Rival 38651-C 6-Quart Slow Cooker

I've been a big fan of Rival slow cookers since my mom bought one when I was a kid. I loved coming home from school and smelling her Coq au Vin, the dish I still cherish most. I needed a new slow cooker and opted for the sleek looking Rival model with the touch pad buttons rather than the bulky knob. I have to say I'm really disappointed in the quality.

I purchased my slow cooker and used it constantly. It's so much easier to have dinner cooking all day, especially when I work from home and have to balance work with hours when the kids are here and not in school. The Rival 38651-C was perfect for our family size and I loved the design/look.

Meals are simple. Simply put the ingredients in, put the lid on, push the pad/button for the temperature setting and the time setting, and walk away. For the most part, the crockpot has been perfect. The lid fit nicely keeping the steam in. My current model, not a Rival, lacks the tight seal so some steam escapes making it pointless to use. Rival definitely knows how to create a lid that fits perfectly. The outside of the slow cooker does get hot to the touch, so you have to keep it out of a child's reach. I also had an issue with the plastic knob melting/buckling a little. So there is definitely a safety issue at play.

In late December, the touchpad went on mine right after the warranty was up. (Murphy's Law!) I could get the red indicator to light up when pressing it, but it didn't stay lit. So I'd think dinner was cooking, go to check things during my noon break and find it had turned itself off again. After calling customer service, they suggested there is a short in the touch pad wires and that the only options are to pay for repairs - estimated to be around $100 for the part plus shipping ($50 more than I paid for the slow cooker on sale in the first place). Therefore, the only option was to buy a new one. For me, the sleek design hasn't equalled the price it cost me after a little more than a year's ownership.