West Bend 84915 5-Quart Oblong Slow Cooker

The West Bend 84915 5-Quart Oblong Slow Cooker and its sister model, the West Bend 84905 5-Quart Oblong Slow Cooker (the two are identical except the 84915 includes an insulated carrying tote), offer functional features users love. Its nonstick insert can be used on the stovetop to sear meats before slow-cooking and is dishwasher-, freezer-, oven- and stovetop-safe, so consumers can safely use the crock as they would most casserole dishes or braisers. The oblong shape is ideal for cooking meats, and a glass lid allows users to monitor foods without lifting the lid, which can release steam and slow the cooking process. Some owners say this model cooks hotter than other slow cookers, so it's important to check the temperature settings provided in the manual to avoid overcooking foods. There's no light indicating that the unit is on, and it must be unplugged in order to turn it off. While we saw a few complaints about this feature, other owners point out that it's an added safety precaution. If you have a small family, you might consider the bargain-priced Rival Crock-Pot 3735-WN (*Est. $30) , which has a 3.5-quart capacity ideal for serving two to four people.

We found no reviews of the West Bend 84915 5-Quart Oblong Slow Cooker in either Cook's Illustrated magazine or ConsumerReports.org's latest slow-cooker roundups, but it does receive consistently positive feedback in hundreds of owner-written reviews. We found well over 100 user reviews on Amazon.com, with additional comments from owners at Target.com and Viewpoints.com.