Chef Randall's Turbo Cooker: Is it as Good as Advertised?
One Cook's Honest Opinion
Infomercials seem to rule the airwaves and advertise a wide variety of products. Some seem to be scams but a few actually work. As a rule, I steer clear of most of these products advertised on infomercials but one of the items I have bought and do use is the Turbo Cooker.
The Turbo Cooker 2-in-1 pan purports to cook an entire meal in a single pan and to prepare food from the freezer to the table in minutes. Chef Randall advertises the Turbo Cooker - or did - on infomercials along with a wide selection of other products than range from knives to gifts.
Because I'm a busy wife and other of three, the idea of preparing delicious meals in minutes appealed to me. I confess that I am always seeking easy recipes that can be made in a short time so that I can put home cooked meals on the table. I saw the Turbo Cooker infomercial several times before I began to seriously think about the product.
My husband is prone to order things he sees on infomercials and he suggested that I purchase the Turbo Cooker. Like water wearing away stone he convinced me to give the product a try.
Before I offer my own opinion on the Turbo Cooker, I want to note that I have seen everything from glowing reviews to scam warnings on the Internet about the Turbo Cooker. I had not seen either praise or condemnation before I bought mine so I wasn't influenced by anyone else's opinion.
The Turbo Cooker does work as advertised if you use the product EXACTLY as instructed. It is not quite as simple as Chef Randall makes it seem on television. To prepare a recipe, there are multiple steps that require perfect timing and constant attention from the cook. Unlike my slow cooker that I can load with food and walk away from, the Turbo Cooker keeps me chained to the kitchen so that I can follow the instructions. It does work but it is not necessarily easy.
One of my favorite recipes and the one I have used most with the Turbo Cooker is Really Rotisserie Chicken. The recipe card states that it will be ready in 35 minutes and it is. I do not cook the stuffing croquettes or the carrots that are meant to accompany it nor do I follow the complete directions.
The recipe suggests that I remove all the skin from the whole chicken with a boning knife before I start. That would take too much time in my opinion. The recipe also directs me to press down on the breastbone of the bird to flatten the chicken. I don't do this either. I do season to taste and from that point on, I do follow the directions and can serve roast chicken in just over a half-hour.
The complicated part, however, is that the cooking is done in multiple segments with the valve on the dome lid open or closed. The cycles are ten minutes, five minutes, five minutes, thirteen minutes, and a final five minutes. The cook needs to be present to either open or close the valve as directed and to flip the chicken over halfway through. I have to use my kitchen timer to keep track of the changes and have the recipe card at hand.
As I stated, it does work but it's much more complicated than it looked on TV. I've tried other recipes including mini meatloaves and they work but like the chicken, each one requires more steps than I consider convenient. And, I have never attempted to cook frozen food and have it done in the short time promised. The potential for food cooked on the outside but raw in the middle seemed too great so I've never tried.
Since I work at home as a writer, I'm home. Putting a chicken into the oven to cook for one hour is actually easier than using the Turbo Cooker because I don't have to be nearby to make the necessary changes. Unless I want to produce the taste of the "Really Rotisserie" chicken, I pop the chicken in the oven. Easier still is to put a whole chicken into the slow cooker and forget about it until mealtime.
My review of the Turbo Cooker would earn a B- on a grading scale. It works, I use it, but it's more complicated than demonstrated and I don't use it as often as I thought I might.
The Turbo Cooker 2-in-1 pan purports to cook an entire meal in a single pan and to prepare food from the freezer to the table in minutes. Chef Randall advertises the Turbo Cooker - or did - on infomercials along with a wide selection of other products than range from knives to gifts.
Because I'm a busy wife and other of three, the idea of preparing delicious meals in minutes appealed to me. I confess that I am always seeking easy recipes that can be made in a short time so that I can put home cooked meals on the table. I saw the Turbo Cooker infomercial several times before I began to seriously think about the product.
My husband is prone to order things he sees on infomercials and he suggested that I purchase the Turbo Cooker. Like water wearing away stone he convinced me to give the product a try.
Before I offer my own opinion on the Turbo Cooker, I want to note that I have seen everything from glowing reviews to scam warnings on the Internet about the Turbo Cooker. I had not seen either praise or condemnation before I bought mine so I wasn't influenced by anyone else's opinion.
The Turbo Cooker does work as advertised if you use the product EXACTLY as instructed. It is not quite as simple as Chef Randall makes it seem on television. To prepare a recipe, there are multiple steps that require perfect timing and constant attention from the cook. Unlike my slow cooker that I can load with food and walk away from, the Turbo Cooker keeps me chained to the kitchen so that I can follow the instructions. It does work but it is not necessarily easy.
One of my favorite recipes and the one I have used most with the Turbo Cooker is Really Rotisserie Chicken. The recipe card states that it will be ready in 35 minutes and it is. I do not cook the stuffing croquettes or the carrots that are meant to accompany it nor do I follow the complete directions.
