Usage: Calphalon Digital Sauté Slow Cooker SCCLD1 Instruction Manual

Overview

The Digital Sauté Slow Cooker SCCLD1 combines stovetop sautéing, searing, oven cooking, and countertop slow cooking in one removable cooking pot. It is designed for household meal preparation, including stews, soups, braised meats, vegetables, rice-based dishes, and recipes that benefit from browning before slow cooking.

Its digital timer works with High, Low, and Warm settings. After the selected cooking time ends, the appliance sounds an alert and automatically changes to Warm. The ceramic-coated pot can move from a compatible stovetop to the heating base, helping reduce the number of cookware pieces needed for one-pot meals.

Specifications

• Model: SCCLD1
• Cooking capacity: 5.3 quarts
• Power rating: 220 watts
• Controls: Temperature control dial, time display, Add, Subtract, and Cancel Timer buttons
• Temperature modes: High, Low, Warm, and Off
• Cooking pot: Ceramic-coated, oven safe, stovetop safe, and induction capable
• Lid: Tempered glass; not oven safe
• Clearance: Keep at least 6 inches, or 152 mm, from walls and other sides

Detailed Description

The Digital Sauté Slow Cooker SCCLD1 has a removable ceramic-coated cooking pot supported by an electric heating base. The pot is the only part intended to hold food during operation; food must never be placed directly in the heating base.

The tempered-glass lid helps retain heat and moisture during slow cooking. Inspect it before every use for chips, cracks, or other damage. The lid is not suitable for oven use.

• Glass lid: Covers the cooking pot during slow cooking and allows food to be viewed without removing the lid.
• Ceramic-coated cooking pot: Used for slow cooking and for sautéing or searing on compatible gas, electric, or induction stovetops.
• Heating base: Supplies countertop heat to the cooking pot and retains residual heat after cooking.
• Carrying handles: Provide gripping points when moving the appliance or handling the base.
• Time setting display: Shows the selected cooking time.
• Add and Subtract buttons: Adjust the timer in 15-minute increments. Holding either button speeds up time selection.
• Cancel Timer button: Removes the programmed timer while allowing the selected temperature mode to continue.
• Temperature control dial: Selects High, Low, Warm, or Off.

Safety

Read all instructions before using the Digital Sauté Slow Cooker SCCLD1. The appliance and its contents become hot during operation, so handle the lid, pot, and heating base with suitable pot holders. Steam escaping from beneath the lid can cause burns; lift the lid carefully and direct steam away from your face and hands.

• Use the slow cooker only indoors for household countertop use.
• Place it on a dry, stable, level surface with at least 6 inches of clearance on every side.
• Keep the cord away from hot surfaces and prevent it from hanging over a counter edge.
• Keep the appliance and cord away from children. Children must not play with the appliance.
• Do not use the appliance near water, on a wet surface, near a burner, or inside a heated oven.
• Never immerse the heating base, cord, plug, or electrical controls in water or another liquid.
• Do not cook directly in the heating base. Use only the supplied cooking pot.
• Do not use a damaged glass lid, cord, or plug, or operate the appliance after it has malfunctioned.
• Unplug the appliance when it is not in use, before cleaning, and before removing parts. Turn the dial to Off before unplugging.
• Use extreme care when moving the pot if it contains hot oil, liquid, or food.
• Allow the heating base to cool after the pot is removed because residual heat may remain.
• Do not make sudden temperature changes by adding refrigerated food or cold liquid to a heated pot.
• Do not use an extension cord with this appliance.

The polarized plug has one wider blade and is designed to fit a polarized outlet in one direction. Never modify or bypass this safety feature. Do not use an outlet that fits loosely or becomes warm during operation.

Place a heat-resistant pad or trivet beneath the heated unit and beneath the cooking pot when setting it on another surface. The pot’s rough underside may scratch smooth glass, ceramic, or finished surfaces. A slight odor or small amount of smoke during initial use can occur with new heating appliances and should stop after several uses.

