Crock-Pot 4-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker Review

Quality - 99%

Features - 95%

Price - 99%

Personal Experience - 100%

Value - 100%

99%

#1 Pick!

It wasn't hard to decide on the best slow cooker out of several I tried in the low price, small crock category. The 4-Quart oval manual met or exceeded my expectations in all aspects of the review. If you're looking for a small crock pot on a budget, you can't go wrong with this make & model!

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User Rating: 3.64 ( 4 votes)

Introduction

This was absolutely my all time favorite slow cooker in the 4-quart inexpensive category. When dealing with budget appliances of any kind, quality and design are two main things I look at, since we probably aren't going to expect a lot of extra features.

Crock Pot is a trusted brand of appliances, and the Crock-Pot 4-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker did not disappoint. While reviewing this cooker, the quality of the device as well as the meal cooked met my expectations. Plus, with almost 1000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5 star rating, I think it's safe to say that many others agree with me.

Take a few minutes to browse this review to see why I really enjoyed this slow cooker and recommend it as my #1 pick for this size and price category. Below you'll also see links to reviews of similar cookers, as well as some others in larger sizes or more premium price points.

Standard Features

For twenty bucks, you can pretty much expect the basic features of any slow cooker: low/high/warm/off. There is no digital display or timer, and no automatic warming feature. These types of extras tend to come in the middle price point, but not always. If a timer and more automated settings are what you're looking for, then the premium category is where you should be looking. Those are some fancy appliances, but totally worth the cost.

The Crock-Pot 4-Quart oval manual slow cooker comes with a dishwasher safe crock and lid. I also like that they do not include a rubber seal on the lid like you see with the Cook And Carry models from Crock Pot. Those tend to be larger though, usually six quarts or more. I don't like the rubber seals because they need to be replace eventually, and may retain smells over time.

Because this is a smaller model, it's very easy to carry around by the heat resistant handles and makes enough food for 2-4 people.

Extra Features

The most unique feature of this slow cooker is that it comes in a fancy red design if you like! I purchased the red option just to mix things up though. It doesn't cook any better or worse than the stainless steel or black versions. So many cookers that I review are boring colors though, so I try to spice things up like when I reviewed the Black & Decker polka dot cooker!

Cooking Experience

The recipe I tested for the 4-quart manual Crock Pot was a cinnamon raisin slow cooker rice pudding recipe. Of course it turned out delicious. I did run into some trouble though, in that I was working outside while cooking the pudding and left the cooker on for a few hours too long. Oops! It dried out the pudding but I was able to somewhat recover the dish and it was still very tasty in the end.

A smaller slow cooker like this is perfect for desserts because people generally don't eat large portions like they do with dinner. Even just a cup or two or rice for the pudding was plenty for a group of people! For one person, you'd actually have leftovers.

Comparing The 4-Quart Oval Manual Crock-Pot To Other Slow Cookers

What makes this slow cooker better than others similar to it? In a nutshell, it's the overall presentation of the appliance. It's a trustable brand, and it's got a very simple design. I like the oval shape compared to the round shape for thorough cooking, and I also like that the lid does not have a rubber seal.

Both the crock and lid are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup, and the basic functions of low/hot work as expected.

It's not a fancy cooker by any means, but it absolutely met my expectations. You also get a choice of colors (black/red/silver), so you can pick the one that will match your kitchen best. Although I chose red for this review, I think I prefer the black color for my kitchen.

Crock-Pot Oval Manual
Brand: Crock-Pot
Material: Stoneware
Capacity: 4 Quart
Colors: Black/Red/Silver
Price:
Tested
Reviewed
Recommended
Rank: #1

Proctor Silex
Brand: Proctor Silex
Material: Stoneware
Capacity: 4 Quart
Colors: Black
Price:
Tested
Reviewed
Recommended
Rank: #2

Hamilton Beach Stay Or Go
Brand: Hamilton Beach
Material: Stoneware
Capacity: 4 Quart
Colors: Silver
Price:
Tested
Reviewed
Recommended
Rank: #3

Who Is The 4-Quart Oval Manual Crock-Pot Best For?

This is the perfect model of slow cooker for a single person or couple that it just getting into slow cooking. You don't have to invest a hundred dollars to get reliable appliance for your kitchen! Surprisingly, a lot of people don't know about slow cooking but are starting to discover it more.

A person in college, or a couple that bought their first home would be great examples of who would get the most out of this cooker. The inexpensive price and smaller size are the main appeals! Just keep in mind that if you want to leave the house for a full day of work or leave meals overnight, you probably want to get a more premium model.

==> Get This Slow Cooker!

Conclusion

This is my #1 choice for low price small slow cookers. After reviewing about 10 cookers in this category, the choice was obvious. Simple settings, great cooking, sleek design, color choice, and extremely low price were the deciding factors. Almost a thousand people on Amazon agree!