The Hamilton Beach Stay or Go Crock Pot Plus @$35 is what I'd recommend. The lid locks in place so it can be transported - makes it nice for get-together's when everyone is fighting over the oven or stove top. If you look for the deluxe set it comes with a zippered outer insulated bag which I find invaluable, but the bag is also available separately for @$10. It does not take up quite as much space as the Nesco and parts can be put in the dishwasher.

The Nesco Roaster is really nice but perhaps the bride (or groom) is not as proficient in the kitchen to understand how to utilize it as they would the crock pot. Even though it does work as a crock pot, it might not ever be used for anything else and is same price, takes up more counter space, but is not transportable.

(I have both.)

Nancy

Here is a link that might be useful: Stay or Go Crockpot Plus, and Travel Bag

Boy that's a good question. I usually just get them what they've registered for since, after all, they picked it out and that's what they wanted. But, if the bride is someone you know pretty well, you could give her the roaster and then tell her the reasons why you bought it and maybe even offer to give her a lesson in how to use it. That would make the gift even more valued and memorable.

If your relationship with the bride is not such that you could do that, then I might stick with her registry only because she might not really appreciate the roaster otherwise.

I'd pick up the phone and ask, which could lead into a discussion of how to use it and/or a direction to this forum, grin.

And throw in some Charlie's Soap, grin again.

Oh get real, how much excess proficiency does it take to set a dial to a temperature rather than click "hi" or "lo"??? Are you serious? And I'm sure they know how to turn down the heat if it's boiling stuff too much or turn it up if it needs more heat. Geez, are they *really* that stupid? I hope not or they probably shouldn't be working with hot appliances! And taking up so much more room? What are the measurements of the Hamilton Beach, anyway? The pictures I saw of it doesn't look much different in size to suggest it's going to take up substantially less counter/storage space. Please provide some stats to compare, will you? Or better yet, since you have them both, how about posting some pictures of the side by side, and various views to compare. I really find it hard to believe the Nesco is so much bigger! Lastly, does the heating portion of the Hamilton Beach go in the dishwasher too, and why can't the Nesco parts be put in a dishwasher? Yes the nonstick cookwell shouldn't, that's true; the heatwell needn't be put in a dishwasher, but why can't the porcelain cookwell and the lid go in a dishwasher? I don't have a dishwasher but I'd sure put mine in there if I had one. Unless it's too big to fit in there, but I'd find that surprising.

Do they know the difference and do they even know that a roaster exists? I'm guessing they don't and listed a slow cooker simply because that's all they know. Another case of "that's how we've always done it" or something.

There's no way I'd give someone a one trick pony when there's a superior alternative unless they truly know what they're getting into and are adamant about it. And in that case, I might even consider a different gift altogether. I cannot in good conscience give a slow cooker to anyone and handicap them like that. In that case, I'd give them an alternate gift.

I've given Nescos to several people who used slow cookers. Not one has ever gone back.

The heat getting to you cynic? That response was a little harsh and over the top IMHO. I do enjoy and learn from your posts though. The whole idea with a slow cooker is to put your stuff in and not have to adjust the temp if your gone for the day. I'm sure the same can be done with the temp control on the nesco too. If you have to "watch it" and adjust temps it takes away from the general idea of any slow cooker/crockpot/roaster.

The new slow cookers run on the hot side from what I've learned here over the years. Mine is one of the old ones and works fine for me. No need to check on it as I know what to expect from it. I'd pass on the new ones that are available on the market today.

I'd look for something else to give or get the Nesco and include a little note on why you picked that over the slow cooker/crockpots that are available today.

David

If you do buy something not on the registry that nearly duplicates something on the registry, at least do the courtesy of including a gift receipt. If the couple ends up with the crock pot they want as well as an additional crock pot or similar cooker, one will probably get returned.

I love the Stay or Go crock pot, too, and I almost got it for a friend instead of the crock pot they registered for; however, a lot of thought goes into a registry, and I decided it would be rather rude of me to second guess their choice. If you do include a note explaining your choice as well as a gift receipt indicating that you understand if they prefer their original choice, I think you'll have the bases covered and they might appreciate the gesture.