Setup and Operation

Before First Use

1. Remove all packaging materials.
2. Wash the glass lid in warm, soapy water. The lid may also be placed on the top rack of a dishwasher.
3. Wash the removable cooking pot by hand with warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive cloth or cleaner.
4. Clean the outside of the heating base with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. Keep liquid away from the base, cord, and plug.
5. Dry the pot and lid thoroughly.
6. Position the slow cooker on a dry, level, stable surface in an open area near a suitable outlet.

Starting a Cooking Cycle

1. Place the cooking pot into the heating base.
2. Add the ingredients and fit the lid.
3. Plug the appliance into the outlet. The Off indicator illuminates after connection; it may turn off after several minutes without activity.
4. Turn the temperature dial to High or Low.
5. Use the Add or Subtract button to select the cooking time. The timer changes in 15-minute increments, and holding a button allows faster adjustment.
6. Use the recipe’s recommended time. The cooking cycle starts automatically after the temperature and time are selected.

If a temperature is selected without setting a time, the Digital Sauté Slow Cooker SCCLD1 continues operating in that mode without an automatic shutoff time. Monitor this type of cycle and stop it manually when cooking is complete.

Timer and Warm Function

When the programmed time expires, an audible alert sounds and the appliance changes automatically to Warm. Warm is intended only to hold food that has already reached a safe cooked temperature. Do not use Warm to cook raw food or reheat chilled food, and avoid keeping food on Warm for longer than four hours.

To cancel the timer while continuing in the selected mode, press Cancel Timer. To stop cooking, rotate the dial to Warm or Off. Turn the dial counter-clockwise to Off when shutting down the appliance, then unplug it after cooking has finished.

Sautéing, Searing, and Oven Use

The cooking pot can be used directly on compatible gas, electric, or induction stovetops to sauté or sear ingredients. After browning, use pot holders to transfer the hot pot into the heating base and continue with the slow-cooking cycle.

The cooking pot may also be used in an oven without the glass lid. Always use pot holders when moving it, and place it on a heat-resistant surface after removal.

Cooking Guidelines

• Fill the pot between one-half and three-quarters full for more consistent results.
• Keep the lid on for the recommended cooking time. Avoid removing it during the first two hours because heat and moisture escape quickly.
• For meat-and-vegetable recipes, place vegetables in the pot before the meat because vegetables generally require more time to soften.
• Arrange vegetables near the sides or bottom of the pot to encourage even cooking.
• Trim excess fat from meat, rinse it when appropriate, and pat it dry before cooking.
• Meat touching the lid may interfere with proper cooking; select a cut that rests inside the pot with clearance.
• Use enough liquid to prevent food from drying or burning, while keeping the pot within the recommended fill range.

Cooking Tips

Pasta and Rice

Long-grain converted rice or the variety specified by a recipe generally produces reliable slow-cooker results. If rice remains undercooked, add approximately 1 to 1.5 cups of liquid for each cup of cooked rice and continue cooking for 20 to 30 minutes.

Partially cook pasta in boiling water until just tender, then add it during the final 30 minutes of the slow-cooking cycle to reduce the chance of overly soft pasta.

Beans and Vegetables

Soften dried beans completely before adding sugar or acidic ingredients, since those ingredients can slow softening. Dried beans, particularly red kidney beans, should be boiled before they are added to a recipe. Fully cooked canned beans can be used instead of dried beans.

Vegetables often develop flavor well during slow cooking. Cut meat and vegetables into suitably sized pieces when combining meat with precooked beans, fruit, mushrooms, onion, eggplant, or other delicate vegetables so the ingredients finish at a similar time.

Herbs, Dairy, and Soups

Add fresh herbs near the end of cooking to preserve their flavor and color. Dried and ground herbs can usually be added at the beginning, but seasoning strength varies, so taste the dish near the end and adjust before serving.

