My slo cooker is due to retire & been looking at them on line.So many brands, so many new (to me) types. For sure I want the liner to be removable...same as old one, but that's all I know.
Some can be programmed, others not.Does that feature work? Does the probe type allow heat to escape? Have seen a lot of complaints about newer SCs getting too hot,cooking too fast.Any brands/types to recommend?

We like the smaller ones that and the liner is removeable. Its made by rival. We did not get a programable one but never had any issues and we use it all the time. We also have two others larger ones but we use the smaller onr the most.

I just gave me old one away to my DD since she moved out. Mommie got to buy a new one...YAY I got a 7 Qt Rival at Wal-Mart for $18, they come in different colors. It has a warm feature on it that I just love. My old one didn't have that and now I can set it on warm when it's done cooking and it will still be hot by the time my DH comes home from work. And the crock does come out also.

I recently bought the $18 one from Wal-Mart and I have used it a few times in the last two weeks, made spaghetti sauce and soup. Matter of fact, I have bought two. The first one I melted the bottom onto the stove because I turned the wrong burner on. Now I put the cooker on a big wooden board, not on the stove. My senior moments are much longer than moments. Blessings to all Kathryn

I would get the Rival brand.

Rival has always been a dependable brand for me

Yup. Rival here too..

Here's another slow-cooking option. I recently got a Circulon Induction "burner" (wanted to see IF I liked this method of cooking). It can be set for up to ten hours an any temperature you select. I chose THIS one because the others needed the pot lifted off the surface once per hour for the thing no not switch off...for pity sake. But this one just works for up to ten hours if I program for this. ANY pot a magnet sticks to works just fine, so no aluminum (YEA!) or corning ware (ceramics), etc. Stainless or cast iron work great, and healthier. Also, it's portable...can use any location with an electric outlet. Surface stays cool to touch...only pot heats up. Not total silence, makes some noise but does not bother me. Works well for slow-cooking at low temps...and other temps/fried potatos, etc. I like a lot anyway...so pass this along FYI as another slow-cooking option.

I have the oval Crock pot with removable liner. This is the second or third one I've had. It's still going strong after 10 years.

My daughter got one of the fancy ones that will take more than one size crock. It was not very satisfactory and I haven't seen them in the store lately so apparently she was not the only one that had problems with that style. It sounded like a great idea...Anyway she got one like mine to replace it.

We have a morphy richards o/here, removable inner and timer---it is the largest model working on the principle what will cook a lot will cook a little BUT not the reverse!!!
Have had no probs with losing heat and use it in summer when too hot and aga is off.
IT does WONDERFUL soups esp minestrone!!! Good Luck.

I got a cheap rival from WalMart several years ago. It is prgrammable, and works great for me.

Just saw one at CostCo, it had three individual smaller pots, side by side. I'm planning on getting one for myself, since I want several small amounts of things on the stove at once. The pots are removable of course, and it looks like it'll fit nicely on a crowded kitchen counter.

My big one is a Rival also, removable insert and haven't had a bit of trouble with it in the years I've had it. Also a CostCo buy.

I bought a programmable one several years ago, and I really did not like it. I went back to an OLD rival crockpot with the stoneware insert. The new ones seem to cook so much hotter that I finally gave up and went back to the old one. Then my daughter wanted an older one, so I found her one at a garage sale.
If I remember right, I wanted the programmable one to let me cook on high for several hours and then switch to low, but it wouldnt do that. The high setting was too much for all day, and the low setting didnt have an 8 hour button. OR something like that. IT may have been that I am just not good with change....LOL

I haven't tried this yet, but know ladies that have. There are now cooking bags to use in the crockpots. Like the cooking bags you did stuff in the oven in?? The bags help to make clean up a breeze!

I really like mine, found it at Walmart. It is a Hamilton Beach, wasn't expensive, and has a removeable liner. It also a large rubber ring that holds the lid on securely for traveling :D:D:D

My Rival was working fine after years but had several accidents with it when I transported it to church. Gave it away and bought the Hamilton Beach with the lid that you can lock on and it is really nice to not have to clean up the floorboard of the car. It came from Wal Mart too and was a little more expensive but worth it. If you never transport food, the Rival is fine.

These are great! You don't have to clean the crock. I use them when I'm using my 37 yr old Rival crockpot. The crock isn't removable. I also have a small 3 qt. Rival that's not programable and a 6qt. Rival that is programable. I like them all. Never had any trouble with any of them.

