Need new slow cooker/crock pot, any favorites?

[Javamama]

I have to replace my not-slow enough cooker before the weekend. I hate the one I have because it only has 2 settings, which are actually really hot and boiling. And the lid doesn't seal. And it will only go to the "warm" setting after it has cooked all the way through. It is a Rival brand and I will not buy another Rival.

Soooo, does anyone have one that does not get too hot, has manual settings, including a warm setting, and does not get too hot on the outside? And size matters. 6 or more quarts. This is for soups and stews.

It seems from the Amazon reviews that most have the same problem - they get way too hot and scorch the food. Why they gotta go and "improve" stuff is beyond me. Probably so consumers have to replace things more often. Conspiracy theory .

 

[Wifezilla]

I have a small slow cooker that is so hot it is useless so I know what you mean.

The old ones I loved were the Hamilton Beach cookers with the base that was separate and the dial that went from 1-10. I still have the base from one and use it as a yogurt maker heat source. I have been watching garage sales and goodwill to find parts.

Hubby found me a newer Hamilton Beach at a garage sale. It has 3 settings...warm low and high. It is large and is made so you can lock down the lid for convenient pot luck transportation. So far so good

 

[noobiechickenlady]

This is the one I have. Found it on sale for $20 at Biglots. DH got it for my Christmas present in 2007. LOVE IT! You can set the time in 1/2 hour increments, choose High, Med, Low & Warm at will, anytime during the cooking cycle, it automatically goes to warm for 2 hours after the cooking cycle is off. The High setting is boiling, the Low is a light simmer, & warm is just that, warm, not hot enough to burn your hand or mouth, but close. Plus the crock is removeable so its easy to clean. The only downside is that the sides do indeed get warm, but the heavy plastic handles do not, so it is fairly easy to move when it is hot. You'll need potholders to move just the crock when it is running though.
http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Matic-MST-6000-Platinum-Programmable-Stainless/dp/B000NCPYBK

 

[Javamama]

Those are the 2 I had narrowed down to. I knew you all would have some useable info for me. Thanks so much!

 

[ORChick]

I have a small slow cooker that is so hot it is useless so I know what you mean.

The old ones I loved were the Hamilton Beach cookers with the base that was separate and the dial that went from 1-10. I still have the base from one and use it as a yogurt maker heat source. I have been watching garage sales and goodwill to find parts.

Hubby found me a newer Hamilton Beach at a garage sale. It has 3 settings...warm low and high. It is large and is made so you can lock down the lid for convenient pot luck transportation. So far so good

Yours sounds like the new one I got last year. I'm quite happy with mine. I like my old (30 years?) Hamilton Beach because it has an automatic setting - starts on HI, and automatically switches to LO once things are hot. But the new ones don't seem to have that feature. Also the new one does seem to be hotter, at both the HI setting, and the LO, than the old one. But the new one is bigger, and looks nicer . I intended it as replacement, but couldn't, in the end, get rid of the old one.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I have a Rival and a Franklin Chef. Both are good, I think my Rival is better. They are both old, (Rival is older), the only thing is you have to put the lid on the Franklin" just so"--it's oval, or it does not seal properly.