Elite Gourmet MST-275X Electric Oval Slow Cooker Instruction Manual

Elite Gourmet MST-275X Electric Oval Slow Cooker

I .5QT. SLOW COOKER

• MODEL: MST-250XS

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

• Before operating your new appliance, please read all instructions carefully and keep for future reference.
• Questions? Elite’s customer service team is ready to help.
• Call us toll-free at 800-365-6133 ext. 120/107/105.
• For more Elite products, visit us at www.maxi-matic.com or email us at info@maxi-matic.com.
• Recipes are included in this manual.

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

The Elite Brand takes consumer safety very seriously. Products are designed and manufactured with our valued consumers’ safety in mind. Additionally, we ask that you exercise a level of caution when using any electrical appliance by following all instructions and important safeguards.

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE AND SAVE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

When using an electrical appliance, basic safety precautions should always be followed, especially when children are present, including the following:

1. To protect against risk of electrical shock, do not immerse cord, plug, or any non-removable parts of this slow cooker in water or other liquid.
2. Close supervision is necessary when appliance is used near children.
3. Unplug from the socket when not in use, before adding or removing attachments, and before cleaning.
4. The use of attachments or tools not recommended by supplier may cause fire, electric shock or injury.
5. Do not use outdoors.
6. Do not let the power cord hang over the edge of the table or work-top, and keep it away form any hot surfaces.
7. KEEP YOUR APPLIANCE AWAY FROM ANY HOT PLATES, BURNERS AND HEATED OVENS.
8. Extreme caution must be used when moving an appliance containing hot food, water, or other hot liquids.
9. Do not use the appliance for anything other than intended use.
10. Do not switch on the cooker if the stoneware pot is empty.
11. Allow lid and stoneware pot to cool before allowing it to touch water or any cool surface.
12. Never touch the outer enclosure of the slow cooker during its operation or before it cools. Use the handles or knobs. Do not touch hot surfaces. Use oven mitts or a cloth when removing lid or handling contents.
13. Never cook directly in the base of the unit. Always use the stoneware pot included with your appliance.
14. Do not use stoneware pot or glass lid if cracked or chipped.
15. Never leave the appliance connected to the socket outlet when not in use.
16. Do not switch on the appliance when it is upside down or on its side.
17. The glass lid and ceramic pot are fragile. Handle them with care.
18. Certain countertop and table surfaces, such as Corian®, laminate and other surfaces, are not designed to withstand the prolonged heat generated by certain appliances. If you plan to use the product for a prolonged period of time, we highly recommend placing a hot pad or trivet under your appliance beforehand to prevent possible damage to the surface. And never leave the appliance unattended.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS THIS PRODUCT IS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY

SHORT CORD PURPOSE

NOTE: A short power cord is provided to reduce the risk of personal injury resulting from becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord.

Longer power-supply cords or extension cords are available and may be used if care is exercised in their use.

If an extension cord is used: (1) the marked electrical rating of the extension cord should be at least as great as the electrical rating of the product; (2) the extension cord should be arranged so that it will not drape over the countertop or tabletop where it can unintentionally be pulled on or tripped over by children or pets.

POLARIZED PLUG

If this appliance is equipped with a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other), please follow the below instructions:

To reduce the risk of electrical shock, this plug is intended to fit into a polarized outlet only one way. If you are unable to fit the plug into the electrical outlet, try reversing the plug.

If the plug still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician. Never use the plug with an extension cord unless the plug can be fully inserted into the extension cord. Do not alter the plug of the product or any extension cord being used with this product. Do not attempt to defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug.

BEFORE FIRST USE

• Before using the slow cooker for the first time:
• Remove all packaging materials, labels and tags from the product.
• Wash the stoneware pot and glass lid in hot soapy water with a sponge or a dish cloth, rinse thoroughly and dry.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT IMMERSE THE SLOW COOKER BASE IN WATER.

• Do not allow the pot to stand in water for a long time (You can leave water in the pot to soak).
• There is an area on the base of the crock pot that has to remain unglazed for manufacturing purposes. This unglazed area is porous, and therefore will soak up water, this should be avoided.
• Do not switch the cooker on when the crock pot is empty or out of the base.

PLEASE NOTE: The initial 15 minutes of use may result in minimal smell and smoke. This is normal and harmless and comes from the protective substance applied to the heating elements during manufacturing.

