-B2B Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker

ITEM: 871125218170
MODEL: BSJ40-B2B 220-240V 50/60HZ 240W

Please read the instructions carefully and save the instructions for future use.

PARTS

• A. Glass Lid
• B. Ceramic Pot
• C. Base
• D. Control Knob
• E. Power Indicator

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

When using electrical appliances basic safety precautions should always be followed including:

1. Read all the instructions.

2. If the supply cord is damaged, it must be replaced by the manufacturer, its service agent or similarly qualified persons in order to avoid a hazard.

3. Do not let the power cable hang over the edge of a table or counter and do not let it come into contact with any hot surfaces.

4. Do not carry the appliance by the power cable.

5. Do not use any extension cable with this appliance.

6. Do not pull the plug out by the cable as this may damage the plug and/or the cable.

7. When the appliance is not in use and before cleaning it, switch the appliance off at the mains socket then remove the plug from the socket.

8. Switch off and unplug the appliance before fitting or removing tools/attachments, after using it and before cleaning it.

9. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.

10. Children must not play with the appliance.

11. This appliance can be used by children aged 8 years and above and persons with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities or a lack of experience and knowledge if they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance in a safe way and understand the hazards involved.

12. Cleaning and user maintenance shall not be made by children unless they are older than 8 and supervised.

13. Take care when any appliance is used near pets.

14. Do not use this product for anything other than its intended use.

15. This appliance is for household use only.

16. Please ensure that the appliance is used on a stable, level, and heat resistant surface.

17. Do not immerse cables, plugs or any part of the appliance in water or any other liquid.

18. Do not use the appliance outdoors.

19. Do not use the appliance on a gas or electric cooking top or over or near an open flame.
    IMPORTANT: Do not use this product in conjunction with automatic timers.

20. Never attempt to move or clean this product until it has completely cooled.

21. Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles or knobs.

22. Extreme caution must be used when moving an appliance containing hot oil or other hot liquids.
    CAUTION: The Slow Cooker is very heavy. To avoid injury to persons or damage to property or the appliance, NEVER attempt to lift or move the appliance with full ceramic cooking pots in place. Place the base of the Slow Cooker in the desired location first. Then place the ceramic cooking pots into the base.

23. Never use any removable ceramic cooking pots on any gas or electric cooker tops or on an open flame.

24. Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as adding refrigerated food to a heated pot.

25. To reduce the risk of electric shock, cook only in the removable cooking pots.

26. Use extreme caution when removing a hot container with food in it.

27. When uncovering a pot, carefully tilt the lid so that the opening is away from you to avoid scalding and allow water to drip into the pot.

28. To disconnect the appliance, turn all 3 temperature controls to the OFF position, then remove the plug from the mains socket.

29. Do not use a cracked container. Do not place a hot container on a wet or cold surface.

30. Unplug the appliance from the mains socket when it is not in use and before cleaning it. Allow the appliance to cool before attaching or removing parts and before cleaning the appliance.
    CAUTION: Wear oven mitts when handling the slow cooker as the surface may be extremely hot!
    CAUTION: While the appliance is in use, hot steam may rise from the cooking pots. Be careful when handling.
    CAUTION! DO NOT use the KEEP WARM setting to cook food. DO NOT keep the slow cooker on this setting for more than 4 hours.
    IMPORTANT: If you forget to switch your slow cooker on or accidentally put uncooked ingredients on the KEEP WARM setting, you must throw away your ingredients and start again. Any food that sits at a temperature below 60°C can harbour bacteria.

31.  The heating element surface is subject to residual heat after use.

32. This appliance is for household use only and similar applications, such as:

    • – Staff kitchen areas in shops, offices and other working environments
    • Farm houses
    • By clients in hotels, motels and other residential type environments
    • Bed and breakfast type environments

33. Keep the appliance and its cord out of reach of children aged less than 8 years.

Before First Use

Read all instructions and safety information carefully before first use. Please retain this information for future reference.

1. Carefully unpack and remove the parts from the packaging.
2. Place the Slow Cooker on a flat, dry surface.
3. Remove any promotional labels or stickers.
4. Remove the ceramic cooking pots and glass lids.
5. Wash the cooking pots and glass lids in hot, soapy water with a mild household detergent.
6. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
7. DO NOT immerse the appliance, its power cable or plug in water or any other liquid.
8. Do not use harsh abrasives or chemicals.
9. Dispose of the packaging in a responsible manner.
10. Wipe the exterior of the slow cooker heating base with a clean, damp cloth.
11. Your appliance is now ready for normal use.

