Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I LOVE this little cooker! I've been using it daily since it arrived and I've even taken it for a car ride (that handy elasticized keeper is unbelievably handy if it tilts). I can't say enough great things about it, including that it holds more than you'd think and that the oval shape on this size cooker is a HUGE advantage. And in today's world of crappy quality and ill-conceived design, it's surprisingly excellent on both counts. First, info I couldn't find online anywhere (and if you have a camper or boat, this is particularly a good unit for you)... INTERIOR DIMENSIONS: Measured at the (oval) crock's floor, it's 6" long at longest point x 4.5" wide at widest point x 3.25" tall from floor to inside of rim (max useable cooking height). EXTERIOR (FOOTPRINT): At the widest/longest points, approx. 8.25" long x 7" wide x 7" tall. This does not include handles or slightly domed lid. ***FOR THOSE WITH A BOAT OR CAMPER*** This shape fits into smaller, tighter spaces AND (mwaaa-hahaha) that little elasticized lid securing device which is included for travel? It would be great for your kind of storage options because stuff gets wedged in and this is a glass lid and it isn't even possible to slide or get bumped off with that elastic thing in place.) OTHERWISE: - No power light (few this size have them) which is the ONLY thing I can criticize. - Knob dial feels solid and seats well onto the settings (warm, low and high) without floppy play, and not tinny feeling. - Cord is substantial in heft (does not scare you in other words) but short (24" from unit to prongs). - Plastic molded feet can slide on counter but most can and they're not particularly slippery. You COULD add self-stick rubber feet, small ones. - Glass lid has stay-cool knob handle and it sits on a black rubber gasket around rim (the only one I've seen that has this), and creates a gap-free fit as it heats up. But there are also 3 very thoughtfully designed groved indents in the crock's rim, and though condesation happens on any crockpot's lid, the gasket and groove combo prevents unexpected hot drips when you remove the lid. - Carry handles (on the base unit) are solid feeling and stick out farther than the crock insert's handles so you're less inclined to grab just the crock insert if moving it. And you don't need mitts. - Elasticized keeper that's thoughtfully included for transport ALSO fits securely into a groove on the underside of the base's handles which keeps it off hot exterior and keeps it from slipping around (or off). This thing was well designed. CAPACITY: Holds a solid 6 cups with a teense to spare before the rim. In other words, pushing it, you do get a "useable" 6 cups cookable contents. (My round 1.5-qt. holds less so "useable" volume is more like 5.5 cups, maybe a tad less, and the 2-qt. Rival that I'm returning has a full 1.5" of the crock that sticks up above the base unit, making it absolutely unuseable space, thereby a larger unit that STILL really only has 1.5-qt. useable cooking volume.) TEMPERATURES: Definitely seem right on target, as I've made these recipes before in another crockpot. High WILL get you a simmering bubble but not an outright boil. Low seems to be just a smidge below the simmering point, as it should be. OVAL SHAPE: This is my first oval crockpot and I did NOT expect to find oval on a little one. I am now sold on oval shape. You can fit a larger single item or 2 smaller ones side by side on the floor of it, there's more stirring and contents movement room. As for storage, again I'll say, the oval shape is not only easier to fit into narrower places, but more ergonomically friendly to slide in and out of places. HINT: If you want to peek but not lift the lid on any glass or clear plastic crockpot lid (which extends your cooking time by 15 min.), all crockpots form condensation on the lid, clouding it so you can't see much detail through the clouding. Rather than lifting the lid, give it a firm, quick jiggle (in place). Somewhere on the lid, the condensation will form into a droplet and slide down, making for a see-through place. If not good lighting, use a little flashlight and you will get a really good view of the contents without letting any heat out.