Frees me from the stove
Plusses:
* I like the stirring function. I just need to ensure that the meat is diced/sliced finely enough (bite-size) so that the paddle will not jam and make loud noises. Frying something like premarinated Korean chilli sliced chicken saved my stove area ftom the usual splatter, and me, from clean-up
* the pre-set cooking programmes are good- set and forget. Stewed meats are tender, gravies flavourful and oil in the gravy 'cracked'
* I have the option of using or not using the stirring paddle
* I can open the lid midway through cooking
* the inner lid is removable for washing
* depending on what type of dishes you cook, I picture this appliance as a godsend for moms of young ones and for those who have trouble standing for long
Minusses:
* navigating the touch control panel is not intuitive; I often wonder if it was a man who does not cook who designed the panel!
* the browning function should have a higher maximum heat option in order to really brown meats. Usually, I let the inner pot heat up with only the oil and with the lid open, for a few minutes, before I add the meat and keep the lid open. Still, only a bit of the meat gets browned. So, unfortunately, I end up browning meats and aromatics on the stove before adding them into the Tefal. For this trouble, I might as well use my stove top pressure cooker and have only one pot to wash
* there are too few cooking videos using this appliance. Few people would want to cook only risotto all the time (watch Tefal's promo video). I am experimenting recipes on my own. The one recipe I tried from the included recipe booklet had glaring omissions.