Which Is The Best Slow Cooker?

[Sweetfudge]

I am so FRUSTRATED with my search to buy a new slow cooker. I got a really cheap Rival 4 qt crock pot as a wedding present 5 years ago, and really liked it. It worked great. But I dropped the bowl a few weeks ago

I've been trying to research a replacement. I feel slightly overwhelmed by all the reviews.

What do you guys feel about the different brands?

Should I go high tech or low tech?

I'd really like a 4- or 5-quart pot, but will probably be cooking for more than just 2 in the next few years (ie, having kids in the not-too-distant future), so if it's durable, would maybe consider a 6 quart.

Just looking for feedback here Thanks!

[Jestgar]

Dunno about the best, since I just got mine, but I have to say that I love the timing feature. It switches to warm after however many hours I've told it, and I think it eventually switches itself off.

No worries about getting home late or forgetting to turn it off.

[MaryJones2]

I am SO in love with the VitaClay. It's a rice cooker and a slower cooker. I ran across it when I was searching for a rice cooker that wasn't teflon coated. I am really hard on cookware and teflon just dosen't hold up long term in my house...

I got mine from Costco but I've seen them several places:

Open Original Shared Link

There is a larger one available but since it's just two of us the small one works perfectly.

[kenlove]

The last time I bust my Rival it took me a few months to find another but I bought 3 of them when I did. I use the bowl to pickle things too as well as the slow cooker. With luck you can find another. I have 2 other types but still like the Rival the best.

ken

I am so FRUSTRATED with my search to buy a new slow cooker. I got a really cheap Rival 4 qt crock pot as a wedding present 5 years ago, and really liked it. It worked great. But I dropped the bowl a few weeks ago

I've been trying to research a replacement. I feel slightly overwhelmed by all the reviews.

What do you guys feel about the different brands?

Should I go high tech or low tech?

I'd really like a 4- or 5-quart pot, but will probably be cooking for more than just 2 in the next few years (ie, having kids in the not-too-distant future), so if it's durable, would maybe consider a 6 quart.

Just looking for feedback here Thanks!

[gfp]

Given they are not so expensive but drop the bowl and oops... ??

I have a cheap one (forget the brand and its boxed and packed pending moving) and it works fine...

Size wise, I think I'd rather have 2 cheap ones than one expensive one ??? (more flexibility on portion size since you more or less have to cover what your cooking)...

Why not see what is the best deal?

[purple]

I don't know what is offered at the store, mine is old, but be sure to get one where the crock removes from the heat source. Easier to wash and also to slip into the fridge. Just a thought.

[Katester]

I was at Walmart for pretty much my first time and saw a 6 qt Rival Crock Pot. The biggest deal of the century-it was on clearance for $10!!! You can be sure I snatched it up right away. It's pretty much a basic crock pot with the removable bowl and the multiple settings. It doesn't have any special features but it works fine. I would suggest looking for one that has what you're looking for i.g. warming feature, auto shut off and one that isn't ridiculously expensive. But then again, I don't buy anything that's ridiculously expensive.

[Sweetfudge]

I was at Walmart for pretty much my first time and saw a 6 qt Rival Crock Pot. The biggest deal of the century-it was on clearance for $10!!! You can be sure I snatched it up right away. It's pretty much a basic crock pot with the removable bowl and the multiple settings. It doesn't have any special features but it works fine. I would suggest looking for one that has what you're looking for i.g. warming feature, auto shut off and one that isn't ridiculously expensive. But then again, I don't buy anything that's ridiculously expensive.

Gotta love walmart! I ended up getting the 5 qt version @ Bed, Bath and Beyond for about $20. I figured it was a pretty decent deal. It does have the warming feature and auto switch-to-warm timer. The only thing I really don't like about it, is when I push the buttons (and you have to push it 16 times to set it to 8 hrs...) it makes this annoying beep. I have thing thing about obnoxious noises

I am struggling a bit though, because I usually am only cooking for 2, and while I try and make enough for leftovers, I have a hard time filling a bigger crock. But I like it.