• LOW SETTING: The low setting is recommended for cooking foods with low liquid density. Food can be cooked for up to 4-6 hours.
• HIGH SETTING: The high setting is recommended for cooking foods with high liquid content and for meats, beans and grains. Food can be cooked for up to 4 hours.
• KEEP WARM SETTING: Keep food warm in the slow cooker for easy serving. Food can be kept warm for up to 4 hours. Extended periods may result in altering the flavor of the food and over-drying the food.

HOW TO USE

HOW TO USE YOUR SLOW COOKER

OPERATION

1. Place the slow cooker base on a dry, level, heat resistant surface, away from the edge of the work surface. Do not use on the floor.
2. Make sure the control knob is set to the OFF position.
3. Place food and other ingredients into the ceramic cooking pot, and place the pot into the base.
4. Cover with the glass lid. If you need to pre-cook or brown foods prior to slow cooking, this must be done in a pan. Do not try to brown or pre-cook food in the slow cooker.
5. Plug the unit into a power outlet.
6. Select the setting at which you wish to cook or keep food warm.
7. Avoid lifting the glass lid too often during the cooking process.
8.  When cooking is complete, switch to the OFF position and unplug.
9. Remove the stoneware pot using oven mitts/gloves for serving or transfer food to a serving bowl.
10. Always wait for the appliance to cool down completely before washing.
    • PLEASE NOTE: Do not place hot glass lid in cold water or a cold counter surface. The sudden difference in temperature may cause the tempered glass to shatter.
    • CAUTION: BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE BASE UNIT AFTER COOKING AS IT WILL REMAIN HOT.

SUITABLE FOODS FOR SLOW COOKING & PREPARATION:

Most foods are suited to slow cooking methods; however there are a few guidelines that need to be followed.

• Due to the small size of this mini slow cooker, it is recommended to use for sauces, dips or other foods in small quantities.
• Cut root vegetables into small, even pieces, as they take longer to cook than meat. They should be gently sautéed for 2-3 minutes before slow cooking. Ensure that root vegetables are always placed at the bottom of the pot and all ingredients are immersed in the cooking liquid.
• Trim all excess fat from meat before cooking, since the slow cooking method does not allow fat to evaporate.
• If adapting an existing recipe from conventional cooking, you may need to cut down on the amount of liquid used. Liquid will not evaporate from the slow cooker to the same extent as with conventional cooking.
• Never leave uncooked food at room temperature in the slow cooker.
• Do not use the slow cooker to reheat food.
• Uncooked red beans must be soaked and boiled for at least 10 minutes to remove toxins before use in a slow cooker.
• Authentic stoneware is fired at high temperatures therefore the stoneware pot may have minor surface blemishes, the glass lid may rock slightly due to these imperfection. Low heat cooking does not produce steam so there will be little heat loss. Due to normal wear and tear through the products life, the outer surface may start appearing “crazed”.
• Do not put the stoneware pot or glass lid in an oven, freezer, and microwave or on a gas/electrical hob.
• Do not subject the stoneware pot to sudden changes in temperature. Adding cold water to a very hot pot could cause it to crack.

TIPS FOR SLOW COOKING:

• The slow cooker must be at least half full for best results.

• Slow cooking retains moisture. If you wish to reduce moisture in the cooker, remove the lid after cooking and turn the control to high (if set to low or medium) and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.

• The lid is not a sealed fit. Don’t remove unnecessarily as the built up heat will escape. Each time you remove the lid, allow an additional 10 minutes to the cooking time.

• If cooking soups, leave a 5 cm space between the top of the cook pot and the food surface to allow simmering.

• Many recipes demand all day cooking, if you do not have time to prepare food that morning prepare it the night before and store the food in a covered container in the refrigerator. Transfer the food to the crock pot and add liquid/gravy. Select the setting low, high or medium.

• Most meat and vegetable recipes require 8-10 hours on low. 4-6 hours on high and 5- 7 hours on medium.

• Some ingredients are not suitable for slow cooking. Pasta, seafood, milk, and cream should be added towards the end of the cooking time. Many things can affect how quickly a recipe will cook, water and fat content, initial temperature of the food and the size of the food.

• ood cut into small pieces will cook quicker. A degree of ‘trial and error’ will be required to fully optimize the potential of your slow cooker.

• Vegetables usually take longer to cook than meat, so try and arrange vegetables in the lower half of the pot.

