I have only used this a few times, but love it so far! It cooks evenly and I have not had any problems with it. It replaces an old Rival Cooker that still worked, but had developed an unpleasant electrical burning smell. The touchpad is easy to use and I really like the warming feature which my last cooker did not have. Now I don't have to be home at exactly the right time to turn the cooker off. My only complaint is that the crock doesn't clean very well. Food seems to stick, even when I use spray oil before loading it. I usually have to soak it overnight to get off all of the residue.

Perfect size for us. Love the features. Easy to clean. We like finding new recipes and use this a lot. We love how it finishes cooking and automatically sets itself to "warm" so it's just right whenever we make it to the dinner table.

This machine is a very nice improvement over the slow cookers of yesteryear. The oval shape makes it easier for making soup from roasts, chicken or turkey carcasses; the handles lend themselves to securing the lid for transport. (some models come with a strap for this purpose but you can also use heavy rubberbands or a piece of cord if you didn't buy the model with the strap). The exterior does get fairly hot when it's in use but no more so than my previous models I've had. There is a safety shutoff after 14 hours of continuous use, which I'm not sure I like. I often simmer things for a couple of days depending upon what I'm making, so now I have to remember to turn it off and then on again to restart the "clock" or it will shut off after 14 hours is reached.Why only 4 stars then? It's because I found the power cord to be incredibly short. I have plugmold in my kitchen (a strip with outlets every 8 inches that runs right below the upper cabinets) and the short power cord on this unit barely reaches to the nearest outlet. This is fairly minor issue, but just a few more inches on the cord would have made it easier to use for me, and I suspect many other users. As for cooking, however, the unit has worked great! The high and low cooking temps work well depending upon the recipe you're using, and the keep warm function is really nice for serving. It keeps the contents hot enough to reduce food safety hazards from spoilage, yet it's still a reasonable temp for serving the food hot but not scalding.

After only a week of limited use, I can definitely say that this slow cooker is great. I love the timer setting variability. And, too, the price was right.

Very reliable and let's you know how much time is left on the cooking time.

Received the slow cooker one week earlier than scheduled and in excellent condition. Tried it and am very happy with the product. Easy to use and clean.

Just what I was looking for!

FURTHER UPDATED (lid knob HACK):Went to a resale store and purchased (for $1) a cooking pot lid with a stainless steel/hard plastic knob that was screwed on. It fit the Hamilton Beach slow cooker lid perfectly and has not slipped in the 6 months I've used it!UPDATED REVIEW after 10 months:This crockpot/slow cooker still does the job. However, the plastic handle on the lid is always loose. The plastic handle spins when I am lifting off the lid or when I'm washing the lid. I have even removed it, added super glue, and screwed it back on. I am certain a harder plastic or metal knob of some sort would not spin. This issue is irritating and has caused the lid to swivel when I am lifting it up. Keep in mind, steam is coming out of the slow cooker, so I'm dropping my rating to 3 stars.ORIGINAL 5-star Review:I replaced a 22-year-old 6 qt crockpot (worked fine, looked a bit rough) with this one. I did not want all of the bells and whistles that others crockpots have. This one is the same size, just shaped differently. I appreciate the countdown and the cook temps. It is simple and works perfectly.

Made a stew in 5 1/2 hours really tender meat and turned out great!

Absolutely amazing slow cooker. The temperatures are perfect, the plug is a great size, the lid is sturdy, pot is easy to clean. I would recommend this for everyone.

The first thing I made in this slow cooker was the BEST ribs I've ever made in my life!I cooked them low and slow, and the came out the perfect level of tender and juicy without being overly soft. The size, ease of use and simplicity to clean make this slow cooker a real champion in the kitchen.

That is my first slow cooker and I have no regrets used it to cook pork and after 4 hours cooking it came out better than what I expected. Although 4hours is quite long it can be very handy and safe as you don’t need to watch. It’a function is exactly what I was looking for.

Great slow cooker with good features