Hamilton Beach (33967A) Slow Cooker With Temperature Probe, 6 Quart, Programmable, Stainless Steel

I have had this crockpot for a year and a half, and it has served me very well! I have had no issues with using the electronic interface, cooking properly, or implementing any of its special features like the timer and meat thermometer. The timer functionality is key, as it allows me to cook something while I am away at work or some other commitment and not have to worry at all about being back in time to turn it off. It will cook for however long (or to whatever temperature) you specify, then keep it warm until you get back! The clamp on lid also allows for easy transportation while avoiding spilling. The only issue I have run into is quite minor: when I wash it in the dishwasher sometimes there is a residue left behind that I need to manually clean; however this may simply be due to my dishwasher. Overall, this crockpot has worked hard for a long period of time and has worked excellently without any major issues. I would definitely recommend it!

Admittedly this crock pot is for the wife, as I can barely boil water. It has been nearly a year, and she still uses the appliance frequently. She now brings one of these meals to nearly every pot luck or family gathering.When choosing which slow-cooker to purchase, my primary criteria was the set-and-forget feature. It works as advertised, without risk of burning, overcooking, or coming home to a cold meal.The second decision-driving feature was the adjustable time & temperature settings. This device is just slightly more expensive than those simple crock pots with only Off / Warm / Hot settings. It's soooo worth the difference.My third criteria was price. Obviously this appliance fits the common man's budget. Although there are competing appliances costing several times as much, I can't think of any additional feature I would want.While I didn't set out to find a travel-ready cooker, I should have. The latching lid has made this crock pot a favorite option when bringing food to parties, with absolutely no risk of spilling during transit.I am moderately embarrassed to admit that I have no idea if my wife uses the thermometer while cooking, or if the dishwasher cleanup is a valuable feature. After trying to help for years, I'm not allowed in the kitchen when the real work happens. I only see the results from this slow-cooker, and I like 'em!

Have had this for a few months. We've used it several times. The inside is easy to clean, never burns anything, easy to program, reliable, tough, beautiful in any modern kitchen (mine isn't, though).Very reliable, large capacity, love it. Also it was recommended online by several websites as being the best in this price range. Now that I have it I totally believe it. It's well worth it!If you're like me (so... lazy, but you love well-cooked meats that are nice and soft), but you're also a penny-pincher who doesn't want to pay a lot for expensive meats (but still wants soft, tasty meat), than this bad boy is right up your alley. Set it once, and as they say in Jersey: "Forget about it." Let it do the work for you, while you watch TV, YouTube, Netflix, enjoy a BluRay, or just lay on the couch doing nothing. Just wait for the timer to go off, and enjoy the savory fruits of *its* labor.

The handles on the unit are very comfortable for picking up and carrying this unit. After comparing it to my Crock Pot, I'm not so worried about the probe hole affecting the temperature. The Crock Pot has just as much venting through its four dimples in the top of the bowl. And the lid of a Crock Pot doesn't have the tight rubber seal. This is a very good slow cooker if you need to carry it to a pitch in, although it does seem to take up more space than a similar capacity Crock Pot.I'll update this after I've tested it out a bit. For a traveling slow cooker though, it'd be nice if it had a retractable cord or at least one that wound up on the outside of the unit. The cord is also pretty short (almost exactly 2 feet long). For a traveling slow cooker I'm not sure if that is more of a downfall (for plugging in) or upside (for ease of carrying).I also wonder if the push buttons may wear out after lots of use. The push buttons are buttons behind a plastic membrane somewhat similar to the push buttons that you somewhat see on gas pumps where the buttons after they've seen a lot of pressing crack and break. The Crock Pot I have has a touch screen, which I think will potentially last a lot longer. The Hamilton Beach though was half the cost of the Crock Pot and it has a temperature probe which the Crock Pot didn't. I also wonder how easy the gasket will be to clean, if it will tend to smell over time, and will it crack from dry rot over time? For half the price though, the snap on lid, the very well designed handles, the temp probe etc, it seems like it was worth the money so far. Cooking with it will be the real test.

Waited a bit to post until I used the slow cooker for several dishes. I have nothing but good things to say. It performs as advertised and the perks of the locking lid, program features, and the thermometer set it apart from units I've had in the past- I love all of these features. Like all Slow Cookers I've had it does get hot on the outside- I have come to find this normal- at least in this affordable price range. But it is sturdy and I have no problem leaving it on when I leave the house- I simply use common sense to ensure it's not touching anything. It took a bit of getting used to as my previous cooker was not as precise as this one- so I had to readjust my cook times a bit. Now that I've got the hang of it - it is my go to for beef and pork roasts, corned beef with veggies- all those Slow Cooker favorites. And no, the hole in the top for the thermometer does not result in lost heat- it really doesn't make a difference- I didn't believe that until I used it for myself.