All-Clad 99009 Stainless-Steel 6-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker

Of all the kitchen appliances I own, I really think my return on investment is greatest with this one. I've had it a year now, so I'm no longer in the "honeymoon phase" with it - and I've really used it on average 3 times per week throughout the entire year.

I bought this after I wore out my cheaper version slow cooker, and I knew that this time I was willing to spend a little more money (since I knew how to use it), and I knew I wanted a larger capacity.

It's very easy to clean the removable crock, the settings available are warm, low, and high, and you can program (to within a half hour) the length of cook time. When cook time is up, the machine switches to warm on its own.

The capacity is such that I CAN fit 2 whole chickens in it, I can also cook 2 tri tip roasts (2.5 -3 lbs each) or one large pot roast, however the cooking is still even when the pot is not near full (i.e. I often cook only one chicken or one tri-tip, and the cook time is...Read more

I work almost everyday (including Sundays) so this pot has been my life saver (or the dinner saver). My older one was 5qt. cool touch Rival. This All-Clad cooker cooks so much faster than my older one (the inside temperature of All-clad gets 230F in high setting). Ribs and 5 pound chicken done in 4 hours in high. If you want crispy chicken skin, let it cook for 6 hours. I highly recommend this product.

By the way I put small roasting rack when I roast chicken or ribs so that they don't stew in the dripping. Save the dripping broth. Put it in the fridge overnight, and get rid of the fat. And use it in your soup or stew, of course, this cooker can do that job just fine as well.

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Updated Review: 4/17/2008

I've been using this slow cooker at least twice a week. Time to time I would hear "pop" sound either in the middle or toward the end of the cooking time. I...Read more

I have never offered a review here before, but after using this, just felt like i needed to say something. I have had the smart pots, the large 7qt, the next smaller, and then a rival smaller one.....can't remember the exact sizes, but my frustration with all of them is that it didn't matter what setting you put it on, they all "boil". so i really never felt that i had an option except to cook on low for 4 hours, or cook on "warm" by putting it on low for 20 minutes where it would switch over. cleanup is always a pain, dishwashers just bake the stuff on, and you have to soak it before you can easily wash.......so i was ready to take the risk with this new crockpot after handing over the others to my daughter....they worked, i just didn't care for the boiling. THEN, I noticed that the all clad comes in two versions.....the first, generally available anywhere is the ceramic insert version ($149).....NOT to be confused with the aluminum version that costs $249 that can only be ordered...Read more