H.BEACH SLOW COOKER 3qt. OVAL W/TRAVEL CASE

Comment: Now that I'm cooking for two again, I thought it was time to try crock pot cooking again. After purchasing Beth Hensperger's "Not Your Mothers Slow Cooker Recipes for Two", I realized that a smaller cooker might be nice to have. I love the size and oval shape. Its light weight and easy for me to get out of that storage spot above the refrigerator...

I bought this to use while waiting for the replacement for my other "crockpot" that has been recalled. There's only one thing that bothers me... there is an odd odor around this pot. At first I thought it was the new appliance smell, maybe after using it, it would go away... It didn't. This weekend I made some Boston Baked Beans, hubby complained that he could taste the odd taste in the beans. I keep sniffing... I think it's the gasket on the lid. If the odor doesn't dissapate soon, this pot will have to go...

UPDATE:After on year of use: I thought the odor finally went away, but it really hasn't, I am still using the pot, I love its shape, size and features. My husband called Hamilton Beach, spoke to a representative about the odor. They promptly replaced the lid. Impressive service!

I think the new lid has the same odor, what a shame... Now we have two lids, hubby ripped the gasket off of the first lid, I will try the pot without the gasket, possibly it will seal with the water vapor as the other brands do.

I'd like to change my rating to 4 stars.

Comment: I researched quite a few crock pot cookers before I found this one. I can still remember my mother pulling out her huge Rival crock pot as a kid, and all of the wonderful soups we made together. That is why I decided to try slow cooking now that I am a mother to a very active 2 1/2 year old daughter. I received this for Christmas, and have already made three complete meals, including vegetable beef soup, lasagna, and basil alfredo chicken (yummy and moist). It is really easy to clean, and the low and high settings seem to match the recommended cooking lengths in my books. I love the insulated travel case, and the oval shape allows room on the counter while cooking. I highly recommend this as a "starter" crock pot (I am already considering investing in a larger one). Enjoy!