• After food is cooked, switch cooker off and leave covered with the lid. There will be enough heat in the crock pot to keep warm for 30 minutes. If you require longer to keep warm switch to the low setting.

• All food should be covered with a liquid, gravy or sauce. In a separate pan or jug prepare your liquid, gravy or sauce and completely cover the food in the crock pot.

• Pre-browning meat and onions in a pan to seal in the juices also reduces the fat content before adding to the crock pot. This is not necessary if time is limited, but improves the flavor.

• When cooking joints of meat, ham, and poultry etc the size and shape of the joint is important. Try to keep the joint in the lower 2/3 of the pot and fully cover with water.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

Always make sure the slow cooker is unplugged and in the OFF position before storing away or cleaning. Make sure the unit has cooled down completely before cleaning.

• The stoneware insert is dishwasher safe or can also be cleaned with warm soapy water. To remove any foods that have been cooked onto the bottom of the pot, simply soak overnight in soapy water and rinse the next day.
• The exterior of the slow cooker can be wiped with a damp cloth and dried. DO NOT use harsh abrasive cleaner or scouring pad to clean any part of the slow cooker as this will damage the surfaces.

WARNING: NEVER SUBMERGE THE ENTIRE SLOW COOKER INTO WATER OR ANY OTHER LIQUID AS THIS MAY DAMAGE THE SLOW COOKER.

WARRANTY

*LIMITED WARRANTY ONE (1) YEAR**

WARRANTY IS ONLY VALID WITH A DATED PROOF OF PURCHASE

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN TO STORE.

If you have any problems with this unit, contact Consumer Relations for service

1. Your small kitchen appliance is built with precision, inspected and tested before leaving our factory.
2. It is warranted to the original purchaser to be free from any manufacturing defects under normal use and conditions for one (1) year, cord excluded. This Warranty applies only to the original purchaser of this product.
3. Retail stores/merchants selling this product do not have the right to alter, modify, or in any way revise the terms and conditions of the warranty.
4. If you use your appliance for household use and according to instructions, it should give you years of satisfactory service.
5. At its sole discretion, Maxi-Matic USA will either repair or replace the product found to be defective during the warranty period.
6. The repaired or replacement product will be in warranty for the remaining balance of the one-year warranty period and an additional one-month period.
7. Consumer’s remorse is not an acceptable reason to return a product to our Service Center.
8. This limited warranty covers appliances purchased and used within the 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and does NOT cover normal wear of parts or:
   • Damages caused by unreasonable use, neglect, normal wear and tear, commercial use, improper assembly or installation of product.
   • Damages caused in shipping.
   • Damages caused by replacement or resetting of house fuses or circuit breakers.
   • Defects other than manufacturing defects.
   • Breakage caused by misuse, abuse, accident, alteration, lack of proper care and maintenance, or incorrect current or voltage.
   • Lost or missing parts of the product. Parts will need to be purchased separately.
   • Damages of parts that are not electrical; i.e. cracked or broken plastic/glass, scratched/dented inner pots.
   • Damage from service or repair by unauthorized personnel.
   • Extended warranties purchased via a separate company or reseller.
   • Acts of God such as fire, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.

Maxi-Matic, USA shall not be liable for any incidental or consequential damages caused by the breach of any express or implied warranty. Apart from the extent prohibited by applicable law, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose is limited in time to the duration of the warranty.

• *One Year Limited Warranty valid only in the 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia, excluding Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
• This warranty is effective only if the product is purchased and operated in the USA; product usage which is in violation of the written instructions provided with the unit will void this warranty.
• For international warranty, please contact the local distributor.
• This warranty gives you special legal rights and you may also have other rights to which you are entitled which may vary by state, province, and/or jurisdiction.
• **Any instruction or policy included in this manual may be subject to change at any time.

MAXI-MATIC, USA

• 18401 E. Arenth Ave. City of Industry, CA 91748
• Customer Support Hours of Operation MON-FRI 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM PST
• (800) 365-6133 Ext: 120/107/105; (626) 912-9877
• Ext: 120/107/105
• Website: www.maxi-matic.com
• email: info@maxi-matic.com

RETURN INSTRUCTIONS

RETURNS:

A. Any return of defective merchandise to the manufacturer must be processed accordingly by first contacting customer service (info@maxi- matic.com) to obtain an RA # (Return Authorization Number). We will not accept any returns of merchandise without an applicable RA #.