Using the Appliance

Self-Centring Guides

1. Place the base of the Slow Cooker on a flat, dry, heat-resistant surface.

2. Place your prepared ingredients into a cooking pot and cover the pot with a glass lid. Ensure the lid is centered. Fill the pot to between 1/2 and 3/4 of its capacity to avoid over or under-cooking. Do not overfill the cooking pot. Note: Repeat these steps if you are cooking in more than one pot.

3. Plug the slow cooker into the mains socket.
   CAUTION! Make sure all of the temperature controls are set to the OFF position before plugging in the appliance.

4. Select the desired temperature by turning the temperature control to the required setting: LOW, HIGH or WARM.

5. When cooking is complete, turn the temperature control to the KEEP WARM or OFF position. Switch off at the mains socket if you are turning the appliance off.
   CAUTION! DO NOT use the KEEP WARM setting to cook food. DO NOT keep the slow cooker on this setting for more than 4 hours.

6. Carefully remove the cooking pot from the slow-cooker base.
   CAUTION! ALWAYS wear oven gloves when handling the slow cooker’s hot surfaces, including the cooking pots and glass lids.

7. Note: When removing the glass lid, tilt it so that the opening faces away from you to avoid being burnt by steam.

8. Do not place the heated cooking pot on any surfaces affected by heat. Use a hot pad or trivet to protect any surfaces. Take extra care when moving a cooking pot containing hot liquid.

9. Unplug the slow cooker from the mains and allow the appliance enough time to cool completely before cleaning and storing it.
   Note: Always cook with the glass lids on and follow recommended cooking times.

Temperature Control Settings

Note: Do not use frozen meat. Thaw meat before slow cooking.
LOW: The LOW heat setting gently simmers food for an extended period of time without overcooking or burning. No stirring is required when using this setting. Ideal for vegetable dishes and reheating.
Note: When using the LOW setting to cook meat dishes, the meat should be browned first.
Tip: 1 hour of cooking on HIGH equals 2 to 2 ½ hours on LOW.
HIGH: The HIGH heat setting is ideal for use when cooking dried beans and pulses. The HIGH setting cooks food in half the time required for the LOW heat setting. Because food will boil when cooked on the HIGH heat setting, it may be necessary to add extra liquid, depending on the recipe and the amount of time for which it is cooked. Occasional stirring of stews and casseroles will improve the flavour distribution. Monitor food more regularly when cooking on the HIGH setting.
Tips: It is recommended that you use the HIGH setting when you need to cook a tender cut of meat quickly. Use the LOW setting for tougher cuts – cooking them for longer allows more time for the meat to grow tender.
KEEP WARM: The KEEP WARM function allows you to keep the food in your slow cooker warm and ready to eat, even after cooking. Turn the dial
on the front of your slow cooker to KEEP WARM once cooking has finished. CAUTION! Never use the KEEP WARM setting for more than 4 hours. CAUTION! Do not use the KEEP WARM setting to cook food.
Slow-Cooking Guide
Because most food is cooked over a period of 6-9 hours, it can be prepared in advance the evening before and refrigerated in the removable crock pot overnight, then placed in the slow cooker and switched on in the morning and left to cook all day.

When you arrive home, a delicious, hot meal will await you. The guide below will help simplify the process of slow cooking, allowing you to obtain ultimate satisfaction from your slow cooker.

Note: These times are approximate. Times can vary depending on the ingredients and quantities in recipes.
Note: Most uncooked meat and vegetable combinations will require at least 8 hours on LOW.

Timings

Always allow sufficient time for the food to cook.
It is almost impossible to overcook in the slow cooker, particularly when using the LOW or WARM setting. Most recipes can be cooked on any one of the temperature settings; however, the cooking times will vary accordingly. Each recipe will give specific instructions, indicating the appropriate temperature setting and the suggested cooking time.

Adapting cooking times for traditional recipes:
Your favourite traditional recipes can be adapted easily by halving the amount of liquid and increasing the cooking time considerably.

