Ready to buy a crock pot - recommendations?

So - all of your great responses sold me on this appliance. I am going to buy on in the US and have it shipped with some other items I am sending to Tokyo - so I want to buy online.

I did a little research on williams sonoma site - they had some all clad cookers but the reviews were kind of mixed.

Anyone have a cooker they would really recommend?

Thanks

Mine newest one is a Rival 6.5 qt. model 5865 which is no longer made, but similar ones are out there. I love mine because it is oval and holds large ham hocks, and large chunks of meat. It has low, high, and keep warm features. The white porcelain is very easy to clean and looks nice.

Mine newest one is a Rival 6.5 qt. model 5865 which is no longer made, but similar ones are out there. I love mine because it is oval and holds large ham hocks, and large chunks of meat. It has low, high, and keep warm features. The white porcelain is very easy to clean and looks nice.

Thanks Karen....how important is size (for the crockpot!)? I see 5 qt, 7 qt etc

I have a 6 quart Rival Smart Pot. It is oval, has a removable black stoneware insert with a stainless steel surround. As I think I mentioned in the other thread, it has a timer, Low, High, and Keep Warm settings. I love it.

If you won't be with the pot when it's almost done, make sure you get one with an automatic timer that turns to the Keep Warm setting, or some things will turn to mush on you. Ugh.

I have friends who have the All Clad and other high-end versions, but they are no happier with them than I am with mine, and I paid about 1/3 as much.

Something I forgot to mention that I use it for constantly (duh!) is cooking dried beans.

And I'm not Karen, but the size only matters for if you plan to cook from specific recipes that are geared to specific sizes. Almost anything I do in it is easily scalable.

Recommend Hamilton Beach 6 qt. We've been using one for twenty five years, and are about to get another. The only reason is that the outside is too beat up to bring places, but it still works fine.

Mine newest one is a Rival 6.5 qt. model 5865 which is no longer made, but similar ones are out there. I love mine because it is oval and holds large ham hocks, and large chunks of meat. It has low, high, and keep warm features. The white porcelain is very easy to clean and looks nice.

Thanks Karen....how important is size (for the crockpot!)? I see 5 qt, 7 qt etc

The directions for my 6.5 quart says to be sure and fill it to a certain level for the best results. I rarely can fill it to the level asked for and my results are fine. I use it when I am taking something to a fundraiser, or larger gathering. I have a very old smaller Rival crock pot that still works great and I use that for smaller portions. It, too, is ugly on the outside and I cannot take it anywhere.

Something I forgot to mention that I use it for constantly (duh!) is cooking dried beans.

Oh yeah! Crock pots are perfect for cooking dried beans & peas, and for chili.

I have the Rival 6qt with removable crock. We love it! I use mine at least twice a week. Great for stews, chicken and dumplings, beans, chili like Robert said. I even cook my roasts in it.
I like the removable crock. Since my inlaws live here on the same property as me, it makes it so easy to take food over for the holidays in it.

And the clean up is so much easier with the removable crock.
If you are taking it to japan, make sure the electric cord has the adapter you might need to be compatible with their power outputs.

[Jenise]

Avoid the Cuisinart. Good name for appliances generally and their stuff tends to be more chic in appearance than most, but their crock pot would seem to be a loser. Look at the three reviews at this site, all complain that it basically cooks too hot neccessitating that cooking times be pretty much cut in half--pretty much defeats the whole purpose of low and slow, doesn't it?

http://reviews.pricegrabber.com/pressure-cookers/m/2733101/

Btw, I know the link says "pressure cookers" but I promise it takes you to the Cuisinart crock pot. Oh, and if you type 'crock pots' in the search bar on that page? It will show you a list of crock pots including pix of most--it's a good, condensed way of getting the visuals. Unfortunately, the Cuisinart you shouldn't get is by far the best looking.