Hamilton Beach 33144 Stay-or-Go 4-Quart Slow Cooker, White

NOTES: First, the "locking handles for easy transport": the locks are on the body of the slow cooker, so you can't take out the porcelain insert and lock the lid onto it; if you want it locked, you have to take the whole device. Second, I guess mostly because of the rubber gasket on the lid, the cooker creates a tightly sealed cooking compartment, and things cook differently as a result. Liquids don't cook off anywhere near as fast, and the flavors don't cook together quite the same.

PROS: The shape of the oval cooker is perfect. I've gotten a four-pound roast in the little thing. The temperature goes from just-warm to boiling, very versatile. It can go longer without attention because it retains moisture so well.

CONS: Some slow-cooker recipes may need tweaking; the cooking compartment is sealed pretty tightly whether or not the handles are locked (you're not supposed to cook with it sealed, but I do occasionally to concentrate flavors). More seriously,...Read more

I was pretty happy with it, the lock things can get in the way but overall it worked well until one day the insert cracked all across the bottom and roast drippings seeped out. Since it's been a few months now I'm stuck with it and had to buy another crock pot. To my dismay, spending a lot more for a Kitchen Aid was not really the answer either as so many people report the same thing, the insert cracks. It's the cheap manufacturing practices, no quality, don't care mentality, of just about anything you buy these days.

After looking at different brands and sizes of slow cooker, this is the one I decided on. It is just right for a smaller household. The directions in the booklet are clear and the options [low, high, keep warm] all most of us may need.