I really like my $25-ish 6 quart Hamilton Beach "Stay or Go" slow cooker (bought at Target). Mine came with an insulated cover for taking it elsewhere and with the clasps it will not spill, ever. If I had to buy something else, I'd go with their new $50-ish 8 quart slow cooker (has latches too).

I'm with you - I have no need for a scary programmable slow cooker either.

I am sure others will chime in for you to buy a Nesco roaster oven but they jump from 6 quart to 12 quart (no 8), and are $60 or $125.

Nancy

If I needed a new one, then I think that would go for one of the new slow cooker/pressure cooker combos.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fagor Multi Cooker

I did go with the Fagor a few months ago and love it - the browning feature is great although most meats in the quantities you would be slo or pressure cooking have to be done in two batches. I still find it nicer to have a plate to wash over a separate skillet though :) And - My larger pressure cookers are stored in the basement and not completely handy when I want them.

On days when I'm not especially organized (and I have a few of those) when I've wanted dinner ready at dinner time and was going to be gone in the late afternoon - but had not started slow cooking something earlier in the day...I've set it to pressure cook a few minutes, then reset to slo cook on low till time I wanted to serve....tenderizing inexpensive meats further than the 'keep warm' feature would do.

But it is only 6 qt. Nesco makes an identical product - I went with the Fagor because its an inch smaller in diameter, allowing it to be stored on a 12" kitchen cupboard shelf, with the door closed :)

I was looking for a replacement to my 70's era West Bend bean pot style crockpot that had been a faithful kitchen help most of my adult life and got distracted by the multi-function appliance. What I kept finding in reviews is that the newer slow cookers cook hotter than the old, surprising some of us who were used to the really slow cooking.

I hope you had the vet do it humanely, didn't take it out in the backyard with a shotgun ;-)

jxbrown, I wish you hadn't posted that link.... My non-cooking wife was looking over my shoulder and she wanted it. Long story short I ordered it. LOL

Much easier than a stove top pressure cooker and much easier to clean!

First thing I tried was dried beans, I soaked them about 4 hours, set it on 3 minutes pressure cooking. Perfect and didn't have to watch over them.

Then I tried a ham,just washed it put it in the pot, put a can of Manderine oranges with the juice in and set it. Perfect too and so tender!

Of course, my non-cooking wife gloated!!

Agreed on the Fagor. I'm having very good look with a Fagor 6 quart which I received last Christmas.

I just got a Hamilton Beach slow cooker - 6 qt with clasps to keep the lid on tight if I'm taking it anywhere. The programable part is GREAT. I can load it up in the morning, tell it to cook at low or high for a set period of time and then it automatically goes to warm. This is great, because I don't know what time I'll be home. Mine also has a probe so I can tell it to cook the roast to rare and then it will go to warm.

I've read the instruction manual over and over on the Fagor. I also went to their website.

I can't find an answer on a question I have. It goes in to warm mode when it finishes it's time on whatever it's programmed for. But it beeps ever few seconds and never stops! Anything I'm missing?

I can't stand the beeping, nor can my wife.