Crock-Pot Small 4 Quart Manual Slow Cooker and Food Warmer, Red (SCV401-TR)

I LOVE this little slow cooker. I actually currently have two in this size, a black one and a red one. I keep the black one on my counter because it matches my other kitchen appliances. I am somewhat of a slow cooker junkie because I've been writing a gluten free slow cooker cookbook the past 6 months. I started out with two "crock pot" brand slow cookers and they have been fantastic. One was a gift and I've had it since I graduated from college over 11 years ago, it's actually a large 6 quart programmable from "crock pot" and it works like a charm... BUT this smaller version works better for my everyday slow cooking needs. Some people have complained that there is not a difference in the cooking temperature between low and high, but I can definitely tell a huge difference. I've used this slow cooker to test over 200 recipes in the past 6 months and I've NEVER had a problem with it. The ONLY two things i would change is that it would be nice to have a programmable one in this size, and it would be nice to have an indicator light to show that the appliance is on. Other than that, I love this little cooker. I actually LIKE that it cooks hotter than older models from years past. I can cook a roast to medium rare in about 2 hours on high and be able to make dinner when I get home from work. BUT if I need it to cook longer, I use the low setting for 4-6 hours for the same recipe. You definitely DON'T need to cook things like chicken breasts for more than about 6-7 hours on low or they will be overcooked. If you start foods from frozen, you can use the traditional longer cooking periods. I love this little slow cooker and I think it's at a BARGAIN price. When I bought it, it was on sale for $15.99 on amazon, and if you continually check back they often have them for a great sale price. I have used mine for over two years and I use them on an almost daily basis and I've never had a problem with them. Great product!

This is a really great little crock-pot! I'm single and living on my own, and I'm a student who also works full-time, so spending a lot of time cooking is really hard. Still, ramen or take out every day isn't exactly healthy or satisfying (and the latter is way expensive). This is just the right size to cook a meal with enough leftovers for a couple of days for one person, or a meal for a few when I have friends over. It does seem to run a little hotter than I expected, meaning that sometimes my food will be done before the recipe says it should be. Still, this isn't really a problem as most slow-cooker recipes are built for that kind of thing and can stand up to sitting around a little while and getting more delicious! :9 Cook a couple of no-brainers to get yourself used to it before you do any important cooking if you're worried, but it shouldn't really be a problem. Slow cooker recipes tend to be more or less fool-proof (which is good for me, as I'm still learning the ins and outs of cooking). The insert is dishwasher safe, which is a big plus, too! TL;DR: It's an inexpensive way to have home cooked, healthy meals, even if you don't have time to stand around cooking - or you're not a cook yourself! Nothing beats coming home from a long day to an apartment or house that smells like dinner. Five stars for sure! EDIT: I browsed the other reviews and feel like I should mention: I haven't had a problem with any of my food drying up, but as I and others have said it DOES run hot, so YMMV - And I have burned myself more than once (though I'll admit to being clumsy)! Be careful! Use a hot pad when lifting the lid to stir or add anything, and don't touch the outside. I wouldn't take this crock pot anywhere, as the lid doesn't clamp down and it does get so hot on the outside. Best for at-home use.

I dont understand where all of these negative reviews are comming from. The reviews for this exact same cooker on target.com is completly oposite. Very few negatives, that is why I elected to buy it. I am kind of a crock post coniseur. All winter long my wife and I cook all sorts of things in them. This one is the perfect size for certain creations. Rival slow cookers "crock-pots" are the best, they should be they invented them. This one is no different. The temp is just perfect on low and high. I have use serveral hamilton beach cookers and they are always to hot. The lid fits in a nice shallow indentation I have never had problems with any crock-pot leaking water from under the lid, this one is perfect. The sides get warm but they do on any slow cooker I have ever used. Not to the point I would worry about leaving home while it is cooking. I would recommend this to anyone, and it works perfectly.

This is the first slow cooker I purchased, at least three years ago, and I have been using it ever since (it got me into bloging about my slow cooking experiences--see my profile for more info). It has been so dependable that I purchased one for my brother and one for my sister as well! This is the very basic slow cooker, with no bells and whistles. It is inexpensive and easy to use. It comes with an instruction book with a few basic recipes (some soups, chili, ribs -- which are amazing when slow cooked, by the way). It is easy to clean; even really caked on food, like chili, I tend to just let soak in hot soapy water for a while and then it comes right off. It's also apparently dishwasher safe, something that I did not know until I was looking at the box of the one I gave my sister since I haven't yet lived at a place with a dishwasher since I've been using the slow cooker. I glanced at some of the reivews of people having difficulties with this crock pot, but I haven't experienced any of these problems. And honestly, for the price, you cannot beat this crock pot.

Great little crockpot for two! I've made beef stew, ravioli lasagna, and short ribs so far. Works well on high and low settings for the perfect meal. Runs a little hotter so keep an eye on your recipe and time it on the lower end timeframe. Clean up is easy, too. It's on the smaller size so perfect for a smaller family, a couple, or one person.

4-Quart oval RED Crockpot. Four positions: OFF, LOW, HIGH, WARM. Beautiful and cute crock! Previously I owned a 6-Quart oval Crockpot, so this 4-Quart seems significantly smaller and, therefore, cuter. The entire unit is RED, including the CROCK. Very attractive. Usually you see black crocks, so the RED is rare. I gave it a test to see how it would handle a common job: Cooking DRIED PINTO BEANS (which I will later freeze in large yogurt containers to have on hand for burritos, etc.). It did a fine job, although I maxed-out the amount of beans it could hold. I put a 2-lb. bag of dried Pinto Beans in the crock, added salt and 8-cups of hot tap water, and set it to HIGH. I checked in two hours and realized it needed more water, so added 2 more cups water and stirred to put the beans that had been exposed under water. Let cook two more hours, checking once in a while to stir under any exposed beans. After letting cool, I will freeze in the large yogurt cups.

I was looking for a basic crock pot, no bells and whistles necessary, and got exactly what I was looking for! I love the color, it's just the right size - not too big, not too little, easy to clean, cooks relatively quickly compared to my old crock pots, and a good value for the money. It does sputter/splash a little sometimes,as someone else mentioned, but I have several other crock pots of various styles, brands and sizes, and they do the same thing. When I use a crock pot liner bag, there's no sputtering at all. Good item, good quality.

Really like this crock pot a lot. The color is beautiful, although don't scrub on the outside "shell" with anything - I scratched mine after trying to clean it. Should have used a soft cloth instead of the usual dish scrubber stuff. Ooops. The crock pot shell is a different color red than the pot itself. The shell is a lovely red but the pot is a little less red and has a pinky cast to it. Still nice, just not an exact match. The only drawbacks to this one are that it doesn't have a lock (obviously, but turns out I should have gotten one that did) and the little things it stands only (legs??) make it unstable/wobbly when transporting in the car. Otherwise it's great and I would buy it again.