General tips for slow cooking:

1. Do not pre-heat the slow cooker before adding ingredients.
2. For best results, the Slow Cooker should be filled at least halfway.
3. Do not fill the cooking pots to more than three-quarters of their capacity. Note: Do not overfill the appliance or it will not cook as well as it should.
4. Spray the inside of the cooking pots with non-stick cooking spray for easy cleaning.
5. The removable ceramic cooking pots are ovenproof and microwave safe.
6. Do not use the removable ceramic cooking pots on gas burners or electric rings or under a grill (broiler).
7. Do not use the lids in a microwave or oven.
8. Frozen foods such as vegetables and shrimp may be used as part of a specific recipe.
9. If there is a loss of power while slow cooking, the food being cooked may be unsafe to eat. If you are unable to determine how long the power was out, we suggest that the food in the slow cooker be discarded.
10. Use fresh or dried herbs instead of ground; they keep more of their flavour during long cooking times.
11. Cover all food with a liquid, sauce or gravy. Prepare it in a separate pan, then add it to the slow cooker, completely covering the food in the cooking pot.
12. Prepare everything you need for your slow-cooked meal the night before if you will not have time in the morning.
13. Your ingredients should ideally be added to the slow cooker at room temperature, so take everything out of the fridge 20 minutes before you will be putting it in the slow cooker.
14. Dairy products such as milk and cheese should be added last, unless your recipe states otherwise. They break down in the slow cooker, so make sure you stir them in during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
15. To thicken the tasty juices produced during slow cooking, remove 1 cup (250 ml) of the juices from the Slow Cooker. Place the juices in a small saucepan. Combine 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of water and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of corn-starch. Stir the mixture into the saucepan of juices. Cook and stir the juices over a medium heat until they boil. Boil and stir them for 1 – 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
16.  When cooking soups or stews, leave a 2-inch (5 cm) space between the top of the removable cooking pot and the food so that the dish can come to a simmer. If cooking a soup or stew on HIGH, check its progress regularly as some soups will reach a boil on HIGH.
17. Pasta and seafood should be added towards the end of the cooking time.
18. Don’t lift the lid of the slow cooker until you need to. Removing the lid affects the end result and will actually increase the required cooking time. Only remove it when you need to add an ingredient.
19. If you are adapting a recipe for your slow cooker, decrease the amount of liquid you would normally use in the dish by as much as half.
20. All food should be cooked with the glass lid in place. Each time the lid is lifted, both the heat and the moisture are diminished. Cooking times should be adjusted to allow for this factor.
21. Slow-cooker recipes:
22. You can also adjust slow-cooker recipes depending on the amount of time you have. If you wish to decrease the cooking time, cook on HIGH; if you wish to extend the cooking time, cook on LOW. E.g. if the recipe says to cook on LOW for 6 – 8 hours and you want a shorter cooking time, set your slow cooker to HIGH and cook for 3 – 4 hours.

For the suggested cooking times when adjusting a slow cooker recipe, see the guide that follows:

Note: These times are approximate. Times can vary depending on the ingredients and quantities in recipes.

Liquid amounts
When food is cooking in your slow cooker, very little moisture boils away. To compensate for this, it is advisable to halve the liquid content of traditional recipes.

Stirring the food
Little or no stirring is required when using the LOW or WARM setting. When using the HIGH heat setting, stir regularly to ensure even flavour distribution.

Suitable foods Vegetables

• Vegetables cook slowly. Keep pieces small to medium in size and place them in the bottom of the cooking pot.
• Vegetables can be peeled and cut the night before slow cooking. Cover and refrigerate them in a separate container. Do not place them in the cooking pot until you are ready to cook them.
• Cut all root vegetables into small, evenly sized pieces to ensure even cooking. Root vegetables take longer to cook than meat.
• Gently sauté root vegetables for 2 – 3 minutes before slow cooking. Place them at the bottom of the pot and make sure all ingredients are fully immersed in the cooking liquid.
• Boil and soak uncooked red beans for at least 10 minutes before adding them to your slow cooker. This helps to remove any toxins.
• Pumpkins and other squash vegetables do not need to be cooked in as much liquid as other slow-cooked vegetables.
• Cut green peppers into small pieces and add them to the slow cooker near the end of the cooking time as they will become bitter if they are cooked for long periods.
• Frozen vegetables should always be slightly defrosted before being added to your slow cooker. They will not take as long to cook as fresh vegetables as they are generally pre-cooked to some degree.
• The same applies to canned vegetables. When using canned vegetables, make sure you wash them to remove any excess salt and preservatives before adding them to your slow cooker. Always drain canned vegetables before use, so that you do not add extra liquid to your dish.
• Onions are a very popular ingredient in slow-cooker recipes. Slow cooking does decrease the flavor of onions somewhat, so make sure you add a little more than you usually would – especially if you are cooking for more than four hours.