I also have the Nesco 6 quart and love it, the dial actually has a setting that says "slow cook" on mine. I set the temperature and let it cook all day, just as I would a crockpot. I use it in place of the crockpot, I use it in place of the oven and I use it in place of the electric skillet sometimes. I can plug it in and roast a chicken without heating the whole house, or I can bake brownies in it, and I can plug it in outside on the back porch. I really like mine, and I put the lid in the dishwasher, but not the nonstick insert.

Mine actually takes up less space than the Corningware crockpot I have and is far more versatile.

That said, neither of my girls have one, because they both have crockpots and don't have the space for another large appliance that they would only use occasionally, they don't cook like I do. Yet.

So, if you know the bridge well enough, I'd call and ask. If not, I would buy the Nesco and add a nice note saying why you chose that in lieu of the slow cooker. And keep the receipt handy, just in case she really DOESN'T want it, she can always take it back and get the slow cooker, although I can't imagine that she would.

Annie

I'd buy what she registered, the slow cooker. This way, it will take the item off the list. Then, I'd include a gift receipt with an explanation of why I did just so and let her chose.

I agree totally with Nancy. I have that Hamilton Beach slow cooker and I love it. I have never used a roaster before and in fact googled it just to see exactly what the critter was. I'm sure your friend who receives it will know just what to do with all her gifts and will appreciate a beautiful new crock pot.

Kate

I think the roaster with a gift receipt is a great idea. Can you get it from the same place where they're registered, or, if not, from a place that sells the same model they registered for? Then you can include a nice little note saying, I love mine, but you can return it for the one you registered for if it isn't right for you.

Lakeguy, it's more of if you can't stand the heat don't make wild assertions and expect to not be called on it. Over the top? I don't think so. I submit that saying a Nesco requires more proficiency than a crockpot, is so much larger, can't go in a dishwasher, is not transportable, etc, is what's over the top. I prefer to talk facts, not sales pitches. I don't think I was the one who was harsh, quite the contrary. To express opinions and experiences is fine but to say these things just can't go unaddressed. Someone might believe it.

A "slow cooker" can be done in many ways. It doesn't require a one-trick pony. You can put a Dutch oven on the top of the stove and have a slow cooker, or put it in the oven, on the grill or a campfire. You can use an electric roaster. And as you pointed out, slow cookers have inherent temperature issues and that's the point of having an adjustable control is valuable. Actually, when you realize that all of the alternatives give you better temperature control, any could easily be classed as superior.

Thank you for your responses. I like the idea of going with the roaster, from a place they can easily return it and a note explaining why I got it instead of the slow cooker. I don't know if she even knows what a roaster is, I know I really didn't until I came to this site. I also talked it over with her future MIL, my best friend, and she thought the roaster was a good idea too. She wanted to know where they were when she had 4 kids at home and cooked large meals everyday. I told her they were around we just didn't know about them.

Pam, another "angle" that hasn't been discussed is something Ashley ran into when doing her wedding registry. Sometimes what she really wanted wasn't available at the places where she registered, so she didn't ask for them on the registry.

I know I got yet another crockpot for Christmas because I'd asked for the Nesco Roaster and my step-DIL went to Bed, Bath and Beyond, but they didn't have one, so she bought the crockpot saying "I thought they were about the same thing". She gave me the receipt, so that I could return it if I preferred, which I did.

Annie

Do you know if this couple has much cooking experience? A slow-cooker is usually suggested to newlyweds because they both probably work all day. So they've been told they want a crock pot just because it's the common term but do they know what a pain it is to clean a crock pot? Even the kind with the removable crock never last long for me because something always gets dripped, slopped or spilled down into the metal part and makes a burned stinky mess.

The only slow cooker I've ever had that was really practical and useful was similar to the one in this picture. The lid of mine was also able to be used as a separate serving dish. The "crock" had a non-stick interior, and the heating base was also non-stick and could be used to fry eggs or make pancakes. You could put the lid or base in the oven to bake in also. It was not so huge as most crock pots, and was used hundreds of times in many ways until the lid got dropped and broken. I still use the base and "crock" part.

Annie I agree that at times you can't register for what you really want, but I doubt the bride even knows about roasters. The good part, I can order a roaster online from one of the stores where she is registered. If she doesn't like it she can take it back to the store.

purpleinopp, I totally forget about that style slow cooker. Hubby came with a smaller one in that style and I like it much better than my 6 qt slow cooker with the stoneware crock. It also has an adjustable temperature knob instead of the HI, LOW and WARM settings.

Again I want to thank everyone for their opinions and advice.