West Bend Versatility 84846

The 6-quart Versatility 84846 is West Bend's most innovative slow cooker, with special features found on few other cookers. One of the most notable is a stovetop-safe insert that can be used to brown meat or caramelize onions prior to slow cooking. But experts say this feature works better in theory than in practice since the inserts can only be used at low or medium heat, rather than the high heat needed for most stovetop activities. The Versatility's base also doubles as a griddle, which garners praise from both experts and consumers. Many experts and consumers had negative remarks, however, about the way the lid fits into the pot and the fact that the cooker lacks an indicator light.

The West Bend Versatility 84846 receives positive reviews from both Good Housekeeping and Woman's Day, with comments on the all-purpose nature of the features, including the griddle and stovetop-safe insert. In one of the most extensive tests we found, however, Cook's Illustrated had a very negative perspective on the Versatility, commenting on the lack of an indicator light and lack of an off setting, as well as uneven heating and the tendency of the lid to fall into the insert.