I have a Hamilton Beach. I love it! I use it at least once a week. Tonight? Chili. It's already cooking.

Ditto the one with a timer. Mine lets you choose 6 or 8 hours, then switches to warm until you turn it off. This is key for leaving it all day.
The other key feature is that the insert be removable so you can put it in the dishwasher.
Can't recall what brand mine is.

I have this, and I love it:
http://www.gopresto.com/products/products.php?stock=06020

It's not a crockpot per se. I guess it's a slow cooker?

There's nothing I cook it in that can be overcooked. I use it to make stews overnight, mostly, and also to do stocks, so it's for those 12-20 hour simmer dishes with the tough cuts of meat. I never put it on in the morning for that night's dinner, since I find there's too much prep work in the morning.

It has a very sensitive temperature setting (you set for X degrees, unlike some versions I've seen which have a high/medium/low setting). It has a safety cable which cuts out if it is knocked over. You can also use it as a deep fryer, although I never have. Apparently it can also be used as a rice steamer.

The programmable ones start cooking right away and keep the food warm until the designated time.

Wired just did a review. I think they liked the Hamilton Beach one too.

http://www.wired.com/reviews/2011/08/reviews_slowcookers/?pid=1057

Another question..if you have a programmable one..do you leave the uncooked food sitting out in it until it turns on? Doesn't sound ok..am I missing something?

I have the CuisinArt and love it. I had an All Clad one and it didn't last long at all before dying, so I definitely recommend against buying an All Clad.

I have the all clad but haven't used it enough to say much about it.

Cooks Illustrated has done reviews, not sure if the reviews are available for free on their website though.

i have a cuisinart one that i like and use frequently, but i just saw that williams sonoma has one with a cast iron insert so it can also go on the stove or in the oven--wish i had that one!
crockpots are awesome, set up, leave, come home to dinner. you can't leave your oven on all day!

Anonymous wrote:I hate my crock pot. The other brand is supposed to be better... Hamilton Beach?

I second the Hamilton Beach slow cooker recommendation. I really like our programmable one:



http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-Forget-6-Quart-Programmable/dp/B001AO2PXK/

I would definitely get one with a timer. Many recipes need only 6 hours or so, so the food will be overdone by the time you get home. I don't have a timer crockpot, but when I replace this will be a feature I look for. I use mine all the time, either by using a light timer, or when my husband goes into work late (ie 10am, I come home at 5:30p). Can I make gourmet food in it, no, but I can prep everything the night before, generally only using a cutting board and a knive. It cooks in one pot, I can store the leftovers in the pot, and only have one pot to clean. When I come home, dinner is ready. I can turn it off and it will stay warm while I play outside with my kids. I use the crockpot365 blog for ideas, but I've done so much crockpotting that I don't really needs recipes anymore.

I have read that newer crockpot use higher temperatures due to concerns about under cooking. They don't work well for people that want to leave it on before going to work for 8 hours...which seems like the target audience of a crockpot. Mine is old but I hesitate to replace it.

Anonymous wrote:I hate my crock pot. The other brand is supposed to be better... Hamilton Beach?

Why not cook in a low oven? I never really understood the whole crock pot thing.

I hate my crock pot. The other brand is supposed to be better... Hamilton Beach?

I tried searching the archives but wasn't able to find any recommendations - I need a new crock pot and can't decide. I had a Rival Crock Pot and have always hated it. Somehow it manages to boil and burn most foods even at the low setting. Do you love yours? I generally cook for a family of 4 so am looking for 4-6 qt. recommendation. TIA!