Rival SCRC500W 5 Quart Round Countdown Smart-Pot Crock-Pot

We received this Crock-Pot as a wedding gift almost 7 years ago, and we love it! It is a true slow cooker. If you're used to some of the other crock-pots you'll find you need to increase the amount of time cooking. But everything that comes out if tender and succulent. I love doing ribs in it! The timer is great because you can just set how long you want it too cook and after that time it just kicks to keep warm. So you can throw something in before work and not have to worry. It will be warm and ready when you get home, and not overcooked.

As somebody new to slow cooking, I picked this one because it was $29.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond AND it came with a $10 rebate. I figured, "how bad can it be?" Now that I've used it 3 times, I can't figure out what else what other features are needed.

There are 2 temperatures... High and Low. Also, once it has finished the programmable times, it automatically goes to "WARM" for 4 hours so you don't have to be home to turn it off or deal with it. You can set the times in 30 minute increments.

It's easy to clean, although I try to use liners so I don't really have to clean it at all.

The only complaint I have is that I wish it were oval, as the round crock-pot takes up a lot of space in my cabinet. But for $20, I'm not taking it back. I think it's great!

I bought this 2 years ago and the low is way too hot and the hot is scalding. Warm dries food out as well. I will be tossing this one out and trying possible a smaller one to see if this makes a difference.