Frigidaire Professional 7-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

This review has been updated over time. The original portion follows:

November 25, 2011:

I've been using a Hamilton Beach 33956 Set 'n Forget 5-Quart Slow Cooker, White for about a year and have found it to be a bit small for my family of 5 when preparing certain leftover-friendly foods like chili. This Frigidaire 7 quart slow cooker is larger and more impressive than the Hamilton Beach unit in all the right ways. It has a more pronounced oval footprint, which takes up significantly less space on a busy counter top. The programming features enable low, medium and high settings as well as buffet and warm where the other unit did not offer buffet or medium setting functions. The unit is made of very high quality materials and would not look out of place in the kitchen with even the highest end stainless...Read more

As part of the Vine program, I selected the counter-top convection oven but instead, this slow cooker arrived. Because the order was incorrect, the review was removed so it does not show as a purchase or vine review however, I do indeed have this model at home. Despite the mixed up order (which was sooooo disappointing), I must admit this is a terrific product!

Like about a zillion others, I've owned both the crock pot and Hamilton Beach version of slow cookers for years but frankly, it never seems to get much use despite the fact that I make homemade soup at least once per week. Plain and simple, it's too small for the big pot of soup. Today, I decided to make soup in this and see how it went. It's FANTASTIC!

Pro's:

Large enough to handle a big pot of soup, chili or anything else you might want!
Very simple to use - one touch button for most things or set the time and temperature manually. Don't toss out the instructions! I did and regret it...Read more

1/18/12 - I am making my first pot of beans today. I noticed right off that the lid does not fit tight and you can see through into the crock pot from the front. I tried it both directions. I think the pot itself maybe faulty as the lid looks fine. Wondering if this is why my beans are not done after cooking for 10 hours mostly on medium today. About 4 of those hours were on high. I pre soaked for 12 hours and I've read to do it for 24, until they are sprouted. It is a beautiful crock tho... and love the handles.

1/20/12 - 2 days later: I cooked those beans for 27 hours and still they were not done... I called Frigidare at 888-845-7330 and they were great. She thought the lid was the problem so they are sending a new crock and lid. I'll update on my next crock pot project.

2/7/12 - Finally got the new crock and lid today - It's been 18 days since I called, but the lids fits great. It was definitely the crock, as the old lid fit the new one also. More to come...