If you plan to ever travel with the crock pot, be sure to get one with a locking lid!

I like the timer and keep warm feature on mine. I can set it on either high or low for say, 4 hours and after that, it switches over to keep warm. This keeps the food at a safe temperature without continuing to cook it.
Jane

I have the Hamilton Beach Set N' Go (recc'd by Ann T) and have been very pleased with it.

And if you have a Costco near you, they have a Hamilton Beach crock with a searing pot insert for only $30.

Here is a link that might be useful: Searing slow cooker

This probably won't help you, but when I was replacing my old early 70's era West Bend bean pot style, I drifted over to looking at the Nesco....

And ended up with the Fagor multi-purpose cooker. It browns, pressure cooks, slo cooks - and does all three beautifully, I couldn't be more pleased with the appliance. The browning unit works flawlessly, something I often use even when slow cooking. Approx $80 from Amazon.

Thanks for the recs. I already have a Nesco, so I don't need those features.

I have some things to return to Costco, so maybe I'll look for that one. I do like the "keep warm" idea and will check out the Hamilton Beach.

Do you prefer glass lids or metal? what size is most useful? Also, any preference for round or oval or doesn't it matter?

Oval is much better- it will hold a brisket, long chuck roasts, etc.

I just bought a cheap one at the local Meijer's for about $16.00, I think it's an actual "Crock Pot" brand. I've made black eyed peas in it for New Year's Day and I've used it a couple of other times, it seems to work fine. Since it's about a month old I can't tell you how long it will last, LOL, but my old one got a crack in the crock and so I had to replace it.

It does not have th elocking lid, which I think is a very good feature, but it does have glass lid with a kind of silicone gasket on the lid to make a tight seal, I like that a lot better than the plastic lid with no gasket on the old one.

Annie

Thanks -- so an oval one with a glass lid, that is programmable, and the lid locks, maybe one that browns, has a timer, and switches over to warm when done so I don't give everyone food poisoning.

Okay -- I have my shopping list. Thanks everyone.