Meat

• Trim all excess fat and sinew from meat before slow cooking, as the slow cooking method does not allow fat to evaporate.
• Browning meat before adding it to the slow cooker brings extra flavor to the finished dish. Note: Browning minced meat, such as minced beef or minced turkey, before placing it in the slow cooker removes excess fat and reduces the risk of food-borne illnesses.
• Meats can be browned and/or cut up the night before slow cooking. Cover and refrigerate them in a separate container. Do not place meat in the cooking pot until you are ready to cook it.
• Whole poultry, such as chicken and Cornish hens, should not be cooked in the slow cooker because safe cooking temperatures near the bone CANNOT be reached quickly enough. ALWAYS ENSURE THAT ALL MEAT PRODUCTS ARE COOKED TO APPROPRIATE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
• Always insert a meat thermometer into roast joints, hams, chicken and other meats to ensure they are cooked to the desired temperature.
• If you want a thicker sauce for your dish, try dredging the meat in flour before browning.
• You can use whatever meat you choose in your slow cooker, but slow cooking is a perfect way to use those cheaper cuts of meat.
• Don’t use frozen meat or poultry unless it has been thoroughly thawed out beforehand.

Buffet service

• If the food you’re about to serve has previously been prepared and then refrigerated, warm the food in an oven or microwave until the serving temperature has been reached. When the food’s temperature is suitable for serving, add it to the cooking pot and place it in the base of your Slow Cooker.

Cleaning & Storage

• Before cleaning your slow cooker, always ensure that the temperature control dial is in the OFF position and the unit is unplugged from the mains outlet.
• Ensure that unit is always unplugged from the power outlet when not in use.
• Always allow the unit to cool before cleaning.
• Remove the cooking pot and glass lid and wash in hot, soapy water, using a mild household detergent. Rinse and dry thoroughly. To soften stubborn, cooked on foods fill the cooking pot with warm, soapy water and allow soaking, remove by lightly scrubbing with a nylon kitchen brush.
• The cooking pot and glass lid can also be washed in the dishwasher; however, care should be taken not to chip or crack the cooking pot or lid.
• The glass lids should be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher.

IMPORTANT: The removable cooking pots will not withstand the shock of sudden temperature changes. To wash your cooking pots after cooking use hot water. NEVER use cold water if the cooking pots are still hot.

• The Heating Base may be cleaned with a soft cloth and warm soapy water. Wipe dry. Do not use harsh or abrasive cleansers.

CAUTION: Never submerge the slow cooker’s heating base in water or other liquid.

IMPORTANT: After cleaning, allow the appliance to dry fully before using again. Do not use the appliance if damp. Ensure the appliance is completely clean and dry before storing.

Maintenance of Ceramic Cooking Pots

The ceramic cooking pots will not withstand the shock of sudden temperature changes. The cooking pots should be at room temperature before adding hot foods.
Do not preheat Slow Cooker before using unless specified in the recipe.
If the cooking pot has been preheated or is hot to the touch, do not put in cold foods. To wash your cooking pot right after cooking, use hot water.

Storage

To store your appliance:

1. Unplug power cord from the power outlet and clean as above.
2. Allow the appliance to dry fully.
3. Store on a flat, dry level surface out of reach of children.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

• 220-240V
• 50/60Hz
• 240W
• Model: BSJ40-B2B

The symbol above and on the product means that the product is classed as Electrical or Electronic equipment and should not be disposed with other household or commercial waste at the end of its useful life.
The Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive has been put in place to recycle products using best available recovery and recycling techniques to minimize the impact on the environment, treat any hazardous substances and avoid the increasing landfill. Contact local authorities for information on the correct disposal of Electrical or Electronic equipment.

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