Updated 27 Apr 2016
Sunbeam
SecretChef Electronic Sear and Slow Cooker 5.5L HP8555
Snapshot: The Sunbeam SecretChef Electronic Sear and Slow Cooker HP8555’s capacity is a medium-sized 5.5L. How easy is it to use and how well does it cook?
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Test results
Overall score
Slow cooking performance
Ease of use
Slow cooking chilli beef & beans
Slow cooking corned beef
Good points
- Excellent results for our corned beef and chilli beef.
- Easy to use.
- Has comprehensive instructions plus recipes.
- Has programmable push-button controls including a timer.
- Sears food well in the slow cooker (so there’s no need to use the stovetop).
- Non-stick coating makes the pan easy to clean.
- Medium-sized 5.5L capacity.
But
- Metal handle on lid can become very hot.
- Unit can be difficult to store (it’s large).
- Relatively expensive.
How we test
Overall score includes:
Corned beef (30%): tested performance on a “low” setting.
Chilli beef and beans (30%): tested performance on a “high” setting.
Ease of use (40%): assessed ease of assembly, storage, controls and cleaning.
Key data
Model
Avg price
Type
Multi-cooker test results (/10)
Pressure cooking performance
Pressure cooking lamb shanks
Pressure cooking chilli beef & beans
Cooking brown rice
Cooking jasmine rice
Specifications
Weight (kg)
Dimensions - WxHxD (cm)
Claimed capacity (L)
5.5
Shape
Features
Auto setting
Dishwasher safe
Sear
Steam
Warm
Pressure settings
Pressure-release valve
More Info
Availability
-
Running costs ($/year)
Slow cooking on “low”
Slow cooking on “high”
Pressure cooking
Member reviews
"Non-stick coating doesn't last"
12 Dec 2018, Megan C.
Product use: 6 months or more
Pros:
The controls are easy to use. It has a good capacity but is easy to lift.
Cons:
We replaced our first one because the non-stick coating started to wear off after we hadn't had it for all that long. The same thing happened with the second one too, despite using only plastic utensils with it. We won't buy this model again because it doesn't last the distance.
Recommend it?
No, this product has too many drawbacks.
"Poor quality teflon coating."
14 Aug 2018, Michael S.
Product use: 6 months or more
Pros:
Easy to use and great results for casseroles, lamb roast and Christmas cake.
Cons:
The Teflon coating is rubbish. I am just about to buy a fourth crock insert in 4 years due to bubbling and peeling of the Teflon coating.
Sunbeam is not interested as it is out of warranty.
Recommend it?
Maybe, it depends on what you're after.
"Excellent product and easy to use"
09 Sep 2017, Mark J.
Product use: 6 months or more
Pros:
Good size for larger quantities.
Browning meat and continuing to use the same item saves time washing up.
Easy to wash and clean.
Makes great slow cooked meals.
Cons:
Large to store but still worth the inconvenience - it as such a good product
Recommend it?
Yes, I recommend this product.
"Superb appliance"
14 May 2016, Trevor S.
Product use: 6 months or more
Pros:
I love the fact that brown the meat and continue in the one unit.
Cons:
The pros outnumber any cons.
Recommend it?
Yes, I recommend this product.
"A wonderful appliance!"
08 May 2016, Joy M.
Product use: 1 month or less
Pros:
I can brown the meat without using my stovetop. The inner dish fits into my dishwasher and I do not need to pre-cook vegetables for casseroles. I use a slow cooker once - to twice a week although there are only two of us as I like to make a large casserole of 3 to 5 meals and freeze the extra portions. This reduces cooking and clean-up time and offers us quick meals when needed. My old crockpot was an oval one also but the sunbeam does roasts even better because of its browning feature
Cons:
This crockpot might be a little hot on low but I will try different quantites. It is large to store but as I use it so much it is worth the trouble.
Recommend it?
Maybe, it depends on what you're after.
"Browning without the extra washup is a plus."
20 Jun 2015, Cleone
Product use: 6 months or more
Pros:
Being able to sear in the main cooking vessel at the beginning. The temperature gauge shows whats happening and you can set time limits. The easy clean and light cooking container. I have had three slow cookers fail or not work from new so this was a find.
Cons:
I can store it but some may find it rather large.
Recommend it?
Yes, I recommend this product.
