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by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
This review focuses on advanced models. Editors put seven slow cookers through their paces, cooking pot roast on both high and low settings, as well as chili and beans on high. Using remote temperature… probes, testers check the internal temperature of the roasts and evaluate total water loss after three hours of covered cooking on high. All the slow cookers did a good job, but editors deem certain features even more important than performance. These include a timer that automatically shifts to a keep-warm setting at the end of timed cooking, a clear lid, an indicator light and an insert with handles for easier removal. Pros and cons are listed for each slow cooker, and several are recommended.
by Jill Hunter Pellettieri
Jill Pellettieri tests and rates eight slow cookers. She also provides a brief history of slow-cooker technology. She prepares 15 dishes, ranging from pot roast to rice pudding, and awards points for… performance, ease of use, design, flavor of the finished dish and value. The Cuisinart CSC-650 (now the PSC-650) earns her top rating, followed by the Rival 3040TCC (now 3040-BC) and Rival 6-Quart Smart-Pot. She dislikes the West Bend 6-Quart Crockery Cooker, which frequently boils over.
by Editors of Real Simple
by Jessica Harlan
Jessica Harlan, About.com's guide to cooking equipment, reviews three slow cookers, each of which she tests. The Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 33133 gets the highest rating of all because of its "ingenious design"… which consists of three interchangeable crocks of different sizes. Harlan says that the manual slow cooker doesn't have many bells and whistles but it performs well. Both the Fagor Electric Multi Cooker and Rival Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS get ratings of 3.5 stars out of five. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Diana Rattray
As an About.com guide for more than 10 years, Diana Rattray has established herself as an expert on Southern food. Here she lists her favorite 10 slow cookers, including the All-Clad 99009, KitchenAid's… 7-quart slow cooker and Cuisinart's 6.5-quart model. There is little indication here that she has actually tested these cookers herself, however. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Linda Larsen
Although it doesn't appear that Linda Larsen, About.com's busy cooks guide, tests most of the slow cookers she recommends, she says that she personally uses the now-discontinued Rival 3040V6. Larsen also… calls the KitchenAid KSC700SS "the ultimate crockpot," saying that it is worth every penny of its expensive price tag. Three other models from Rival, Proctor Silex and Hamilton Beach also make her list of recommended slow cookers. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
by Stephanie Lee
While the staff-tested slow cookers in this article are not ranked, seven top picks are mentioned. Each slow cooker is given a label, such as "easier than ever" for the Cuisinart Programmable Slow Cooker or… "table ready" for the All-Clad 6.5-quart slow cookers. The article also lists the features and price of each cooker. Although this article is helpful, we wish they had included more information regarding the testing process and procedures.
by Contributors to Amazon.com
by Contributors to Epinions.com
by Contributors to Cooking.com
Owner-written reviews at Cooking.com are not as critical as those at Amazon.com, and most write-ups are brief. Several models reviewed elsewhere are not reviewed on this site, making it less helpful than… some other sites. However, the site is easy to navigate. The top-rated slow cooker here is the All-Clad 99009 6.5-quart, while the 6-quart Hamilton Beach Stay-or-Go is listed as a bestseller. Both the Rival 64451 LD-C and the KitchenAid KSC700SS are also highly rated.
by Contributors to Target.com
Target is an increasingly good place to find owner-written reviews of kitchen appliances, including slow cookers. It's not easy to compare models, but once you have your choice narrowed, Target.com is worth… a visit. The Rival Crock-Pot 4-quart Oval Slow Cooker is the best-reviewed slow cooker on this site, with a high rating from dozens of reviewers. The Hamilton Beach Stay-or-Go 33163 and Rival 5.5-quart Smart-Pot get good ratings as well.
by Contributors to Wize.com
Wize.com is a customer-review site that draws reviews from various websites -- such as Amazon.com, Target.com and Shopping.com -- and compiles the reviews into a single score. Individual reviews are also… listed and can be read in detail. Based on consumer reviews, Wize.com makes product recommendations. There is no testing involved, but Wize.com is a good clearinghouse for customer opinion from a variety of sites. Favorite slow cookers include the Hamilton Beach 33162 and 33163 Stay-or-Go and the All-Clad 99009 6.5-quart.
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
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This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
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All-Clad 99009 Stainless-Steel 6-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker
 from Amazon.com New: $179.00 In Stock.
Average Customer Review:   |
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Hamilton Beach 33134 3-in-1 Slow Cooker with 2-, 4-, and 6-Quart Crocks
from Amazon.com New: $35.95 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
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Proctor Silex 33015 1.5-Quart Round Slow Cooker
from Amazon.com New: $12.95 In Stock.
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