B. IMPORTANT RETURN INSTRUCTIONS. Your Warranty depends on your following these instructions if you are returning the unit to Maxi-Matic, USA:

1. Carefully pack the item in its original carton or other suitable box with sufficient cushioning to avoid damage in shipping.
2. Before packing your unit for return, be sure to enclose: a) Your name, full address with zip code, daytime telephone number, and RA#, b) A dated sales receipt or PROOF OF PURCHASE, c) The model number of the unit and the problem you are having (Enclose in an envelope and tape directly to the unit before the box is sealed), and d) Any parts or accessories related to the problem.
3. Maxi-Matic, USA recommends that you ship the package via UPS ground service for tracking purposes. We cannot assume responsibility for lost or damaged products returned to us during incoming shipment. For your protection, always carefully package the product for shipment and insure it with the carrier. C.O.D shipments cannot be accepted.
4. All return shipping charges must be prepaid by you.
5. Mark the outside of your package: MAXI-MATIC USA 18401 E. ARENTH AVE. CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA 91748
6. Once your return has been received by our warehouse, Maxi-Matic, USA will repair or replace the product if it is defective in material or workmanship, subject to the conditions in paragraph B.
7. Maxi-Matic will pay the shipping charges to ship the repaired or replacement product back to you.

Elite Customer Service Center

• Mail: Maxi-Matic, USA 18401 E. Arenth Ave City of Industry, CA 91748-1227
• Phone: 800-365-6133 ext. 120/105
• Website:shopelitegourmet.com

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Elite is a registered trademark of Maxi-Matic, USA.

Copyright Elite by Maxi-Matic.

Actual product may vary from the images/illustrations in this manual due to continual product improvement.

FrequentlyAsked Questions

Why is my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker not turning on?

Ensure the power cord is securely plugged in and the outlet is functioning. If the issue persists, check if there's a blown fuse or try plugging it into a different outlet.

How does the Elite Gourmet MST-275X compare to other slow cookers in its price range?

Compared to similar models, the MST-275X offers a compact design suitable for smaller portions or dips, making it a convenient choice for individual servings or small households.

Why is my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker emitting a burning smell?

Immediately turn off and unplug the slow cooker and inspect it for any signs of damage or overheating. Contact customer support for further assistance if needed.

Can I leave my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker unattended while cooking?

While it's generally safe to leave slow cookers unattended, it's recommended to check on it occasionally, especially during the initial use or when trying new recipes, to ensure everything is cooking as expected.

How does the Elite Gourmet MST-275X compare to larger slow cookers in terms of cooking capacity?

With its 1.5-quart capacity, the MST-275X is smaller than larger models, making it suitable for individual servings or small portions.

Are there any additional accessories I need to purchase for my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker?

The MST-275X comes with everything you need to start cooking, including the stoneware pot and glass lid. Additional accessories are not necessary for basic functionality.

Why is my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker not heating evenly?

Ensure ingredients are evenly distributed in the stoneware pot and avoid overcrowding. Stirring halfway through cooking can also help promote even heat distribution for better results.

Can I use my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker to cook frozen ingredients?

While it's not recommended to cook frozen ingredients directly from the freezer, you can thaw them beforehand in the refrigerator or microwave to ensure safe and even cooking.

How does the Elite Gourmet MST-275X compare to traditional cooking methods?

The MST-275X offers the convenience of set-it-and-forget-it cooking with slow, even heat, making it ideal for busy schedules or recipes that benefit from longer cooking times compared to traditional stovetop methods.

Can I use my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker to keep food warm for extended periods?

Yes, the MST-275X features a KEEP WARM setting designed to keep cooked food at a safe serving temperature for extended periods.

How do I clean my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker?

Ensure the slow cooker is unplugged and cooled down completely before cleaning. The stoneware insert is dishwasher safe or can be cleaned with warm soapy water. The exterior can be wiped with a damp cloth.

How do I claim warranty service for my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker?

If you encounter any issues with your slow cooker within the warranty period, contact Elite's customer service team to initiate a warranty claim process. Be prepared to provide proof of purchase and a description of the issue.

Why is my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker not heating up?

Check if the power cord is securely plugged in and the outlet is functioning. Ensure the control knob is set to the desired temperature setting.

How can I make the most out of my Elite Gourmet MST-275X slow cooker?

Experiment with different recipes and ingredients to discover your favorite dishes. Use the low, high, and keep warm settings for versatile cooking options.

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