Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I had a cheaper, larger crockpot and wanted to downsize a bit because you cant make medium size portions in the monster size pots. I saw the cooks illustrated review and decided on this unit. The unit is really smart looking, I love the black insert, it goes to the table very nicely. I found the cooking to be more true to settings (the low is truly a low simmer) and I love the electronic panel. That it will keep food warm for 6 hours is a real plus for me. Against instruction recommendations I made a beef stew and filled it to the top, no overflow happened and it cooked beautifully. Unlike other reviewers, I did not find the panel difficult to read and I love the way the keep warm light flashes so you know where you are in the cooking cycle. My only complaint is after washing the insert...twice, the inside shows a ring where my liquid line was...not enough of an issue to downgrade it to 4 stars. My favorite use for this crockpot is to make mashed potatoes for family dinners...I have made them up to 6 hours in advance of dinner and put on the warm setting and they taste like they were just made! At most I have only had to stir them as the condensation can pool inside. What a great thing to get that huge pot off the stove and cleaned before the mad rush of preparing sides for the dinner begins. I just put the entire unit on the buffet table plugged in and no longer have to battle with space in the kitchen for big holiday dinners! All in all a smart looking, well made, well functioning unit...highly recommended. Addendum: I have been looking for cookbooks for slow cookers that have something besides beef stew and short rib recipes...tried "Not your mothers slow cooker cookbook" and was not impressed...have a few others that just don't cut it. I recently got "Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes" by Laura Frankel and WOW what a great cookbook. I will qualify it by saying that these recipes are not easy and use many ingredients that you may have to order online, unless you live in a major metropolis with countless resources. Many of the recipes require several steps before getting to the slow cooker, but the flavors were like nothing I had ever tried. Try the creamy risotto with italian sausage, peppers and onions or the Moroccan spiced duck with sweet tart orange sauce and forbidden rice...OMG. It's obvious this woman is a talented restaurant chef, but she explains ingredients and techniques and doesn't assume you know about them. One of my favorite tricks of hers is taking porcini mushrooms and processing them in a blender for "Porcini dust" she uses it to dredge beef cubes in before browning in place of flour...the taste is amazing. Best part of her book is that she will let you know what parts of the prep can be done days in advance which can help with the fussiness of many of the recipes. Although I would say this book is geared toward the accomplished cook, it's not beyond a beginners grasp if they have patience. For those of you, like me, looking for something amazingly different to come out of your slow cooker....there ya go! Second addendum: Okay it's been two years and the unit is going strong! I use the unit at least once a week. No issues with the electronics...temp has stayed true. I have found it does amazing things with a turkey breast with lots of juice for gravy. Brisket is now a favorite, just rub with your favorite rub and place over a bed of carrots and onions or similar and you end up with a firm but tender meat that slices like a london broil without falling apart...the family loves it. Over the past two years I have forgotten to hit the start button once I programed the hours a couple of times...thank goodness for pressure cookers...and I would really have loved a delay start function. The flip side of that is with 6 hours of keep warm after the meal is finished, I have never run into a problem. The ring is still there but I'm over it. I have put it in the dishwasher a few times when it wasn't that dirty and it cleaned fine, but not with heavy soil. I put the lid in the dishwasher all the time and have not had the issue with build up around that hole that others have. Frankel is still my go to book for impressive meals, but I'm getting the most enjoyment using the crockpot for non traditional uses like the brisket, turkey, custards, cakes, quick breads and of course, my mashed potatoes. I find it an extremely cost effective appliance...I cook more at home now, freeze more leftovers and throw out less food. It paid for itself within the first year. I still highly recommend it and find the price compared to food cost savings to be a bargain. THIRD ADDENDUM: It's been over six years now and I still love this unit. Not one issue to complain about. If it crapped out tomorrow I would not shed a tear as it has paid for itself many times over with make ahead meal savings. I would purchase this unit again in a heartbeat.