How does one purchase the very best crock pot?

-- elisabeth lehrer (elsbeth@san.rr.com), November 22, 2001

Answers

go to the store, shop around,, compare,, get the one best suited for your needs

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 22, 2001.

They seem to be everywhere, even in drugstores. I have not noticed much difference in quality--they seem to last forever. If the heating part goes, keep the crock for other purposes.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), November 22, 2001.

One thing I like about ours is that it has a lift out crock

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), November 22, 2001.

Yes, get the kind with the removable crock and glass lid. Other kind is pain to wash.

-- HermitJohn (Hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), November 22, 2001.

As above. Removable pot and lid, as far as possible bullet-proof outer heating element, otherwise there really isn't that much difference in performance, so go for value-for-money. That really means a garage sale or a second-hand store.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), November 22, 2001.

Large enough to fit one of those cheap (but very large) boston butts to make barbecue!

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), November 22, 2001.

I bought a used one at a flea market for use in my worm ranch for $2 and it outcooks the two I use in the kichen.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), November 22, 2001.

My second crock pot supposedly has a lift out crock, but it doesn't. Help! Any suggestions?

-- Mitzi Giles (Egiles2@prodigy.net), November 22, 2001.

I've tried a variety of so-called "slow cookers" and I much prefer the Regal Crockpot - the one with the lift-out crock and large enough to suit your families needs. Best buy for the money and superior cooking results as far as I'm concerned.

-- Pam (pam1@awesomenet.net), November 23, 2001.

I perfer the hamilton beach crock pot because of the lift out crock liner and the autoshift feature. Autoshift starts out cooking on high and shifts to low setting once the contents of the crock are up to temp. Also preheating everything would work as well but it never seems to work that way for me so autoshift gets used a lot. Anyway I've had mine for 20 years it still works.

-- Ed (smikula@bellsouth.net), November 23, 2001.

Go to Goodwill. They always seem to have a few, but be sure to get one with removable innards -- so much easier to wash. They often have extra inserts for sale, too, and they make great pet food & water dishes (for large dogs, for instance.)

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), November 23, 2001.