Slow Cooker Reviews

Buyer Be Ware! This rival product let me down. The lid did not fit snug. In fact, it slid around loosely and left a gap on each side of the rim approx. 1/2". Concerned that the defective lid would not hold heat to properly cook food, I called customer service and they sent me a replacement lid once I verified that my lid wobbled when placed on a flat surface. Guess what! The replacement lid did the exact same thing! Needless to say, I returned the item for a complete refund.

This crockpot is an absolute dream. In addition to being a nice hearty size when you use it for just one dish it has the added benefit of being able to make a side dish at the same time. How nice to come home from work to a complete meal. The warm setting is a great bonus too!

This is the first crock pot that I've ever had, and I'm so glad I got the divided one. Meat comes out incredibly moist and flavorful without any special treatment, and with the vegetable compartment meal planning is a snap.

I found this retro-fit part at Target on clearance. Thought it'd be ideal for those times when I would be gone longer than the recipe cooking time. Retrofitting an older style crock pot sounded like a great idea. I was disappointed! I used it 3-4 times and each time the food was done earlier than it should have been, even scorched. Reading the reviews on the newer crock pots that come with this programming as part of the pot this seems to be a common problem. Wouldn't buy this again or recommend to anyone.

Retrofit your low-tech slow-cooker (any/most brands) with the Rival SP100-PDQ. You'll have a poor man's version of a "fuzzy-logic" cooker/warmer, and the fringe benefit is that you can use the one investment on each of your appliances that are compatible with the 'Smart Part' from Rival. You'll notice that this reviewer deemed the device worthy of four stars rather than five: I still prefer the (more expensive, yet cost-effective) product line from the following oriental company: Zojirushi. To view their equipment, follow this no-brainer sequence: Home & Garden > Kitchen & Housewares > Brands > Zojirushi > Steamers & Rice Cookers. As to WHY this writer steers you-all to THAT brand, they specialize in smart rice cookers which can sense when food (not only rice) is ready. Home in on the Fuzzy Logic models. Although Zojirushi includes slow-cookers that have aluminum as the food-contact-surface, I'd say STAY CLEAR of said metal; it's probably not as hardened as the Calphalon aluminum. Whether you select a Rival brand Crock-Pot or that of an imitator, try to make sure that the interior glaze is FDA-approved, specifically that it is LEAD-FREE. I would not trust China to see to it that the glazing has zero lead. As a parting comment, consider a switch to whole-grain casseroles, rather than contemporary ones that settle for grains that either have been stripped of the bran/germ or have been partially boiled ("parboiled") in the factory/plant. A grain that can sprout when raw will impart more life-force to you when cooked (at low temperature) than a denuded or denatured grain. The whole grains will take twice as long to soak, cook, chew, and digest. The husband and the little darlings might be less likely to get cranky with the long-term effects of natural whole grains. Slow-cookers, especially those programmed by the Rival SP100-PDQ Smart-Part, are eminently suited to properly heat-process natural foods for healthy digestion/assimilation.

I can't believe everyone doesn't have one of these! Before I got it, my crockpot meals would overcook and even burn while I was at work all day. I have two sizes of crockpots that are almost new and really didn't want the programmable crockpot as most of the time I use a relatively small crockpot for just my husband and myself and the Smart Pot is rather large.

The Smart Part is easy to operate and has settings for four cook cycles and 3 different sizes of pots (sizes A-B-C on the control). It can be used with any slow cooker. The food is cooked as you program the control and then held at a "warm" temperature for up to an additional 4 hours. We are thrilled with the improved meals I am slow cooking--not mushy and not burnt. A wonderful product at a good price!

I like multi function appliances but sometimes it's case of a jack of all trades master of none. But this machine is nifty - does the basic rice cooking, steams and is also a slow cooker. Very useful for the price (you can get it cheaper at Kitchen Universe by the way I wonder if they will print this now that I've written it)
The steamer basket is too shallow so you have to keep the things you are steaming to a minimum height otherwise it sticks to the lid. That's my only complaint so far

Buttons can feel a little cheap but they work great

I really like this combination slow cooker and skillet. I bought it in the clearance section of a major chain store because it had no product manual but was able to get one from manufacturer.We used this for breakfast items like bacon, eggs, hashbrowns. On days we were going to be gone I would put in a whole chicken and have the best waiting for us when we got home. On Sunday morning before church I would put in some meat and a few vegetables and potatoes and have lunch ready when we get home.I even make fried chicken in this you can open the vent to get the skin crispy and still control splatters . .BUT oh my, I got up this morning and either the thermostat or the fry skillet isnt working. I think I can get replacements parts (I think) but it might be cheaper to get a new skillet??? I do LOVE this . I paid $25.00 on clearance.I want another one so bad. I bought it last summer and it quit on Easter Sunday.

I am disappointed because the size of this product is not listed. It would be nice to know how big it actually is and if it has a lid to it.

I use this pot for Yankee tarts, and it's wonderful. I put the tart in, in about 20 minutes the tart (Yankee Tarts) is melted and the smell in the crock lasts about 5-8 hours, before I have to dump out the wax and put a new tart in. I love this crock because I can run to the store and leave it plugged in and not have to worry about a fire like you would with a candle being knocked over. This is the best potpourri/tart crock, I'll never go back to candles again!!!

This time of year I love to get out my potpourri and put it in my little crockpot and let the scent of apples and spice waft around in my house. This a great tradition in the evening while doing great holiday crafts, watching TV, and just enjoying the coming into the room with such a good feeling.
I find it to be a great way to make my house a home for the holidays.

