First, let me clarify that Crock-Pot is a brand of slow cooker manufactured by Rival Manufacturing that gained popularity in the seventies. The Crock-Pot was marketed as a time saving appliance that would cook food for the housewife that wanted to join the workforce. Like the microwave and dishwasher, Crock-Pots were considered servants that made the work of a housewife easier. Dinner could "cook itself" and did not require anyone be in attendance. The popularity of slow cookers peaked in the eighties and with the advent of recipe sharing sites, a new generation of user's has renewed the popularity of the Crock-Pot.
I still have my Mom's Rival Crock. It stopped working last month and with chilly weather coming there's nothing like a crock pot meal for dinner on a crisp autumn night. Here are some of the Pot's I researched, I purchased the Hamilton Beach and I am Loving it...
Best Value Hamilton Beach has been around for 100 years and prides itself on offering you practical and useful solutions for your various needs in the home. Programmable; Wide range of temperature settings; Lid latch that prevents spills; Automatic timer that switches to warm after cooking. Outer walls can get pretty warm to touch. Programmable, Oval shaped, Stoneware, 7 Quart.
For over 40 years, Crock-Pot as a brand has made memorable, delicious meals for families around the world. Large capacity; Serves over 8 people; Stainless steel cookware; 3 cooking settings of high, warm or low. Lacks power indicator light to know when on/off Manual, Oval shaped, Stainless Steel, 7 Quart, Digital Slow Cooker.
BLACK+DECKER has been around for over a century to provide functional appliances to make life much easier at home. Programmable controls; Chalkboard surface to label pot; Insulated handles for easy movement; Glass lid with lock wire. Screws on the handles may loosen with time Programmable, Oval shaped, Stoneware, 7 Quart.
Proctor Silex is a brand associated with Hamilton Beach brand, which is loved for its selection of functional and affordable kitchen products. Durable removable pot; stylish glass lid with insulated knob; keep warm feature; dishwasher friendly components. Small capacity not ideal for large meals, perfect for singles and couples.