Our take
Model 33850 combines a 5 qt slow cooker with two 1.5 qt Double Dish bowls. The guide describes conventional water-bath and direct-bowl methods, giving it a more flexible layout than a plain single crock.
For buyers who want one 5 qt slow cooker with optional smaller dishes for sauces or sides..
Skip it if you need independently timed bowls, confirmed dishwasher care, or a current exact Amazon item match.
Pros & cons
What could work for you, and what to consider before buying.
What works in its favor
- The exact guide lists model 33850 and the 5 qt size.
- Two 1.5 qt bowls allow smaller foods or sides to be separated from the main crock.
- A manual knob supports conventional slow-cook use.
What to weigh up
- The bowls share the cooker base and no separate controls are documented.
- No timer or automatic Warm transition is documented.
- Finish, care, and historical Amazon mapping remain unknown.
The key details
| Model covered | 33850 |
|---|---|
| Capacity and pot layout | One 5 qt main cooker crock with two 1.5 qt Double Dish bowls |
| Controls and modes | Manual control knob; no timer or delayed start documented |
| Timer and end behavior | Guide describes conventional water-in-crock use and a direct-bowl method |
| Care and distinguishing details | Finish, dishwasher care, and exact Amazon offer mapping remain unconfirmed |
Performance figures are manufacturer claims. Source checked October 6, 2026. Regional models and included accessories can differ.
What the features mean for you
One main cooker plus two smaller bowls
The 33850 is not simply a pair of independent slow cookers. Its guide describes a 5 qt main cooker crock and two Double Dish bowls, each 1.5 qt. The smaller dishes let a cook separate a sauce, side, or another small preparation from the main food, while the main crock remains available for a larger single recipe. The maker guide identifies model 33850, so it stays distinct from other Hamilton Beach Double Dish models and from dual-base buffet appliances. The bowls do not add up to a single 3 qt vessel, and their capacity should not be treated as part of the 5 qt crock.
The manual explains two ways to use the bowls
For conventional slow cooking, the instructions place both Double Dish bowls inside the main crock with water around them. The second method places both bowls directly in the base for faster cooking. These are meaningfully different arrangements, but the manual does not document a separate temperature dial for each bowl. Do not assume that one dish can be held at a different heat from the other. The shared cooker control sets the operating condition, so this layout is best when the foods can follow a compatible schedule. The source does not promise simultaneous independent programs or a timer.
Manual control leaves timing to the cook
The guide describes a control knob and says the cooked food may be served or the setting changed to Keep Warm. That supports a manually selected operating routine; it does not establish a countdown, delayed start, or automatic switch at the end of a recipe. If unattended timing is a hard need, this is the wrong type of interface. The manual also does not document the bowls as programmable inserts. Their value is the smaller divided serving arrangement and alternative placement, not independent electronic control. Use the instructions rather than treating the product name Double Dish as a guarantee of two separately managed temperatures.
Care and finish need exact confirmation
The saved guide establishes the cooker parts and use methods but does not provide a confirmed dishwasher claim for the 33850 bowls, crock, or lid in the evidence packet used here. The profile leaves those care attributes unknown instead of borrowing a cleaning statement from another Hamilton Beach model. Finish and current seller package contents are also not established. Before choosing it, confirm that the offered unit includes both Double Dish bowls and the main crock, especially if shopping used. The exact historical Amazon page could not be connected to a current offer, so the tagged link searches by 33850 code.
A useful middle ground for one main recipe
The 33850 makes sense for someone who mostly wants one 5 qt cooker but sometimes needs smaller separate dishes. It is more involved than a plain crock because the bowls and main vessel create several pieces to store and clean. At the same time, it does not offer proof of separate programs or independent temperatures, so buyers seeking a true triple buffet appliance should compare a model with documented separate controls. The guide supports the core identity and dimensions of the cooking layout, while the unknown care and offer details should be checked on the exact unit. No cooking result or personal test is claimed.
What else to compare
For truly independent pots and controls, compare a dual or triple cooker; for one large dish alone, a simpler manual crock may be easier to store.
Before you buy
What is the main cooker capacity?
The 33850 guide lists a 5 qt main cooker and two 1.5 qt Double Dish bowls.
Can the two bowls be controlled independently?
The manual describes a shared control knob and does not document individual bowl controls.
Is there a timer?
No timed program or delayed start is documented in the saved 33850 guide.
Where can I check the current price?
Use the Amazon link for current offers. Check the exact model, seller, product condition, delivery, and return terms. This page does not display a live price or confirm stock.
Sources & review basis
We use the following manufacturer documentation for the product features above. Our suitability notes and buying advice are editorial judgments based on those features, not measured performance results.
- Hamilton Beach Double Dish slow cooker manual covering model 33850 ↗ — checked October 6, 2026.
- Hamilton Beach Double Dish manual 840086500; model list includes 33850 ↗ — checked October 6, 2026.
The decision
Hamilton Beach 33850 offers one 5 qt cooker with two smaller Double Dish bowls and two documented placement methods. Confirm care and included pieces before purchase.
Is it the right fit?
Check the exact model and today’s offers on Amazon.