Very juicy chicken
I was suprised at how good this cooker is, as I was skeptical.
First task: We picked up a fresh 5.2 pound chicken at the store, tied the legs together with cooking twine, and it fit perfectly in the roaster with a little bit to spare. (the larger chickens will need the legs secured, or pushed together to fit) It was jucier than that famous rotisserie on TV. The grease ran off as advertised, as it nearly completely filled the catch cup on the bottom. This is an A+.
Second task: Eggs. Three scrambled eggs, peppers/onions, topped with cheese. Used a light coating of spray to coat the top tray, just in case. Closed the lid and set it for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, was nearly done, so set it for 2 more (total time 22 minutes). I couldn't believe the fluffiness of the eggs. Normally when I use a stove top pan, the bottom cooks faster than the top. This time, no burnt bottom. It slid right out of the pan, and I folded it over onto the plate.
Handiest thing in the kitchen
In addition to being an avid reader, I enjoy cooking. This appliance is the best thing on my counter. The first night after it arrived, I roasted a whole 4-1/2 pound chicken. I slid some fresh sage and rosemary under the skin, placed it in the cooker breast side down, added some baby potatoes and sliced onions, set the timer, and ignored it for the next hour. The wonderful aromas coming out of it were hard to ignore, but I resisted the temptation to open it up during the cooking process. My chicken was thoroughly done but moist, tender, and very flavorful. Although I had pulled out the abdominal fat, about 1/4" of grease dripped out into the tray during cooking. That was fat that didn't end up in my body. Last night I roasted an inexpensive pork roast along with some whole carrots and created a delicious dinner. I highly recommend this product.
Why heat up the whole kitchen when you roast?
I already am a fan of the Foreman (Salton) grill, which does a chop or chicken breast or salmon steak and removes a lot of fat. The contact cooker is a small roaster that works on a similar principle: two heated sections and a hole to drain the collecting fat and liquid. The roaster is about the size of a small football helmet.
The roaster includes a small oval pan for stewing (collects the juices and blocks the drain hole.) This makes it more versatile. It has a timer, since you are roasting larger objects and this can take an hour or two.
Our first trial was a roast chicken, using a modified recipe included with the cooker. We added Red Bliss potatoes and put an olive oil and garlic seasoned mid sized chicken in to roast. This took one hour. The kitchen stayed cool and the roast was juicy. The fat from the skin drained almost as soon as the cooking started.
If you like to roast meats or fish, and you don't want to heat the entire oven or you live in a studio apartment, this...
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