Customer Reviews

Crock-Pot 38501-C 5-Quart Round Programmable Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I purchased one of these crock pots because of it's programmable features and reasonable price. WHAT A MISTAKE. After a programmed setting the unit does go to the warm setting and the warm amber indicator lights up - HOWEVER - if you you manually put this crock pot on warm by pressing the "cook time" button - it gets real hot. I tested it with an oven thermometer to verify my suspicion and sure enough - when this crock pot is MANUALLY set to warm it goes to over 300 degrees (high).

I took it back for a replacement but the 2nd one did the same thing.

I contacted customer service (email only) and they gave me the royal run around with canned answers and proceeded to inform me after several emails, that I tested the temperature in an improper manner...

I returned the 2nd one also.

DO NOT BUY THIS CROCKPOT unless you want over cooked and/or burned food when MANUALLY using the "warm" setting. I'd have given this a zero star if that were available.

We have always owned Rival crock pots in the past, but somebody else must be making this brand 'Crock Pot' now, because the entire experience is different. Don't get me wrong, the unit looks very nice, and if High meant high temperature and Low meant low temperature, this unit would be a perfect fit in many kitchens. However, low means 212 degrees on this unit, which will scald your soups and burn your slow cooked roast recipe. Warm is the only usable 'slow cook' setting on the entire unit, and even that is over 180 degrees (and is the setting that doesn't have a timer on it). If you are looking for a timed 'set and forget' unit, skip this one. You'll come home to overcooked or burnt meals.

I ordered this as a gift for my oldest son. He has used it many times since receipt and loves it. Easily programmed, cleans easily and preforms as specified. No problems. He now has a hot dinner every night when he gets home. Important for a single guy that works hard every day.
The unit cleans easily and is dishwasher safe. Big bonuses.
Cooking temps are good and consistent and no worries about food being undercooked or burned.

The main reason I bought it was it's similarity to a unit I already own. It's just round instead of oval shaped.

I had this crock pot for maybe 3-6 months when out of the blue it stopped working. The light would come on but it would not get hot. If I banged it against something or hit it a couple times it would come back on and stay on for the remaining time. However, a year later it no longer works. So the moral of the story is DO NOT BUY THIS ONE! I'm not sure if it was only a short in mine but I would not recommend finding out.

The only reason it got 1 star is 0 stars doesn't work!

This Crock-pot is horrible!! As other reviews indicate, it does cook very hot. I have ruined so many dishes by cooking exactly to the recipe because it cooks too hot. Another issue I have with this is that you can only cook for 4-6 hours on high and 8-10 hours on low. I have many recipies that require cooking on low for 6 hours, which can't be done with this crock-pot. I am very disapointed and am now searching for another programmable crock-pot after having this one for less than 6 mos.

So, I bought this crockpot because it's bigger than my old one. I got it out,washed it up, put food in it, then tried to move it over on my counter and the handle broke! I decided to use it anyway because I already had food waiting and in less then 5 minutes it was scalding hot on the outside, you could get a serious burn from just bumping your arm on it! Needless to say, it's going back! No quality here at all.

I HAVE THIS MODEL CROCK POT. IT BOILS ON EACH AND EVERY SETTING INCLUDING THE WARM SETTING. IT ISN'T SOMETHING YOU CAN SET TO THE 8 OR 10 HOUR SETTING AND WALK AWAY FROM OR GO TO WORK AND EXPECT YOUR MEAL TO BE PERFECT WHEN YOU GO HOME. YOU HAVE TO BE THERE TO WATCH IT. I CONSIDER IT TO BE A REAL FIRE HAZARD AS IT JUST GETS TOO HOT EVEN ON THE WARM SETTING IT CONTINUES TO BOIL EVERYTHING. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG THE ELECTRONICS ON MANY THESE POTS. I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE RIVAL CUSTOMER SITE AND "NO" RESPONSE AT ALL. I WOULD IMAGINE THE FIRST POT THAT BURNS A HOUSE DOWN AND THEY GET LITIGATION AS A RESULT WILL BE THE ONLY THING THAT GETS THEIR ATTENTION. FOR THOSE THAT HAVE THIS POT AND IT IS WORKING OK FOR NOW--BEWARE!! I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN IT ZERO STARS. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER REALLY NICE AND DEPENDABLE CROCK POTS THAT AMAZON OFFERS; LIKE THE HAMILTON BEACH STAY OR GO THAT DO A BETTER JOB AND ARE SAFE. DON'T BUY THIS MODEL.

Update to My review: I finally got a return email from Rival Customer Service. Here is the skinny on what they said. All of their current slow cookers do cook at higher temperature settings than our old ones. The warm setting is "approximately" 165 - 170 degrees. Both the Low and high settings cook at 215 degrees F, but they clyde (behave) differently. NOT, boiling is still boiling not matter how you try to hide it with word definitions. They recommend that their slow cookers be filled with at "least" 1/2 - 3/4 of the way full with liquid or sauce and adjust cook times accordingly. So, what's the purpose in buying this crock pot? It's only good for stews or soups, right!! Can't put vegies in the bottom and then layer a roast or chicken on top with no liquid as you can with almost all other true definition 'slow cookers". It will burn everything to a crisp. Junk, mine is going to the recycle land fill this week. I now have a Hamiltion Beach and that is a true slow cooker!

This works fine if you are home to monitor it. If not it gets too hot and burns the food. The handle came off shortly after purchase and now that the stoneware is cracked, I am going to look into a different brand.

I've had this crock pot for years and it works just as great today as it did when I first bought it. Love it!

This was my first crock pot ever. I decided on this brand as it's "suppose" to be one of the best. WELL, the first 2-3 times I cooked pork tenderloin in it, it was absolutely PERFECT! Well, lately the last few times (I've had it now 3 mos) I put it on the 10 hr setting and it's done in 2-4 hours on LOW. WTH??? In the beginning, I put my roasts in the center ceramic unit in the refrigerator overnight to marinate, THEN brought it out and cooked it for 8-10 hours, worked great. You can "not" place room temp water and ceramic unit within the heating element in this crock pot without it over cooking. I've never been so mad when you buy a $20.00 piece of good MEAT and it's RUINED! I think I'll be trying Rival or Hamilton beach next.