I almost didn't buy this appliance based on the feedback. I eventually bought it from big w knowing I could take it back easily. This cooker does the best chips ever! Cooks them with ease on level 8 and browns them onto a crisp on level 10. It makes great stews and curries and I am thankful I chose to purchase it. Can't understand the poor reviews at all.

Doesn't heat up very quickly at all. Been waiting 30 minutes to fry stuff. Dial is also confusing, don't know which way is supposed to be hotter, tried both ways, doesn't seem to be doing much. Waste of money. Back to the wok I go!

I bought this recently mainly as a deep fryer. My first experience wasn't good. Soggy chips. I found its other uses excellent, e.g. as a combined braiser, pot roaster and for cooking soups and stews.
So I persisted with the chips. The first thing I did was buy a thermometer .
I found it took quite a while to reach the highest temp of 195. c but once there was able to maintain a satisfactory temp for cooking chips. I have reduced the cooking temp of the first cook to start at 150 for 5 mins to give a well cooked, un-browned chip, allowed the chips to cool then cranked it up to max on the dial for second cook. Result, crispy chips. May I also stress get the right spuds., the floury ones are the best.

Thank you Sunbeam. My son was craving homemade chips. Double fry always. I am no expert in deep frying...well this is actually my first deep fryer. You do need to be patient and wait for the light to go off and on. Test fry is a good idea as well. I love it for cooking a spaghetti sauce, soup and steaming vegies. I cook, wipe over and back in cupboard. Perfect for young adult children as well!

Handle of the deep fry basket does not lock in and can cause severe burns as I have been severly on the arm. Not a very good product. Needs to be taken from the market and recalled before a child is terribly burnt and sunbeam are held responsible and sued.

I bought this and thought it would be perfect for cooking chips and salt and pepper squid and just to deep fry occasionally... useless... I have now given up - the temperature doesn't get hot enough and the oil being not means what I cook is soggy and therefore unhealthy as all the food absorbs the oil - which is what I don't want... It would be more useful as a dogs water bowl. DON'T waste your money.

I was so excited when I found this product! Easy to use, easy to clean! Too good to be true? Definitely. I bought this as a deep fryer to replace one which broke. It is interesting to see that the negative comments on this site date back two years. Hey, Sunbeam, if you don't want to fix the problem with the product, at least change the labels, got to be cheaper, right? You knew the problem all along didn't you? You let me waste my money on yet another slow cooker didn't you? That's it for me Sunbeam, we are through. I can't have a relationship with a cheat and liar. I thought you were honest, looks like you're not. I'm leaving you.

This sounded fantastic so we bought 1 rather than have multiple appliances. I agree with the comments about the oil not getting hot enough but we didn't really buy it for deep frying, more for slow cooking as we could brown the meat etc all in the one pot. We used it about 10 times (8 for slow cooking and 2 for deep frying) over about 18 months. We went to use it the other day and guess what the light came on but that's it, no heat no nothing. Change power points, checked the plug was in properly but still nothing. I threw it in the bin and will never buy Sunbeam again.
Good for a 1 pot option
Poor quality that didnt last

I've actually purchased two of these over the last three months and both of them are useless. The temperature isn't nearly hot enough for deep frying and on my thermometer reached only 125C! It was purchased purely for deep frying and I am very disappointed with the performance, or rather lack of.
Taking it back!
Nowhere near hot enough.

I bought this multi cooker/deep frier for making tempura. The oil is not hot enough even at the highest level setting. So my tempura sit at the bottom n stick to the deep fried basket. And it's not crunchy either. I think I need to stick to the old method by just using a large pan or wok on gas stove n deep fried it there. My tempura or ebi prawn or pork katzu was perfect every time. (We love cooking Japanese food). If u want to use this product as deep frier think twice as it might not suit every deep fried dish.

I needed an electric saucepan to use in the classroom (I have been doing cooking lessons with my class of littlies) and it has been great for that purpose. I've used it for heaps of things at home too and found it really useful for doing lamb roast - can't stand having to clean the oven. Great recipe book and continue to be pleased with how well it works.
Easy to clean, reliable and great as an electric saucepan.

Like another reviewer we were replacing a multicooker which had run beautifully for years, but presumably they have changed specifications or suppliers as the probe quickly failed. I thought I had done something wrong, so I ordered a new one at my expense which also failed. I then contacted Sunbeam (with fair difficulty) and they arranged to supply me with a new one. When that one also failed on the second use I decided to cut my losses and look elsewhere. I will not buy a sunbeam appliance of any description with the probe type heater.
The old one was simple, efficient, easy to clean. The new one doesn't have any pros as it didn't work.
Repeated failure of the same part - 3 strikes and it was out.

Purchased in Jan returned as faulty it didn't get hot enough.Then got another one to replace it, same problem not getting hot enough not impressed!Previously had one, till it died in Jan which I purchased 10yrs ago. So I knew they were good and had no heating problems with it, was great for ten years that is why I purchased another. Not this time though 2 duds don't know if I should try third time lucky or not!Very disappointed, bit over it!
Size
Didn't get hot enough to cook

For the price, it does it's job. the steel basket is great in and out of the fryer. I love the detached handle.

It's fantastic when comes to cleaning, very easy. I know it can be used to stew, braise, stir fry, but I only use it for frying.
Easy to clean

Didn't heat oil hot enough then it stopped heating all together
contacted sunbeam for repair as it was just out of warranty
was going too cost more too repair so its still at the repair shop not worth the petrol too pick up a broken product never buy sunbeam again cheap made overseas crap
5 litre oil capacity

it is perfect. I have used it deep frying, made a pumpkin soup, casserole and then once i finished cooking the casserole i just removed it from the electrical cord and took it straight to the table to serve. Fantastic. I love it.
sturdy base and easy cleaning

My friend and I both bought one of these together....me to replace a 30 year old Sunbeam deepfryer, she to replace a square sunbeam deepfryer. So we were experienced chip cookers!!
Neither of the new ones got hot enough to deepfry anything! They were utter rubbish.We checked the temps and they didn't get over 155c. Need at least 180 for chips...were supposed to get to 200+.
I might add that another friend has one that she is happy with. Sadly it is probably just a case of poor quality control, but it will put me off from buying oher sunbeam products.

Didn't get hot enough to do the job it is being sold for.