If was buying another regular slow-cooker (as opposed to induction/cast iron dutch oven which is my current preference) guess it would be another WestBend because of the shape...rectangular. Mine is still going strong, since 1979. I like the base offers more than just low-med-high. Also, MUCH easier clean-up. Again though...because of the rectangular shape. The pot works great on stove-top too, not just slow-cooker's base. It also had a 1" high grid/platform for baking inside the pot too. I've used on my stove-top for steaming salmon, veggies, and turkey breast, even for baking without the water. For stove-top steaming I just filled pot about 1" high with water...dropped in the "platform/grid" and placed a loaf pan in pot. Then put whatever I wanted to steam...turkey breast, or half salmon, or LOAD of veggies. The West Bend has just been so versitile, a hugh lighter weight so easier to handle. GREAT slow-cooker...PLUS. I love the ol thing... Bought one of the crock-type slow cookers which would handle 6 qts, but cooks much too high temperature, even on warm. NO comparison. Quess that temperature control issue is WHY is wanted the induction (mentioned above). Again, it also allows me to use whatever cooking container, whatever specific temp, etc. OK, promise not to write anymore about slow-cookers....maybe. Can you tell this is my fav way to cook? : - )
PS: Another negative I do NOT like about my 6 quart Hamilton Beach, besides excessively high temp, is the thing has THREE feet! There is no reason for them to be so cheap, and design without 4th foot to stabilize it. 6 qt hot food, balancing on tripod is not my idea of safety. Yes, it has a pretty face (pepper design) but I only use it if I have no other options. PLUS the heavy crock insert is a pain to clean. Never again.

We are still using our large one that we got when the kids were home. Had a Rival first but the cord went bad. Plan to get a new one soon...smaller than 8 qt. because it is just the 2 of us now. Understand that that work best when 2/3 full. I love them. Great for roasts,soups and pasta sauce

I'm new to the world of slow cookers, bought my first one a few weeks ago and how I wish I'd done it years ago. The cheaper cuts of meat come out softer than fillet steak. I'm still experimenting with recipes. I usually put mine on to cook just before we go to bed as the electricity is on the cheaper tarif from midnight to 8am, so its a winner all round for me.

the liners that you put into the crock pot work really really well, we always use them for potlucks, so nobody is left with a dirty mess to take home!!! Just empty, store what is left?LOL,,,throw away that bag, and yippee,,all cleaned up....

Mine is an oval with removable crock pot, the original crock pot brand. Love it. It just has high, low, and keep warm settings, works great.

I have bought several over the years, and every time I buy something other than a Rival, I have regretted it. Tried, true, tested, and done with the others! A word of caution...Do not get the one that comes with a 'free carrying strap', and expect to use the strap. The strap is way too flimsy to carry the weight of hot food, and you risk serious burns! {HUGS}

I love my Hamilton Beach too. The lid snaps closed and the serving spoon locks into the top. Great for transporting.

Had a chance to look at slow cookers yest.They seem way heavier than they used to be.
Like the rubber seal on HB & will prob go with a 6qt.There's just 2 of us, but I like making soup,then freezing some for another day.

About cast iron.Few yrs ago, DD got me a small covered cast irot pot.Food in oven cooks great ,but it's so heavy I seldom use it. Can't imagine what a large cast iron pot would weigh full of food.

i have the one with the probe, warm low high heat and the lid locks down i love the locking lid things seem to cook alot better we actually got this one due to the fact my hubby takes it to work for their friday lunches no more spilled messes we love it now if i would just use it more. lol

i have a rival with snap down lid - walmart - my dd has one too - the only thing is - we have to cook on LOW because if you put it on HIGH and go to bed or leave - it will burn up!!! i like the keep warm feature too. i always use the slocooker liner bags cause i hate to scrub up.

OK...guess I have to plead ignorance on the slow-cooker liners. Never ever heard of these until this topic and discussion. Does anyone know if cooking food in plastic is safe, for sure? Petroleum products combined with food just leave me wondering about safety. Has anyone read anything verifying no plastic "leaks" into the food...at cooking temps sustained all day or all night? I sounds like it would be a -wonderful- tool, IF it's 100% safe. Lost family members to cancer, etc. so am maybe am being too cautious. ANYWAY, has anyone read any studies on this topic?

i haven't read anything - but they seem to be made of the same stuff turkey cooking bags are made of and they've been around a long time. in fact they're in the same section of the store if you're looking for them. not really sure if they're plastic or something else. i'll have to look when i get home.

OK...my last concern about crock-pots. Really hope folks know about the safety recall on Rival's models 3040, 3735, 5025, 5070, and 5445. Rival will replace the base, but customers need to keep the crock and lids. It is worth passing along.

If you use a crock pot, you HAVE to try the liners. they are GREAT! I refuse to cook if I've forgotten to buy them!!!

Same here on the programmable one. The instruction book says to "precook" beans and some other things on the stove, then transfer to the cooker. The main reason I bought a slow cooker was so I wouldn't have to mess up other pans! I put it in a yard sale, but it didn't sell so I donated it to Goodwill.

Thanks for the info. Don't you hate appliances etc that just make more work?

Same here on the programmable one. The instruction book says to "precook" beans and some other things on the stove, then transfer to the cooker. The main reason I bought a slow cooker was so I wouldn't have to mess up other pans! I put it in a yard sale, but it didn't sell so I donated it to Goodwill.