Slow Cooker Reviews

This is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I have avoided many spills in my car and the simplicity of carry ins at work is wonderful. It is a must!

Although my experience with Rival crock pots hasn't been all that great, I really like this accessory. It is very well constructed and is durable. I use it with my other slow cookers and it is perfect for the NESCO 6 quart roaster oven as well. But because it is well insulated, you can use it as a tote for your potato salad or potatoes au gratin. It also serves as a tote for whatever items you need to transport. The snap-together handles are a particular asset.

For the price, you can't go wrong. You will like this item.

Now that friends and family know I have a Rival Crock-Pot Traveler, I can't say "No" anymore.

The Traveler for Large Crock-Pots zips open to reveal an insulated storage space for any 4 to 6 quart round Crock-Pot or other stoneware slow cooker. A pair of elastic straps hold the lid down and the snap-together handle straps make the Traveler self-balancing when you pick it up.

Set it on the floor of the family car and if you drive judiciously enough, it'll get a pot of soup, chili or stew to your destination without losing a single drop. If you have to slam on the brakes or happen to take a turn a tad too tightly, the Traveler will contain the spill, which will be minimal.

The Crock-Pot Traveler can be turned inside-out for easier cleaning, should you need to mop up a spill. It's also insulated well enough to keep the contents hot for at least 2 hours, so now you CAN take hot German potato salad to a picnic and enjoy it HOT. When it's not in use, the Traveler can either serve as a dust-resistant cover for your slow cooker, or you can fold it up and tuck it into a linen drawer or a kitchen cabinet.

And since a few of you are wondering about that Sausage and Lentil Soup, here's the recipe:

SAUSAGE AND LENTIL SOUP

1 large onion, chopped
1 bulb garlic, minced
1 lb. dry lentils
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth
2 broth cans water
1 lb. sweet or hot turkey Italian sausage, whole links
2 bay leaves

Combine onion, garlic, lentils, Italian seasoning, broth, and water in slow cooker. Add sausage links and float bay leaves on top. Cover and cook 10 hours on Low. Discard bay leaves. Remove sausage links and allow to cool 15 minutes. Meanwhile, stir soup for 2 minutes to puree' some of the lentils, which will thicken the soup. Slice cooled sausage and return to soup. Serve with biscuits or cornbread for a "meal in a bowl."

I had one of these for over 10 years and it never gave me a day's trouble. The only reason I purchased a new one was that the old model did not have a removable crock. Fantastic addition to the small family's kitchen.

Just bought this crockpot this weekend or actually on Black Friday 2003, it was inexpensive and it is a great way for me to learn how to cook for one instead of making large meals and having to freeze a ton of food.

A great crock pot if you are cramped on space i.e. apartment, studio, small townhouse, cape cod living. Doesn't take up much room and can fit a decent size portions of food in the crock pot.

Makes flavorful food...delicious....the toughest of cuts turn out perfection!

I love this smaller crockpot for dips of any kind. My family has food at every get together and having this 2 1/2 quart crockpot is perfect. It makes cleaning up easier too.

This is a great value and enduring product. I've had my Rival crock pot for over 10 years, and have used it literally HUNDREDS of times. This is another one of those very low cost but high value kitchen tools.

The low setting allows for slow (12 hour+) cooking overnight or all day. I love to put on a pot of chili before I go to bed or work, and let the house soak up the aroma!

Just be careful with the countertop placement, as the sides get very hot!

When I was looking for a crockpot, I wanted something affordable and durable. My Mom had a Rival crock pot when I was younger (it was orange and older than the hills). My Dad also has an older version of this one, only it has a plastic lid. After 10 years, the lid broken, but it still works.

I got this one and love it. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles that are available with some of the more costly models, nor does it have a design. It is just a nice crock pot that is big enough for a small roast or a pot of chili (which is great on a winter's day)

I love this slow cooker. It is very easy to clean and use! It makes it nice to have a pot of beans ready for you when you get home. I would reccomend this product to everyone!

Rival's name meant I knew the product would be good. I've used a smaller one for years and am completely satisfied. For large family gatherings, it's about time someone came out with a large cooker. Previously I sometimes used two cookers, but there was always a slight difference in taste between the two batches, now that problem is solved. The Chili, Spaghetti Sauce & Gumbo was excellent and I had enough to invite the whole family.

The unit takes up just a little more counter space than the 6.5 quart cooker, but it makes up for that by using only one electrical outlet, (Kitchens never have enough!). The recipes book provided was adequate, but there are many internet sites with excellent recipes.

If you like Crock Pot Cooking and have a large family, or like to invite friends, you'll love the Rival 8 quart Slow Cooker.

I'm enjoying my new Rival SD165-6 qt. oval deep
dutch oven - But for the area that I need to use
it in, I really do need a cord about 12 inches
longer. It would really help if I could get a
longer cord for this appliance. Please do what
you can to ship me a longer cord. I will be glad
to pay for it. I can't use it as often as I need
to because of the cord being to short for the space
I have for it. Thanks again for helping me get a longer
cord.

I have used this crock pot for three meals so far without problems. It show great promise of the being the (almost) perfect slow cooker.

