Customer Reviews

West Bend 85146 The Crockery Cooker, 6-Quart Oval

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased this West Bend as an upgrade and a complement to my 'ancient' Rival, which still works well. The oval shape and removable pot give a lot more versatility, and ease of cleaning too. The stainless outer skin looks good.

Well, the second time I used it (and it always seemed too hot, even on low) the switch sparked and it was fried. So, I called their 800 number - they don't want you to return it to the store - and they sent me a prompt replacement, along with a FedEx call tag. (I had to drive to a Kinkos to drop it off, because their call tag doesn't include residential pickup.)

First time I used the new one, it boiled the contents in a matter of a few hours, and when I switched it off, it would not turn on again, even after it had completely cooled. When I returned it to the store it was originally purchased at, they didn't seem the least bit surprised.

I think I would avoid this one!

I purchased this slow cooker more than a year ago on Amazon as a replacement for a Rival crockpot (you can find my review).

We use this slow cooker often, more so in the fall and winter than summer. I really like the "keep warm" feature, which fits our busier nights when we can't eat together as a family.

If you read some of the other reviews, this product is rated lower because it doesn't have a timer. Don't let that stop you from buying this slow cooker. After bad experiences with other brands, I hesitated to add my review right after purchase. Now, more than a year after our purchase, I can honestly say this is the best slow cooker I've ever owned.

This is easy to clean, easy to operate and holds enough food to feed a family of four. Thank you, West Bend and Amazon.

I give it four stars with the only negative being that the handles should be a tad longer because of the product's weight.

A very good looking,very functional product. I use mine about once a week for just about anything, mainly because it's foolproof, even I can't mess things up...

I previously owned a Corning Ware Crockpot and had to replace it because my son broke it! This crockpot is wonderful! It is big enough for a family of 5. I use it for soups and stews every week. It looks nice enough to leave on the counter.

I bought this as a gift for my sister. She's a single mother of 2 growing boys with large appetites. I told her of the times we use our crockpot and I have enough left over that I wouldn't have to cook for a few days plus it's conveinent for her to be able to put the food in the pot and slow cook it while she's at work so it can be ready to eat when they get home. She got this for Christmas, along with a recipe book, and has been putting it to work. It was the perfect gift for this full time working mom.

MY CARROTS WERE STILL HARD AFTER COOKING ALL DAY. ITS NOT LIKE THE CERAMIC CROCK POT I USE TO OWN.

I like this slowcooker very much. The oval shaped crockery saves room on counter/in refrigerator. This was a good buy!

I got this item as a gift for my mom. She really liked it and used it right away. I tasted some stew she made in the crock pot and it was wonderful!

For anyone wanting to use this like the old "crock pot" many of us grew up with you will want to look elsewhere for a model with a timer.

According to Cook's Illustrated: "A programmable timer was deemed a real asset, especially because all the machines with timers automatically switch to a warming mode when the timed cooking is done. This means that even if you're late coming home from work, your dinner won't be overcooked (or cold). The models without timers were downgraded."

Unfortunately, this model doesn't have a timer, so while you can probably leave some things cooking while you go to work, I think this would cause a lot of trial and error issues (and needless anxiety).

In this price range Cooks Illustrated recommended the HAMILTON BEACH Programmable Slow Cooker with Temperature Probe, but for those with more to spend the highest recommended model was the ALL-CLAD Stainless Steel Slow Cooker with Ceramic Insert.

If it weren't for the lack of a timer I would be happy to give this slow cooker a top rating.