Rival 5025WG 2-1/2-Quart Crockpot

Comment: I would NOT buy this crockpot again. I tend to go for inexpensive stuff. And this is definitely an inexpensive model. But I would pay more for a different model, if I could do it over again.

It has two settings. The lower setting is too high. You can't just let something simmer a long time. It just boils instead.

And it makes a mess. The lid sits down inside a lip that runs around the edge of the stoneware pot, as it should. But the lip is not high enough or something, because after the food starts to boil, liquid comes out a lot, runs down the sides of the pot, and gets all over the counter. And the surface tension of the liquid causes it to adhere to the lip and so it circles around the lip and then actually goes down inside the metal part of the pot. Then the stoneware parts sticks, and the liquid whatever burns and gets stuck to the inside.

And it does not cook evenly. The food on the bottom of one side of the pot often burns and sticks to the pot, even on low setting.

Dissatisfied. I've used it maybe 6 weeks.

Comment: This 2 1/2 qt crock is a great size for smaller quantities. I have a 5qt that I use frequently but wanted something smaller. It was difficult to decide between the 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 but I am pleased with the 2 1/2. It will certainly cook sauces and fondue but it will cook four large boned chicken breasts or soup for four. I cooked a small beef roast with onions and carrots and it was great. My other crockpot is "auto". This Crock is off-low-high. It has not been a problem. The high will have spagetti sauce bubbling in about 1 1/2 hrs. Clean up is easy and the unit feels solid including the switch. The lid fits good with a stainless rim edge. I have had the unit about three weeks and I am going to buy one for my 92 yr old live-alone father-in-law!
B F

Comment: I've had this crock pot for a little over a year ( a year and 4 months, to be exact ) and have found it to be a great purchase for me. Perfect size for a medium sized roast and veggies, but works better as to capacity for a couple, or a single person who wants to have a few extra bowls over to freeze for later use. However, this size would probably not be large enough for those households with several children or someone cooking for church events, etc. or very large family gatherings as it's size is more medium.

Roasts come out very tender and still juicy in this crockpot, even cheaper cuts like beef bottom round or butt roast. Higher end meats and other very lean cuts like London Broil come out very tender, as well, but may require the addition of some vegetables for the steam effect since lean cuts don't have the necessary fat to keep them juicy for long slow cook times. I just put whole baby carrots, a sliced Vidalia onion, a few small potatoes cut in half or quartered if larger, some salt, pepper, and a tiny bit of garlic into the bottom of the crock pot and a medium beef roast ( all sides lightly browned in a very hot fry pan first, to seal in juices ) sitting on top. I start the crock pot on high setting for 30 minutes and then turn it down to low for the rest of cooking and follow the correct time per pound of meat. If you want a sauce you can add a half or whole can of cream of mushroom soup or a half each of cream of mushroom and cream of celery soup to the bottom over the veggies. If preferred a roux of the meat juices and flour can be well beaten and then added to the pot instead at the near end of cook time.

Pork roasts come out very nice as well and are perfect for pulled pork ( with southern style barbecue sauce ) sandwiches. Chicken and dumplings work well in this unit and come out juicy and delicious if mostly thighs and darker meat are used. Breasts cooked alone in any crockpot aren't ideal as they don't come out as tender as baked or deep fried, so are not recommended, and may come out dry and grainy, although mixed with darker meat to enable some juice to cover them is okay. Mostly I use beef roasts in my crockpot and just change up the sauce for variety. You can make a cream sauce of frozen baby peas, tiny diced bits of carrot, and fresh mushrooms with some spices of choice ( I like cilantro, garlic, and paprika ) and add them to the roast for a change of pace.

This little Rival crockpot works great and offers easy cleanup, although a few foods sometimes do stick to the removeable stoneware pot, but a a brief soak in hot soapy dish water, and a little light rubbing with a non-abrasive scrubber sponge brings them off nicely. All in all, a very good and quite satisfactory purchase, especially considering the low price of this model. Highly recommended.

Comment: Although I realize that for all practical purposes the crock pot was probably invented by someone that works all day, as someone that works from home I can testify that it is a great invention for us as well. If there is anything better than coming home after a days work to something smelling delicious, it is being home all day and savoring every hour of it. Crockpot meals have gone from something I occasionally did for something different, to at least a 3 day a week event. Especially in fall and winter. Most crock pots come in a standard family size design of around 4 to 6 quarts or more. One can get away with making a small meal in a large crock, but its just that much more room that it takes up, as well as that to be cleaned. Several small crock pots of 1 1/2 quart capacity are available here on Amazon. As someone that lives alone but with frequent house guests, the small ones just don't have enough leeway in their size to accommodate the various meal sizes. This Rival 2/ 1/2 quart crock pot is the perfect size for single folks that enjoy leftovers, and perfect for couples. I personally like its more stand up design as opposed to the oval shape can take up a little more room in tight kitchens, and like in all crock pots these days the liner is fully removable for easy cleaning. The selector has the standard high, low, and off settings, (but no "warm").

As for this crock pots performance, I have to say that I have not experienced any of the other problems whatsoever mentioned in a couple of other reviews. The liner on mine stays very loose and is very easily removed either when hot or cold, and after almost a year of use I have never had a meal that was cooked too fast. I will admit that I am home with mine in most cases and don't have to concern myself all that much with accurate cooking times. But at the same time I usually make up a meal for this cooker in the morning and just load and forget it in the vast majority of cases. One thing that has to be kept in mind with any small crock pot is that most slow cooker recipes are based on 4 to 6 servings for a family. And the cooking times are based on the larger size. Whether its this or any other small cooker, one must remember to adjust the cooking time accordingly for its smaller size. It may take a little getting used to if you are familiar with a larger pot in past years, but take my word that any meal in this pot has required at least a 4 hour minimum cooking time. Most of my meals easily stay well within the range of perfectly cooked up to 6 hours or more. (If you truly need longer cooking times, I would suggest you forget about a small one and move up to at least a 4 quart cooker). And once you're used to its temperature, I think it cooks wonderful meals. I would go as far as to say that of all the cookers I have had over the years, this cooker is not only the perfect size, but also cooks the best out of all of them. Personally I think its pure white finish is very handsome and the cooker itself is a top performer. I am very satisfied with mine, and you can get this cooker with free shipping when bundled. A good deal and an excellent cooker that is just the right size for couples. Recommended...

Comment: Over a year now of use and there are surface cracks on the ceramic pot but they are normal in any crock pot.
Very nice tool to have in your kitchen, great value.
Easy cleanup to!

Combine:
1 Rival 5025WG 2-1/2-Quart Crockpot
1 Internet recipe
2-4 Hungry people

Cook:
4-8 hours

Serve:
Tasty Creations!