I purchased this model because it is as close to the perfect crock pot as you can get. Our other crock pot is a 6 quart round model and too large for normal cooking and "burns" or over-cooks normal meals. This four quart crock pot is the perfect size for our family of four. We can fill it half-way with fixings for a half-gallon of stew (gives leftovers) or make a full pot of spaghetti sauce that will provide for a couple of meals. The three settings (High / Low / Keep Warm) work as you would think. I did note that the 'Keep Warm' setting may be a bit too hot for delicate sauces but was just right for the stew and spaghetti. Four quarts (1 gallon) is a lot of food!

Any crock you get should have a dishwasher safe removable crock and lid like this one. An oval crock pot allows you to fit larger cuts of meat in the crock than a round pot. I can not fit my 6-quart crock in the dishwasher but can and do put this one in the dishwasher.

This crock pot does not 'loose steam' as some of the others are described but the lid is not sealed like a pressure cooker. As the food is cooked, steam is emitted. It gathers and cools at the (inside) top of the glass lid and drips down to the side of the lid, collecting on the lip of the crock where the lid sits. The lid sits on the lip of the crock easily with a few small dimples to prevent it from sealing (this is good - keep reading). As the steam condenses on the side of the crock the water collecting on the side seals the cooker. It works. Steam is kept in the crock pot but the pot will not become a pressure cooker. The glass lid will not 'bubble' or rock on the stone crock as it cooks so it is safer than some older models. It works and works well.

The oval shape of the crock allows for a larger cuts of meat than a round crock pot the same size. The stone crock and glass lid is dishwasher safe and actually fits in the dishwasher. Clean-up is easy. The pot does not take up too much space in the cupboard.

This crock pot has a great price for what you get. A higher price may not get you a better crock pot. Until I see a crock pot with intelligent sensors (senses the temperature of what you are cooking) and digital controls for temperature and time with pre-sets for different types of sauces and meals, this is the one.

This is my third Electric Skillet. I work 100 miles from home and live in a trailer during the week (the commute is terrible around here, but I can't afford another or even a different house). My propane Stove went out a couples years ago now and I started using my BBQ, A toaster over and/or an electric skillet instead. My first skillet was "Silver stone" coated. First time I burnt something in it was the last. I then bought a Stainless Steel pan but didn't like the temperature control and it can be hard to clean. This Zojirushi pan not only can be used to higher temperatures (460F instead of the usual 400F), it's a dream to clean and the temperature control is great. I've already burnt something (on Purpose) Blackened peppercorn Rib Eye. Great!!! (anyone got a good air purifier, next time I'll do it on the porch, another advantage, its portable) But nothing sticks to it, don't even need oil or butter. I like it so much I've ordered the larger Sizzler and started using it too. It's got a larger surface and the sides aren't as deep so it's easier to get a spatula into. Also it goes to 480F (call the Fire Department, yee hah). The design is different, but it's a great pan too.

You say in the rival 6 quart oval slow cooker that the insulated carrier is important. But the BIG round one does not appear to fit the oval and the oval carrier says it only holds up to 5 1/2 quart. Help before I buy one of these for my 6 quart oval

Never again will I lug my crock pot around... hoping it won't tip over in the car, or praying my arms won't give out before I carry my crockpot from my car to my office. This traveler is awesome! After I bought mine, all my co-workers went out looking for one, and couldn't find them in stores. One co-worker bought a new slow cooker that came with a "carrier"... but BEWARE of those... they don't have a handle like this one, so you still have to carry it with two hands.

First of all, an oval crock pot is a bit unusual, but a good idea (fits roasts and chickens nicely.)

If you're going to do slow cooking, you'll find many uses for the cooker outside the house; barbecues, parties, church suppers, meetings. The slow cooker is just the thing for hot dishes. This insulated carrier makes it a lot easier to transport.

If you order the cooker, don't forget to order this accessory.

I purchased the Oval Slo-Cooker as an alternative to replacing my 30+ year old crock pot with a newer model. I researched crock pots and slow cookers until I was presented with this model. I am so grateful to the reviewers who wrote about this product. This cooker has become my favorite small appliance and is indespensible in my kitchen. The 6 quart capacity is very adequate for large quantities of chili, soup or one-dish meals. The non-stick surface makes cleaning effortless. I really like the graduated heat selection which ranges from very low to hot - a feature which I find extremely useful and superior to most crock pot settings. The oval pan can be taken to the stovetop for browning or food assembly which is definitely a plus. You can even use the non-stick base as a griddle if you desire. Unlike the "crock" in a crock pot, the oval pan is very light weight making the entire assembly easy to transport. I also like the glass lid so you can see the food as it is cooking at a glance. I would highly recommend this cooker. The name says it all - Versatility !!

It's my first slow cooker and I love it. It's easy to clean, light-weight, and cooks evenly. I have not had any problems with the lid because thanks to reviews on this site, I have been very careful. As far as browning ingredients in the pot before slow-cooking is concerned I have found the surface area a little too small for proper browning- so, if you wanted to brown 1 cut up chicken you wold have to do it in 2 or more batches otherwise you'd end up just stewing it (which doesn't save you any time).

This slow cooker is light, versatile, and EASY to CLEAN! It ALL goes into the dishwasher (except the heating element of course). Its a good size for a family. I would buy it again.