I work almost everyday (including Sundays) so this pot has been my life saver (or the dinner saver).My older one was 5qt. cool touch Rival.This All-Clad cooker cooks so much faster than my older one (the inside temperature of All-clad gets 230F in high setting).Ribs and 5 pound chicken done in 4 hours in high.If you want crispy chicken skin, let it cook for 6 hours.I highly recommend this product.
By the way I put small roasting rack when I roast chicken or ribs so that they don't stew in the dripping.Save the dripping broth.Put it in the fridge overnight, and get rid of the fat.And use it in your soup or stew, of course, this cooker can do that job just fine as well.
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Updated Review: 4/17/2008
I've been using this slow cooker at least twice a week.Time to time I would hear "pop" sound either in the middle or toward the end of the cooking time. I couldn't figure out what was making this sound.One day my husband found cracks on the ceramic insert.They were fine cracks, but the cracks were in inside and outside.I contacted All-Clad.The service rep. told me to send a picture of the cracks.So I did.For several weeks I didn't hear anything from them. So I contacted them again.Apparently they didn't get my email with the pictures.So I sent them again.The next day I got a phone call from All-Clad that they would send me a new insert.It arrived a couple of days ago.I made a most wonderful chicken soup with leftover rottisserie chicken yesterday.I'm starting my love affair with this slow cooker again.
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Update Review: 11/9/2009
I wish I could say that my slow cooker insert is still going strong.Unfortunately it isn't. I really tried to use them (I have gone through 3 inserts) as much as I could - until I could see the leak.I thought of getting a metal insert. However, it costs $200 NOT including shipping and handling.So I got the most modest Rival Slow Cooker: a 7-qt. with a turn dial.I've had it for 7 months.So far no cracks.It boils water quicker than All-Clad even in the low setting, but still no cracks.I had talked to an All-Clad rep about a possible defect in the ceramic insert, but she didn't seem to believe that theory. I wish I could change the rating to 2-star.It could have been 1-star, but I liked All-Clad's customer services.
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Additional Comment: FYI the 2nd insert cracked within 2 hours in the high setting and the 3rd insert cracked in the low setting.After that I began to think maybe the inserts were defective.I did not abuse them.I only used as directed: high or low and went through the dishwasher.I'm using my humble and simple Rival cooker in the same way, and so far no cracks.I thought ofgetting the metal insert for the All-Clad Slow Cooker, but it was too expensive: $200 for the insert, over $50 for the metal lid (required for the metal insert) and $70 shipping and handling.Besides the reviews were not good for their non-stick metal insert.I'm very happy with my humble Rival 7 qt. Slow Cooker.
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All-Clad 99009 Stainless-Steel 6-1/2-Quart Slow CookerProduct Description: Even with a busy schedule, you can still enjoy healthy, home-cooked meals thanks to this easy-to-use oval-shaped slow cooker. Simply add ingredients to the unit's black ceramic pot, insert the pot into the cooker, and set the 26-hour programmable timer. After a long day at work or a busy day of weekend errands, dinner will be ready and waiting. Perfect for soups, casseroles, pot roasts, curries, and more, its large 6-1/2-quart capacity works great for single-person meals with leftovers or for dinner with the family. Thoughtfully designed, the slow cooker also provides attractive stainless-steel housing; an integrated control panel with an LCD display; three temperature settings--high, low, and keep warm; a glass lid for keeping an eye on the cooking process; and riveted stainless-steel handles for safe transport. The ceramic insert and glass lid clean up easily by hand with hot soapy water or safely in the dishwasher. A recipe booklet comes included for getting started. The slow cooker measures 19-7/8 by 14 by 11-3/8 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Buy cheap All-Clad 99009 Stainless-Steel 6-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker now
This rice ball works OK but a few times the hinge came un-hooked when the chain is pulled up, spilling contents back into the pot (Argh!). My husband re-bent it and it has been fine since but something I definately watch out for. It does make nice fluffy rice but must be cleaned immediately after using or starch will stick to all the holes! I also used it once for brewing tea for a big party and it worked well but I had to strain the finer tea leaves out of the final product before serving with a fine mesh strainer as the holes in this contraption are a little large. Of note, this same product was $15 at an Amish store in Michigan so this was a much better price.
