Crockpot Help

hi!
you've gotten some great advice-- the only thing i would add to it is that you can buy it online at amazon.com-- and they have free shipping on things over $25. i got mine at a little store called shopko. i think its only here in utah, but its like a walmart or kmart, and it was reduced price to 20 bucks--- the pattern on it is ugly, but who cares?

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My first bit of adviced is to go with the variety with the removabe crock. I've had the kind that didn't have, and they were a total pain in the behind to clean. Second, get the largest one that will fit in the space you have available for it in the cupboard. Other than that, pick something that "looks cool" to you, it will give you warm fuzzies when you get it out to cook with it.

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I absolutely love my programmable crockpot! I would never be without one as I am a SWMof two teenage boys. I have the Rival crockpot with four settings. I had to buy a new one as mine did the same as yours but honestly ...the use is so necessary in my house that I didn't mind paying the $40 at Target. Look for the sales they will have something about now on their appliances. I wouldn't pay shipping if I didn't have to. You can try to look for the specials that are run on the net that have qualifying purchases for free shipping. Check overstock.com or even JCPenney.com. As someone who loves to cook and doesn't always feel like when I get home from working all day...I couldn't stand not having one!

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I had the veggie-covered Rival (I think) removable crock crockpot for the longest time. It was basic-the big oval w/off, warm, low, high. It cracked at the top, so I just threw foil over the part that had broken off & we replaced it when we had more money. The new one I have is another Rival oval w/removable crock, but this one has off, low, high, warm-backwards to me. Check to see how your current crock looks as far as the temps & look for something similar. My first one lasted 3 military moves, little boys & 7 years & I got used to the way it worked. I want to say they were both around $40.
I can't imagine having a smaller round one, especially w/our 4 kids. Any leftovers go into a gallon bag & to the freezer to be reheated later, sometimes w/additional ingredients to disguise the "leftoverness". I'd say you want an oval & one that dials similar to what you had before. Having had only a high/low one, I don't know how well I'd do w/a temp one-I've already got my system down.
Enjoy your shopping!

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I had a tall, skinny crock pot at first. It had only "high" or "low" settings. If you cooked a roast, you had to jam the meat in. I finally got fed up with this and went to Target and got a Rival Smart-Pot. I don't remember if it is 5 or 6 quart - probably 5. I LOVE it!! I can lay a roast down in it with no mashing and shoving. You decide do you want your food to cook for 4, 6, 8 or 10 hours. When the time is done, the pot switched to warm so your food doesn't overcook but it also doesn't get cold.

I got mine at Target and I believe it cost $25. I don't remember if that was a sale or not. My husband broke the crock and I looked into getting a replacement crock - turned out it was cheaper to go buy another whole thing than just the crock and add tax and shipping on it.

What ever choice you make, I hope you love it!

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I got a large one that is oval Rival Crock Pot, it is large enough to fit roast and large meat dishes and the inside insert can just come out, allows for much easier clean up and ability to transport what I just cooked.
I have had a lot of crock pots and I highly suggest getting a larger one and one where the middle part comes out for easy clean up. I think I paid $40 for mine and it has been more then worth it.

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I don't remember which one I had, but it had a plastic lid. I preferred the glass lid for a lot of reasons. If I buy another one, I'll definitely go with a glass lid. Also, I have friends that liked the carry case with theirs.

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Mine has been awesome. We bought it at Walmart last fall. It's the Hamilton Beach "Stay or Go." It's larger and has a lock on lid that holds a spoon. The spoon is a ladel (sp?) type and comes with the crock pot. It has 3 temp settings, not just two; high, low, and warm. It also has a slot to hold a label. If you plan on taking it to any Pot Lucks, that's a pretty cool feature. If you plan on using a crock pot during entertaining, this is the one to have, but it works out great for regular home use as well! :o)

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There really are so many varieties of crock pots now it is hard to choose. I have 4 that I like for different reasons but the one I use the most has a programmable digital timer. You can enter the time to cook in 30 minute increments (I believe) so if it needs to cook for 4.5 hours but you'll be out of the house for 6 you set the timer and it automatically switches to warm after the time. Also I agree with the other posters, find one with a removable crock that is oval shaped. So many more things fit in it. Definitely a glass lid but also look for one where the lid handle is plastic. I have a crock pot where the lid handle has some metal in it so it gets hot and I have to use a towel to remove the lid. Definitely choose the size depending on how many in your family and what you will cook in it. If you're doing large roasts then you'll want at least a 5qt.
Hope that helps.

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I have a Rival Crockpot and it works great. I also wanted to suggest getting the Crockpot liners. They are awesome and can usually be found next to the reynolds wrap and oven bags. They make clean up so easy. Oh and the other thing is that you need to make sure the Crockpot is completely cool before cleaning it otherwise it is likely to crack. I had the same problem as you with my first crockpot and these are the things that I learned and now have no problems. Good Luck. Crockpots are great and I don't know what I would do with out one.

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K N,

I have the Hamilton Beach crockpot with a progamable digital timer and temperature probe. I love it! It automatically switches over to warm once the time you entered is up or the meal has reached the temperature you selected. It is very easy to program. It is oval and has the lift out crock. I have never had a problem cleaning it. It even fits in the dishwasher. I bought it at Target for a very reasonable price.

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Since you are a mom who works away from home, you most definitely want the Rival "Smartpot". You can program it to cook for a certain amount of time and when it is done, it automatically switches to the 'keep warm' setting so stuff doesn't burn or get mushy. The crock also lifts out for easy cleaning and it comes with a cover in case you want to take it somewhere. You can find all sorts of great tasting crockpot recipes online at a Taste of Home. http://www.tasteofhome.com/

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I have a Rival Crockpot, with a removable stoneware that you can put in the dishwasher. It is prgrammable, and when it is done cooking, it switches to a "warm" setting and holds the food for you. We got it at Costco and it came with a little tiny crockpot for dips and such.

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i don't know the prices because they were wedding gifts, but i have a Rival Casserole Crockpot and a Westbend Slow Cooker. the slow cooker is smaller and much older, but has more heat settings. because it can cook at a higher temperature, i can actually cook many things in it twice as fast as the crockpot if i need to, like if i forgot to thaw the meat or was late in starting the cooking. i use the crockpot for larger meals and it works ok. it does have a certain smell that sometimes gets into the taste of the food. it took a little time to get used to that. and mine has a slightly warped glass lid which allows the heat to escape unless i cover it with a wet towel and seal off the cracks. if i don't do that, it takes much longer to cook things. good luck! i hope you find one that you really enjoy.

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Get a big one, that's for sure. There are a lot out there that come with timers in them...I wouldn't think that is a neccesity at all...they cook at such a low temperature, that it would be really hard to burn anything with one.

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I have the large Rival with the removalable insides, I LOVE IT, it is easier to clean (I put mine in the dishwasher) and to store the leftovers you just put the inside crock in the fridge. What I really love is the larger capacity for really big meals that go a long way - especially for potlucks and picnics!

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At least get the bigger 4 quart ones, I like the ones that are longer because you can fit a whole chicken in them. I have a tall one and it doesn't work for marinating as well.