Cooks well but the handles (plastic) start to crack and wear out very rapidly due to the heat, would not buy another after being scalded when handle broke off and boiling stew went all over, dangerous around kids.

My husband and I received this as a gift. It's just the right size for roasts, cornish hens, etc. This is our first time having a slow cooker, and I like the fact that it has a warm setting--not just high, low and off). It's easy to clean, even with potatoes.

I gave it 4 stars because this is our first slow cooker, and I don't have anything to compare it to.

I love this thing! I love the fact that I can cook two things at one time. It was great for a party I catered, and the large one is great for family suppers. I dropped my last one and shattered it, so since this is also ceramic, set it in a safe spot! The little dishes are also great if you are going to make just a little and I love the fact that the dishes and lid are dishwasher safe!

Just purchased this oval slow cooker to make soup. Even with the dial turned to "high" after several hours, it didn't even reach a simmering point. The recipe calls for the soup to cook all day on low heat and there may not be enough hours in a day for this. What if I wanted to saute something first?

I used my oval slow cooker for the first time today and made an incredible pot roast. Using a recipe from Rosanne Gold's Recipe's 123 cookbook, I modified it for the slow cooker. The 3 ingredients, rump roast, white wine vinegar and coffee were intriguing. It came out incredibly tender and flavorful.

The slow cooker oval shape is practical and my roast fit nicely in it. It looks like a whole chicken would also fit nicely. The size is perfect for everyday use but is big enough for entertaining too. Other crock pots that I looked at were quite large and would not work as well for me for smaller meals(i.e. a 2-4 lb roast or chicken)

The only negative would be that it sits on 3 legs not 4, which seems odd given the oval shape. Overall I would buy it again and am already plotting and planning my next slow cooked meal.

Purchased this for my mother for Christmas, and she loved it. Her favorite feature was the "Keep Warm" setting, which is great for serving during parties, and not overcooking your food. We had no problems with it. The removable crock is great for serving and cleaning, and the vegetable emblem on the outside is very attractive. Would purchase again!

My husband got this for me last christmas and I've used it an average of twice a week since then(for almost a year). This is my first crock pot, and I've really enjoyed it. The good points about this crock pot, other than the low price, are the same good points you'll find for any slow cooker I belive. I can cook a wide variety of bean dishes, stews, spageti sauces, a whole chicken(it's a snug fit, but it can be done), chili, roasts and more without burning them. Before getting this crock pot, I had never been able to cook decent beans. Now bean soups, ranch style beans, blackeye peas are household favorites.

The size is a good one for a small family. We're a family of four, and I've found that if I make a full pot of something with this we usually have plenty of leftovers for lunches or another meal. It has a plastic lid, which does well in the dishwasher, but there is sometimes gapping since it doesn't fit snugly. I haven't found that to be a big problem though.

Bad Point: You can't remove the crock part, which I do not like. This makes it more of a hassle to clean. I will be getting another crock pot and will deffinitly not get another one without a removable crock.

I own this crockpot and it works very well. I do find it too small to make a pot roast in. You can make a roast, but if you want to add potatos and carrots forget it. I use mine for beans. It makes plenty of beans for 6-8 people. I do not like the fact you cannot remove the crock. It make cleanup a chore, as you have to be careful not to get the electrical parts wet. I own the larger oval unit made by Rival, with the removable crock and make my pot roast and corned beef etc. in it. Clean up is a snap. I also like to prepare my food the night before, put it in the removable crock in fridge, and start the food in the morning.
This crockpot works well but is too small.

Loved the slow cooker until the dial and handle cracked and fell off. It appeared the outside covering became too hot and caused the problem. I'm looking for something that will last a little longer.

Although I have no complaints about cooking in this crockpot - everything turns out just fine - both handles cracked and fell off. Makes it difficult to transport food to other locations.

I am a single man that loves to cook. The Crockpot is perfect for a dinner for two and left overs for lunch the next day.
The ceramic liner is sublime, my only regret is that the decoration design is totally hooky. Straight from the Fifties, I know there is a stainless steel one available but it defeats the perpose as it just generates heat.(And costs more!) Something like a simple band of green rather than the cute ivy please. It is 2002.

I bought this slow cooker about two years ago. After reading the reviews, I'm glad that I'm not the only one that thinks this machine gets too hot! I guess other slow cooker don't get that hot? I'm not sure since this is the only one I've owned.

Also, I found that even though I follow the recommended cooking time with all the recipes I've tried, most of the meats finish quick. I've talked to my mom about it, and I honestly think that the low 200-degree setting is higher than 200 degrees. I've never cooked anything on high, but I really think the low setting is messed up.

Over all, I've never had disastrous results with this machine. However, since there are other cookers on the market, I won't buy this Farberware one again.

I received slow cooker for Christmas. It cooks very quickly. It blew my old crock pot away. The food was done in half the time of the crock pot. It's very attractive too. I love it!

I ordered this because I need a larger slow cooker for the Holidays. I thought I wanted the smart pot but I wasn't happy with the reviews. I was worried that the Farberware would be to basic but decided on it anyway. I am thilled with it. The crock is heavy and durable. My lid fits great. It looks very modern. My first meal (beef stew) came out great. I'm going to invest in a slow cooker cook book because I want to cook in it all the time. It only came with a few recipes and I only have a few of my own.