The recipe suggests that I remove all the skin from the whole chicken with a boning knife before I start. That would take too much time in my opinion. The recipe also directs me to press down on the breastbone of the bird to flatten the chicken. I don't do this either. I do season to taste and from that point on, I do follow the directions and can serve roast chicken in just over a half-hour.
The complicated part, however, is that the cooking is done in multiple segments with the valve on the dome lid open or closed. The cycles are ten minutes, five minutes, five minutes, thirteen minutes, and a final five minutes. The cook needs to be present to either open or close the valve as directed and to flip the chicken over halfway through. I have to use my kitchen timer to keep track of the changes and have the recipe card at hand.
As I stated, it does work but it's much more complicated than it looked on TV. I've tried other recipes including mini meatloaves and they work but like the chicken, each one requires more steps than I consider convenient. And, I have never attempted to cook frozen food and have it done in the short time promised. The potential for food cooked on the outside but raw in the middle seemed too great so I've never tried.
Since I work at home as a writer, I'm home. Putting a chicken into the oven to cook for one hour is actually easier than using the Turbo Cooker because I don't have to be nearby to make the necessary changes. Unless I want to produce the taste of the "Really Rotisserie" chicken, I pop the chicken in the oven. Easier still is to put a whole chicken into the slow cooker and forget about it until mealtime.
My review of the Turbo Cooker would earn a B- on a grading scale. It works, I use it, but it's more complicated than demonstrated and I don't use it as often as I thought I might.
Published by Joetown
Writer and mom View profile
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The Turbo Cooker 2-in-1 cooker is available in some stores as well as from Chef Randall?
28 Comments
Post a CommentThe turbo cooker is great we use it often. It is not that difficult. I put the chicken in with veggie's and cook for 20-30 minutes,(even frozen) and it comes out nice and tender and very juicey. We love it!!
Well, I disagree. I have a Turbo Cooker, and I put everything in it and just walk away. The one thing people need to remember is to have enough water in the bottom of the pan. Chicken, fish, everything turns out great. I love to put an uncooked sweet potato and a piece of frozen salmon on the rack. They are done at the same time and are delicious.
In helpful hints in Pork nd Sausage it says you can add fi tsp. of oil. What is fi??????? thanks
I have tried to go to the www.chefrandall.com as reccomended and I am told the site is not up. Is there a contact phone other than the one I have on my bill? Thanks
I got my sisterinlaw and I the turbo cooker for Christmas and did not get the video for eith er set. I have called twice and both times they said they would send it and it is now the end of May and I ordered this before Christmas to give as a gift. How do I get this video as it was paid for and supposed to be in the sets. I bought two and then bought the extra pan for both sets so the video would be appreciated as the cards don't help that much. Thanks looking forward to learning how to use these pans.
I *love* my turbo cooker! I haven't been able to make a bad meal with it; it's very forgiving. Although I don't usually use the recipes provided with it, I found them easy and good. (Just a few more calories than I prefer.)
Joey, you obviously don't know what it means to multitask. The whole purpose of looking to make a meal as quick and easy as portrayed on the infomercial was to be able to make dinner, probably after working all day and hoping to put a healthy, tasty meal in less time. Her working from home does not diminish that she is working...she has one advantage over the rest of us who drive to work...she is not paying blood money at the pump. I have the ability to work from home (additional hours) after I have worked all week from home, you tend to work longer because you keep saying ..only 15 more minutes. You are insulting when you call her lazy. Her description of the product was helpful to me and knowing what to expect only makes me not disappointed if and when I purchase it. There are many of us out there who appreciate honesty.
this writer lady sounds like a lazy chick.
Hi: I just read your review / comment re: Turbo Cooker accident in the oven where the lid valve melted. Well, if you go to Chef Randall's site himself , www.chefrandall.com , you can purchase any and all parts for the Turbo, even the Turbo Junior, or any of the Turbo Cookers. You can also email any number of the chefs, customer service, marketing, etc. They will respond immediately and assist. I had a spring form pan that leaked and was not under warranty. They gave me special pricing on a new and also any spring form pan will work just as well, they said. Mary
Our family is on its 5th turbo cooker. The recipes never made it past the look over stage. My Son uses one at College and I don't think he even has the recipes and that never stopped him from running through two of them.
My husband and I are both teachers and come home tired and not always knowing what we want to eat or who is going to cook it. I cook EVERYTHING frozen right out of the freezer. It is usually done in 15 to 30 min. I just heat up the pan, put in the frozen item, shake over spices, put on the lid and turn it down to MED. I might turn it over once or maybe not. (Be careful if you want med/rare steaks, putting on the lid will take them to well done in a heartbeat - even if they are frozen)
We also like to put in some noodles and put enough water in to cover. After about 15 min I pull out the meat and put it into the basket. Put in the noodles and water, after the water is absorbed I stir the noodles with a little flavoring and spices to have along with the me