Features:

  • 6-Quart Removable, Oval-Shaped Ceramic Vessel
  • 4 temperature settings helps ensure that your food will be ready to serve when you're ready
  • Program the slow cooker for a specific cooking time up to 24 hours in 30-minute increments
  • High, medium and low settings for any recipe and keep warm function for up to four hours after finished cooking
  • See at-a-glance how much cooking time remains before your dish is ready for serving
  • Store the cord neatly on the bottom of the slow cooker when not in use.
Excellent

First, I bought it because it was the America's test kitchen pick. I'm so glad I did. Pros: really easy to set. Not complicated. does a great job of a slow braise on low, my Hawaiian pork came out fabulous! on high, my steak and onion soup came out beefy, rich, and got done in the (recipe predicted) 3.5 hours It's easy to clean, just lift out the ceramic liner and it goes in the dishwasher. non slip feet, shortish cord that stashes underneath Only one Con The lid has a metal rim around the edge and a screw on knob. Sigh, why can't they just make a heavy solid molded glass lid that's all one piece. That little metal rim is not fun to clean, not fun at all. Of course, I couldn't even FIND a replacement that has a solid glass lid--so I'm not taking off a star.

Great Slow Cooker that embodies the concept of the original Slow Cookers (with refinements)

This is a great slow cooker!! They are not SUPPOSED to boil food. I have had slow cookers since the original Crockpot in the 1970's, and had been disappointed in the high temps reached by newer models. This Kitchenaid is well-designed and maintains temperature beautifully. I like having the three options and am looking forward to making the classic Thanksgiving Dressing from my original Crockpot Cookbook (which scorches and dries out in the newer incarnations). I feel confident that the true "Low" setting on this Kitchenaid will once more produce dressing that will win rave reviews on Turkey Day. Another reviewer was disparaging of the possibility of needing ten hours to cook something-that is the meaning of slow cooking! You can cook for prolonged periods with no worries that the food will burn.

The cooker worked fine and looks great

When I used the cooker for the first time, the handle on the lid broke off. The cooker worked fine and looks great, but I wanted a new lid. Amazon was unbelievably helpful because I didn't want to return the cooker, I just wanted a new lid. They gave me all the info I needed and the number for Kitchen Aid. Amazon sent me a follow-up email to ensure I was satisfied. No need because KitchenAid customer service was stellar and they shipped me a new lid at no cost within the week. My cooker and I are completely happy cooking beans and stews.

A Slow Cooker That Works Like It's Supposed to!

I love this slow cooker! I purchased it to replace a newer model Rival Crockpot that cooked way too hot and fast, even on the low setting. Now, with this new KitchenAid model, I can actually follow the cook times in my recipes without worry. The meals I have prepared in it have turned out perfectly....and I couldn't be happier!

Worth more because it works

My husband and I love this slow cooker. We have one of another make that takes it to a low boil whether on high or low. Some online research tells us that is not uncommon. This one. unlike most others, has a fourth temp setting (low, medium, high and keep warm). On medium it holds a steady 178° to 180°, a good temp to make bone broth. We chose it because Food & Wine Magazine didn't just read the brochure but put it to a real test with timers and thermometers (most online reviews just compare features). Would buy it again.

After much debate and testing, it’s a keeper!

Based on the reviews here and at Cooks Illustrated, I had my fingers crossed I’d get a slow cooker that actually worked the way it should. I chose the “easy serve lid” because I liked the option of not having to remove the entire lid to serve or check on the food. Like other reviewers, I noticed it didn’t seal perfectly. It wasn’t level on my countertop either. By itself, after 12 hours on low, water was 180 degrees. I added two light hand weights, which elimated the gap in the middle on both sides, and another 12 hour test on low got up to 183, a third test on high for 6 hours was 195. I then decided to try a beef stew tonight on high. After 2 hours, the broth was 180 degrees. After 5 hours, the meat was well done and the broth was at a low boil, over 200 degrees (probably around 210, but I pulled my thermometer out once I saw it was over 200.) My guess is it will do beautifully on low for a slower cook, and the meat will be perfect (closer to 140-145 degrees as opposed to 185 on high.) I’m considering swapping the lid for the newer version to see if it seals better (without my hand weights.) But, I really appreciated the ease of serving dinner with my current lid. I may just have to store those light dumbbells with my pot!

Perfectly Slow .....

Finally, a slow cooker that is a slow cooker. For example, I made a large batch of beef stew yesterday, and I set the temp for "medium". I kept tabs on the temperature throughout. It reached 185 degrees after 4 hours and finished 4 hours later at 195 and a perfect stew in the pot. So, this really is "slow" compared to the typical speedy slow cookers abounding today that consider 200 degrees to be low. Consider me a throwback, but slow cookers back in the day used to take 8-11 hours or even longer to cook meals that their speedy cousins finish in 4 hours today. I think the extra time produces a better meal. (Another unusual aspect: this cooker has replaceable silicon rings that sit the top perfectly. Until the cooker is in use, the rings are loose fitting and capable of becoming unseated. Maybe that explains the complaints about the top not fitting snugly.)

Great everyday slow cooker

I needed to replace an older crockpot that I had for 10+ years. After a ton of research and almost "over buying" (searing ability etc), I realized this product seemed to meet my actual needs. I have used it several times- pulled pork, soups, meatball and sauce etc. Each time the food was cooked perfectly. No overcooking or drying out. Great even citing. Ceramic insert is easy to clean and to operate. A great everyday slow cooker.

Just got this one with the easy serve lid

Have owned this cooker for some years with the standard lid.Just got this one with the easy serve lid.Still rated number one by Americas Test Kitchen and Food and Wine Magazine.It is a slow cooker,it will not cook food fast like so many so called slow cookers.If you think it is not cooking right,test it .Put water in the crock(about half way up),put in a digital probe thermometer and after a few hours check your reading.Do that for all the temp settings on the cooker,record your results,then call KitchenAid and report your findings.If it is not reaching/holding proper temp,they will replace for up to one year,no questions asked.Food and Wine magazine found it to read at 160 on warm and 180 on low for example.It is never suppose to cook food at a boil,so never much over 200 degree's,even on high.

Dependable

Purchased this 6qt because I have two smaller ones that I love but had to use both at the same time. This 6qt is double in size so it takes a lot longer for my recipe to simmer down and redue. Because of this I thought about returning but stuck it out, adjusted my recipes and now I will never part with it. AND take up about the same counter space as the smallet ones. Just be very careful with young and older ones alike when its in use-the outside can be extremely hot to the touch so I tuck it in a corner when its on.

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