Milk, cream, and sour cream can separate during extended cooking. Add them during the final 15 to 30 minutes when possible. Condensed soups are better suited to longer cooking times.

For soups, add solid ingredients first and then add only enough water to cover them. Add more liquid at serving time if a thinner consistency is desired.

Meat and Fish

Lean cuts such as chicken or pork tenderloin may cook faster than tougher cuts with more connective tissue and fat. Bone-in meat generally needs more time than boneless meat, and cooking times vary with cut size, thickness, and structure. Browning meat in the cooking pot before slow cooking can add deeper flavor.

When using frozen meat, add at least 1 cup of warm liquid before cooking to reduce sudden temperature changes. Frozen meat typically needs about four additional hours on Low or two additional hours on High, while large cuts may require substantially longer.

Fish cooks quickly. Add it during the final 15 minutes to one hour, depending on the recipe and thickness of the fish.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Unplug the slow cooker and allow every component to cool before cleaning. Never immerse the heating base, power cord, or plug in water or any other liquid.

• Wash the glass lid with hot, soapy water using a cloth, sponge, or other non-abrasive tool.
• The glass lid may be cleaned on the top rack of a dishwasher.
• Wash the removable cooking pot by hand to help preserve its ceramic coating.
• Use a non-abrasive cleaner, cloth, sponge, or rubber spatula to remove food residue.
• Allow the hand-washed cooking pot to air dry before storage.
• Wipe the heating base with a soft cloth dampened with warm, soapy water, then dry it thoroughly.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, or abrasive compounds.

The cooking pot and glass lid are not microwave safe. The lid is not oven safe. The cooking pot is oven safe and suitable for gas, electric, and induction stovetops. The appliance contains no user-serviceable parts; electrical or mechanical servicing should be performed only by an authorized service representative.

Troubleshooting

The appliance does not retain its settings

A power interruption resets the display and indicator lights to Off when power returns, and previous settings are lost. If the outage duration is unknown, the food may not be safe to eat and should be discarded.

The timer was canceled but the unit is still operating

Cancel Timer removes the timed shutoff but does not stop the selected temperature mode. Turn the dial to Off to end operation.

Food is undercooked or overcooked

Confirm that the pot was filled between one-half and three-quarters full, the lid remained in place, and the selected cooking time matched the recipe. Cut size, bone structure, frozen ingredients, and the amount of connective tissue in meat can all change cooking time.

The cooking pot or lid is difficult to clean

Allow the appliance to cool, then soak the removable parts in warm, soapy water. Loosen residue with a cloth, sponge, or rubber spatula rather than abrasive tools that may damage the ceramic coating or glass.

Warranty

Calphalon provides a three-year limited warranty from the original date of purchase against defects in materials and workmanship. The remedy may involve repair or replacement of the product or a defective component, subject to the warranty terms.

The warranty applies to the original retail purchaser and requires proof of purchase. It does not cover misuse, negligent use, improper voltage or current, operation contrary to the instructions, unauthorized disassembly, repair or alteration, or damage caused by events such as fire, flooding, hurricanes, or tornadoes. Attempting to repair or adjust electrical or mechanical functions can void the warranty.

Warranty rights and limitations may vary by jurisdiction. The warranty does not provide authorization for the user to service the appliance.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• One removable pot supports stovetop sautéing, searing, oven use, and slow cooking.
• Digital timing uses convenient 15-minute increments.
• Automatic Warm mode begins after a timed cycle ends.
• Induction-compatible cooking pot expands stovetop flexibility.
• Glass lid allows cooking progress to be viewed without opening the pot.

Cons

• The glass lid cannot be used in the oven.
• The ceramic-coated pot requires hand washing to help protect its surface.
• Warm is for holding cooked food and cannot replace cooking or reheating.
• A power interruption clears the timer and temperature settings.
• The appliance must be kept at least 6 inches away from surrounding walls and objects.