Slow cooker or crock pot

[Montessa]

I am planning on purchasing a new slow cooker. I am looking for a programmable digital one. Perhaps one with a meat probe. Any suggestions? I know the All Clad has the highest rating but it is $300.00. I am looking in the $75.00 range.

[CanMan]

Crock-Pot® is a trademark name used by Rival. Anything else is called a "slow cooker". Don't you just love attorneys.

The newer Rival products run HOT (on purpose), again thanks to their attorneys, and I would not recommend them for that reason. You get a slow cooker so it cooks SLOW, not boil food even on the low setting.

I personally recommend the Hamilton Beach brand of slow cooker and the size you get depends on your family that you are cooking for. I would love to get the 3-in-1 to give the best of all worlds, but I have to wait for present one to wear out and that doesn't look likely any time soon. For 1-2 people the 4-quart is a good size, otherwise go for a 5-quart or larger.

[The Ironic Chef]

Cooks Country or Americas Test Kitchen did a slow cooker testing not to long ago and I
am sure that if you would like the results you can go on their site. They judged them all around on features, durability, perfprmance and price. Most of the products I purchase due to their testing have been keepers and very reliable.
My rival has been around for a long time. Not digital but for a slow cooker all I need is low and hi settings.

[Montessa]

Thanks everyone for the great tips. The ATK reviews were very helpful. I have an old one that works fine but no handles to get the ceramic pot out and it fits in very snug. It takes 2 people to get it out. One to hold the plastic cooking part and one to pull out the pot. Also it is avocado green.

[shipscook]

the cool thing about the AllClad is the metal pot inside.
When you sear or brown ingredients for a dish, you can put it on the burner and then back inside and cook slow.

Always seemed a pain to me to have to use a seperate pan for this and then have something else to wash. Plus you miss all the good sticky little pieces from the searing. Of course you could deglaze with a bit of wine or juice.

I always check Amazon.com for the same reasons as IC does ATK. They usually have the best prices and over $25 is free shipping. And lots of reviews!

Last time I went there, seems there were a couple of less expensive ones with metal insert?

Nan