Abstract: A slow cooker including a housing with a heating element positioned therein, a cooking vessel configured to be positioned within the housing for heating via the heating element and a lid configured to be positioned on the cooking vessel to substantially close a generally pen end thereof. The lid has a releasable handle assembly wherein a motor handle or a non-motor handle may be attached thereto. The motor handle may be configured to selectively activate the motor in a pre-determined interval sequence wherein at the beginning of each interval the motor is activated for a given time and then the motor is deactivated until the beginning of the next interval Lid clips may be pivotally connected to the lid to releasably engage a rim of the cooking vessel.

Abstract: A slow cooker including a housing, cooking vessel with a rim and a lid. At least one latching arrangement is disposed on the lid and a complementary engagement member disposed on a sidewall of the housing configured to selectively retain the lid in sealing engagement with the cooking vessel rim and the housing to inhibit leakage of the food stuffs from the interior of the cooking vessel. The at least one latching arrangement includes a base attached to the lid and an elastic tie down connected to the base having an elongated portion with a stop member formed thereon configured to engage the engagement member. The stop member engages the engagement member by extending the elastic tie down such that the stop member is moved past the engagement member and when the elastic tie down is released the stop member is restrained by the engagement member.

Abstract: A slow cooker appliance includes a lid, cooking vessel, housing and at least one but preferably two latching arrangements for securing the lid. Each latching arrangement includes a lid mount mounted on opposing sides of the periphery of the lid, a U-shaped member pivotally attached to the lid mount, and a rotating member rotatably connected to a housing mount disposed on a sidewall of the slow cooker housing, A U-shaped member is looped around the rotating member and a cammed surface on the rotating member urges against the end of the U-shaped member as the rotating member is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise from an unlatched position to one of two possible latched positions. This creates a force in the U-shaped member that is transmitted to the lid mount. The lid mount urges the lid against a rim of the cooking vessel thereby securing the lid and the container to the housing.

Abstract: A cooking application (10) is provided having an adaptive control system (50) to control the cooking temperature of a food product. The adaptive control system (50) includes cooking profiles for select food products, where the cooking profiles include temperature profiles for various cooking times. A temperature measuring system (40) is utilized to verify and maintain the temperature of the food product in accordance with a temperature profile for a selected food product and cook time. The temperature profiles ensure that the food product is provided in a cooking state, preventing over or under-cooking, for the selected cooking time.