Customer Reviews

Crock-Pot 3040-BC 4-Quart Round-Shaped Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

I love to cook in crockpots. I am a working mom and wife and need to be able to use a slower cooker a lot. We bought this one because it is so pretty and seemed to be good quality. After four uses, the handle on the left side cracked and half of it broke off. The right handle is cracked as well. The temperature knob was the next to go. Since I like the look of the pot, I was going to take advantage of the good price on Amazon to buy another, but after reading the other reviews with the same problem, it appears that Rival is not going to do anything to fix these known defects. Do not buy this pot!!!

Since April, 2002, I have had to replace this item twice. All three of the crock pots have the same dangerous defect. The handles on the pot crack and ultimately break and fall off. Fortunately, I was not carrying a pot full of hot food when the handles actually broke off. However, this is a definite possibility. Also, the pot gets too hot, I had a blister on my hand from accidently touching it. This is a dangerous product and I have reported it to Consumer Product Safety Commission for investigation.

This is the second 4qt Rival Crockpot I have had break. The handles cannot withstand the heat and if moved they splinter and break posing a definite safety issue. After the 1st one broke I had the company send another one and after just 4 uses it also broke. This product needs serious investigation.
I also own another larger crockpot from this company and have had no problems with it after 6 years of use.

I had this pot for about two months, using it once a week, when one handle, then another, cracked. The sides are too hot. It spits out the sides of the lids. Food burns to a crust on the sides. I have had larger, older, Rival pots last for years. Lately, I don't know why they just feel cheap. I also had the bottom of the matching 5 quart size suddenly unravel while I was carrying a crock full of meatballs from the kitchen to the dining room and the crock fell to the ground with the heating element exposed. Always used pot holders, always filled up food to over halfway. Did all as expected, but the screws unravel or broke inside between the layers of the aluminum sides. Can't buy replacement parts easily. Can't reach a person at the Rival website.

What a great crockpot! I never liked using my old crockpot because it was big and ugly, but this one is so pretty that I don't mind leaving it out at all! It matches our decor wonderfully! And with our busy life (We both work and have a small son), it is the perfect size! We always have plenty of room and usually can make enough to eat the next day. The first day I used it I made a roast, which turned out great. Today I made BBQ chicken and again it was wonderful. I can't say enough good things about this product!

I only have used this about 8 times for just my husband and myself. I took it out yesterday and the temperature knob fell off in two pieces in my hand. Then I noticed the handles are all cracked and ready to come apart. VERY DANGEROUS. This gets very hot and if lifted it would cause a real problem.

I read the other reviews about how the handles and the temperature switch had a tendency to crack and break, but I thought that Rival would have fixed it by the time I bought one. No such luck! I used it 7 times and and by the 3rd time the left handle had broken and then with each use more of the plastic parts started to crack and break. Horrible contruction. I was very dissapointed and I ended up throwing it out. Don't waste your money.

My handles cracked and fell apart. Also I noticed that the counter top was so hot under the cooker that it was almost scorched. One more thing I did not like about this cooker..when it was hot the liquid inside would spit out of the lid.

As others have noted, the outer case gets very hot. I decided to take it apart to understand why. The removable stoneware sits in an inner aluminum pot surrounded by the outer metal case. The pot and case are held together by a screw, spacer, washers, and nuts through the bottom of the pot. A lip around the top of the pot wraps around the top edge of the case, and 3 legs under the pot contact the bottom of the case. The heating element wraps around the bottom of the sides of the pot. The handles and temp control are attached to the outer housing. There are several metal-to-metal contact points between the pot and outer housing. The screw, legs of the pot, and upper lip conduct heat from the pot to the outer housing. Since the base is metal and does not have insulated feet, I recommend placing the unit on a heat-resistant surface away from combustables, flammables, and exposed skin when in use.
The handles and control knob feel sturdy, but time will tell whether they will crack from the heat. The switch body is also plastic and is mounted very close to the heating element. The inner wiring is wrapped in insulated fabric sleeves, but they are in contact with the housing.
The 3ft power cord is permanently attached and is unusually stiff. I have to form it into shape before plugging it in, and I don't coil it up between uses.
The package I received from Amazon did not include the 200 page recipe book. There were some recipes in the owner's guide and a couple of recipes on the box. A 4-page slow cooker accessory catalog was included showing cookbooks, travel bags, bread/cake bake pan, meat rack, dust cover, liner bags for sale.
UPDATE: The outer case was recalled by the manufacturer because of several cases of cracked handles. I had to cut the plug off the end of cord and return it. They sent me a new case and reimbursed me for the shipping.

I only used my slowcooker about 8 times when one of the handles cracked off. Luckily it happened while I was washing it and not when it was full. Pieces of the other handle are cracked off also. The pot also gets extremely hot while in use. I have burned myself several times.