I've been very unhappy with a new Rival crockpot--as you will see if you read up on the newer pots, they cook at much higher temperatures, which I've tested and found true. The new crockpot reaches boiling point in about 2 hours or so on high and maybe an hour or so later on low, and keeps the food at a full boil for the remainder of the time. I mean, you can just see it roiling! All of my usual recipes were ruined. That's completely against what I need for starting something before work and serving usually 10 hrs later. It does have the downshift to "warm," but again, that is only after pretty long fixed times on high or low. So it might work if you abandon the low setting and use High which allows a shorter time before shifting to Warm. I also considered an elaborate scheme of delayed start, maybe an hour or so, with one of those timers hooked into the plug, but it was too hard to calculate the potential issues with bacterial growth and kill temps. You can tell there's a change in the cooking temps, because all the recipes with the new pots say something like, cook 3-4 hrs on high or 4-6 hrs on low, or some such. You won't find any going 8-10 hrs. How does that fit into the typical dinner-after-work, I ask you. When I got the new pot, I put my old one in the church rummage sale--big mistake! I've since bought another old model at a flea market; however, so far it seems to cook a little "cooler" than my own old pot ( I know, I sound like the Three Bears) , and when I tested with thermometer, I'm not sure it gets hot enough on low for food safety. But I think it will work on high and stay below the boiling point. I've tried to read a lot of reviews of various brands and see if there is one that cooks differently to make another purchase, but there is almost no info readily available about the time to temp, or whatever. This might be available from a manufacturer's website or customer service rep. Still hoping someday my old Crockpot and I will be reunited....

Pfmastin, below is the link to Amazon's page for Nesco's. Which one did you buy? I have a question. My old crockpot has the "circular" elements in it and it never browned chicken. How does the roaster brown meat when the condensation drips down on it from the lid? Although most of the reviews are good, many say it's too hot on the outside & you can burn yourself. How does that help keep the kitchen cooler? I'd love to bake a chicken in there and have it crisp up! And is the 6 qt. big enough for a large chicken?

As many know, I've had electric roasters for years, actually decades. I had my mother's Kenmore roaster after she died and my sister borrowed it from me and it was never returned once she experienced the versatility of it. Not a big problem though since that was probably a 20 qt unit, used for BIG turkeys, hams, multiple roasts, etc. I bought a 6 qt Nesco and a 4 qt Nesco. I will take issue with anyone who suggests that it's any sort of a one-trick pony. Far from it. People compare them to slow cookers and that's an insult to the roaster. They are a roaster oven. They will slow cook, they will bake, and I know people who have used them to make pancakes for cryin' out loud, but I do not suggest it's the best unit for that. I personally have baked bread in mine many times. Why heat the big oven for one loaf? More heat loss and more expensive to operate the big oven. For slow cooking chili, soup, stew or what have you it's FAR superior to a slow cooker. It's peoples' own choice but there's no way I'd keep a slow cooker and get rid of my Nesco. The Nesco, and I use that term for all roaster ovens, the roaster oven will do everything a slow cooker will and much more and with less hassle. You get precise temperature control, not just high and low. Cleaning is far easier than a slow cooker. As I've said before I got rid of the slow cookers soon after getting the roaster oven. There's no comparison and no use here for a slow cooker dedicated unit. It was great to take to the cabin to supplement the "Coleman" stove and having an oven really expanded the menu. I've used it for hot cider, keeping hot dogs, brats and burgers warm at picnics and outdoor functions. One of these days I'm going to try using it for no-knead bread. For me, the electric roaster replaces the need for a Dutch Oven. For others it's the other way around. A large unit is often used only at holidays. Admittedly that's when my mother's unit was used. But at the same time there was no substitute for it either. The extra oven was required to feed the family and guests. I agree with the basic idea of the 350 "rule" as an assist to declutter and prioritize and Snidley admitted that there's exceptions to it which there has to be. But, even if I only used my roaster once a year, I'd keep it rather than having a blender or food processor. Turkey from a blender isn't the same as from the roaster! :) And clearly rules are made to be broken or a lot of people would be tearing out the second oven they have built into their houses! FWIW I used to use an electric fry pan more often than the stove. Handy, quick to heat up, easy to clean. Coupled with the Nesco I made a very mean pot roast, batch of chili and other things. I use the roaster to steam things. Sweet corn and other vegetables are great. I didn't realize how well it made baked potatoes until I used it in there when I wanted to just make a couple without firing up the big oven. For the 6 qt size, I can't tell you if it would work well for a whole chicken. i don't do whole chickens. I do use it for a large turkey breast and often there's not a lot of room between the meat and the cookwell, but it still cooks just fine. I do use it for maybe a dozen or so chicken drumsticks. I make up a bunch and have for OAWC, snacks, salads and the like. You might try cutting up the chicken and roasting it. That might work well. That said, it should also be stated that it's a TOOL. It's not going to do everything for you. It's there to help you, not unlike a Dutch Oven, a fry pan, a knife or a can opener. You have to make it work for you. Every pet I've had enjoyed the roaster too and they'd generally lie very close to it when the aromas wafted through the house.

Wow, that's a BIG wish list! You'll have to compare brands/models and find the one that has all the features you are looking for. This might be on place to start: 5 Best Slow Cookers - Updated July 2016 http://bestreviews.com/best-slow-cookers And one from QVC: http://www.qvc.com/Technique-6-qt-Oval-Multi-Function-Slow-Cooker-w-Removable-Pot.product.K14170.html I have gone from ZERO slow-cookers to three (for one reason or another) in the last few years, and none of mine are what you are looking for. I'm happy with a removable dish/pot and one has a strap to hold the lid on when transporting it, and I was delighted with those features compared to the first one I had back in the '70's. -Grainlady