Crock-Pot 4865-W Recipe Smart-Pot Slow Cooker, Chrome

Crock-Pot 4865-W Recipe Smart-Pot Slow Cooker, Chrome
by Rival

List Price: ~~$99.95~~
Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary

Manufacturer: Rival
Brand: Rival
Color: Chrome
Product features:

5-1/2 quart oval slow cooker with a digital cookbook of more than 200 recipes
Touch-pad keyboard for programming time and temperature
Removable stoneware insert and a tempered glass lid
Automatically shifts to warm when cooking is complete
Measures 16-1/2 by 15 by 8 inches

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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Crock-Pot 4865-W Recipe Smart-Pot Slow Cooker, Chrome

Customer Review: Who knew?
Summary: 5 Stars

I had a crock pot years ago when they were lightweight, didn't have removable inserts and they were the newest kitchen small appliance to revolutionize easy food preparation. I had a second crock pot when they came out with the removable ceramic insert. Then I had none. A friend bought this Rival 4865 from a 3 letter tv station and she couldn't figure out how to use it. It sat on top of a cabinet for who knows how long, but she never used it. When I told her I was researching slow cookers on Amazon, she offered to give me this one and buy herself one that is simple to use. With the recipes digitally accessible, she assumed that this Crock Pot Smart Pot Slow Cooker was complicated to use. Well, I searched for vegetarian recipes online and found a wonderful collection at the Crock Pot website and when my friend called to give me some ideas from her huge cookbook, they were exactly the same as those online. When I then attempted to program the recipe into the slow cooker, I realized that the recipes programmed were also exactly the same as in the book and online. To my surprise, the recipes in the appliance are just that, recipes which are not easy to read in the tiny display, and nothing more. It's a reference and you set the functions of temperature (high, low or warm) and time (1/2 hour increments that are adjusted by pressing the arrow beneath either up or down). Once the prescribed time at the prescribed temp has passed, the machine goes into warm mode. Nothing more, nothing less.

I've had no problem with this overheating or burning food as is reported in newer machines. I've had no staining of the removable huge ceramic insert and it's extremely easy to clean, but I cook no meat. I've had no problems whatsoever but I do not like the smell of plastic as the appliance heats up in the kitchen throughout several hours of cooking time. All in all, I love it and use it every few days for something or other. The recipes are fine as a starting point and are actually a good reference for more advanced cooks. The large capacity is advantageous especially since you do not need to fill it to the maximum level. I've prepared a pound of dried beans and assorted vegetables with room to spare. The handle on the lid is substantial and it's easy to lift and clean. There is no hole in the glass lid for steam as in other lids, so it doesn't require any special cleaning process. It looks nice too and my only dislike is that I have to find a place to store this oval beast.

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Description of Crock-Pot 4865-W Recipe Smart-Pot Slow Cooker, Chrome

Rival Recipe Smart-Pot Slow Cooker

What sets this extra-large slow cooker apart is its digital recipe box of more than 200 recipes and its ability to be programmed for cooking time and temperature. When it reaches the end of the cooking time for the recipe you've selected, it turns itself down to keep warm until it's time to serve.

Its curvaceous, white design is handsome and the rubberized keypads (easy to wipe!) are easy to use. The screen where the recipes appear is at a slight upward angle, so there's no having to crouch down to read it. An audible tone lets you know when cooking time is over. And there are enough recipes in this Smart-Pot--from casseroles to soups and even some great desserts--that dinner will be anything but a routine.

Clean-up is very easy; warm soapy water will do the trick. (The programmable base unit is not immersible; just use a soapy rag or cloth.) Do not use scratchy, abrasive cleaners on the chrome exterior. Glass lid is dishwasher-safe. The slow cooker measures 16-1/2 by 15 by 8 inches. Rival includes a one-year warranty against defects and comes with a detailed booklet of instructions, recipes, and tips. --Garland Withers