Great for chili soups etc...

This is a great value and enduring product. I've had my Rival crock pot for over 10 years and have used it literally HUNDREDS of times. This is another one of those very low cost but high value kitchen tools.

The low setting allows for slow (12 hour+) cooking overnight or all day. I love to put on a pot of chili before I go to bed or work and let the house soak up the aroma!

Just be careful with the countertop placement as the sides get very hot!More detail ...

NOT a SLOW cooker.

Even on the lowest setting it boiled it cooks at way too high a temperature. Food was overcooked it is a waste of money. I'll stick with my old one. You would think appliances could be IMPROVED upon over time. It looks good but doesn't do the job for which it is intended.More detail ...

The Best Slow Cooker

This is the best slow cooker I've ever used. Having three sizes of crocks let us cook just for the two of us or for the whole family when they're home. And they stack inside each other for storage so they take up little room. The crocks and heating unit wipe up easily. The simple manual controls are all we need. I make a large crock of chili or soup using a liner serve and then freeze the remaining portion in the liner. After a few weeks I take out the chili in the liner put it in the smaller crock and heat it through in the slow cooker. I saw a version of this slow cooker in Target for $59.99 but all the crocks were tan; this is much prettier. You can't go wrong with these and you'll be the envy at your next potluck.More detail ...

Best Crock Pot

I have this Crock Pot but my crock insert is white instead of black. I bought this slow cooker probably in the late 1990s. I own three slow cookers (the Rival 3-1/2-quart oval and the Rival 6-quart) and this is the best one and the one I use the most. It is 2-1/2 quarts and is perfect for two people. It cooks the best out of all three of my slow cookers as it does not overcook the food as the other two will. I find that the cooking times listed in most slow cooker cookbooks are very accurate for this Crock Pot but for my other two larger models I must reduce the cooking time. I have never had overcooked food in this slow cooker. Everything has always cooked to perfection. Most recipes in slow cooker cookbooks are written for 6 to 8 servings. If I cut the recipes in half they will fit perfectly in this Crock Pot and fill it 3/4 full. That is just enough food for my husband and me and will usually leave leftovers for one or two more meals for one person. This slow cooker also looks very nice as it is all white and matches my kitchen so it is always out on the counter. I use it many times a week and I am very happy with it. Since it cooks at such a low temperature whenever I cook meat I use the high setting for the first hour and then reduce it to low and cook for one hour less than the stated recipe (since one hour on high is equal to two hours on low). Everything turns out perfectly this way. The potatoes and carrots are perfectly tender and have not cooked down to mush as has happened in my larger more powerful Crock Pots.



I highly recommend this model if the size is big enough for you because it works the way slow cookers are supposed to work - cooking the food slowly and gently.More detail ...

I love my slow cooker!

This is my third West Bend Slow Cooker in 20 years. I got rid of my oldest one and now have two I use regularly. I ordered this one because it had a carrier tote; I take my slow cooker with me to covered-dish dinners and church socials. This is a nice extra feature but I would have bought a West Bend anyway; I like the adjustable heat-not just high medium and low. I use my slow cookers to thaw and reheat frozen foodscook turkey breasts and make soups.You can put ingredients in the cooker in the morning and come home to a hot dinner. This is a good product easy to clean and can be used on the stove top or even in the freezer. I highly recommend it.More detail ...

Great afternoon picnic table and benches project

I purchased 8 benches - 4 for our house and 4 as house warming gifts for friends who relocated to the country. These benches were a breeze to put together. After thinking it over I decided to incorporate 2x6s in place of 2x4s where I could to prevent warping. 2x6 lumber fits perfect into this construction. I've attached photos above - check 2x6 construction. the 2x4 braces below make for solid shake-free benches. I sanded and finished mine with three coats of Thompsons "Honey Gold" tint Watersealant. After this summer and winter in OK I'll report back on how well these held up. All construction so far has been 6 feet long.



You have to realize it's wood you're working with and prepare accordingly. Measure to get the most of each cut from the length wood you buy. I purchased #2 Douglas Fir - it's a bit stronger than framing lumber.





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