Simple set up. Simple to use. Simple to clean. Tons of space (especially for those who like to generate leftovers). I also like how the outside does not get as hot as some crockpots. It makes it simpler to transport.

Extra props for the cord storage system.

I was lucky because the store I bought it from took it back even though it was more than thirty days. I had never used a crock pot before so I thought it was my error. By the second time, I realized something was incorrect and called Cuisinart. They said nobody had ever complained that the food was not fully cooked.

So I will consider buying another crockpot but certainly not the Cuisinart.

There were only a handful of features that helped guide our choice. First was the extra quart-and-a-half capacity. The programmable heating settings also seemed like they could be useful. This slow cooker also comes with a cooking rack for when you’re doing a roast. Ultimately what convinced us to go with this model was the fact that it’s huge enough TO do a roast — you have room enough to do a whole chicken.

When we got home we immediately checked amazon to see how terribly we’d been ripped off. Oddly enough — it was the same price. But — the reviews shocked us. How can a slow cooker get such horrible reviews when all it has to do is get hot and stay hot? We freaked out a bit and nearly ran back to return it.

Like most people who bother to read reviews on amazon — you’re probably aware that typically some of the terrible reviews are people just mouthing off, or rating the product based some other terrible experience they’ve had, or they haven’t read the user manual for their device and are in the process of breaking it themselves. There might be a terrible review or two like this here, for the Cuisinart. But otherwise — people are saying some frightening things — namely, that the Cuisinart doesn’t cook the food.

As for this slow cooker being terribly engineered or made cheaply — I’m not sure where that comes from. Look at it this way; this cooker holds a huge, thick, 6.5 quart ceramic bowl. The bowl itself can not be confused for cheap. The brushed stainless steel unit that it fits into likewise has to be huge. So, you have this huge steel unit and it’s only function is to get hot. Do heating coils take up a lot of room? No, they don’t. Are they heavy? No, they’re not. If if the opinion of cheap is coming from the fact that the base is huge and feels hollow — then in my opinion they are not being very honest.

The only complaint I can make is that the programmable buttons are keypad type buttons. I would have preferred actual push-in surface buttons, but when you reckon about it — the keypad style is much simpler to clean up AND prevents moisture from any spilled liquids from getting inside.

Regarding the “permanent” fingerprints — I’m not sure how that phenomenon can really take place. I just wiped the unit down and it looks completely new again. Just because it’s brushed stainless steel doesn’t mean it won’t get fingerprints.

Anyway, we chose to keep the cooker and we’re glad we did. I threw together some chicken soup last night and we each had a tasty bowl of it this morning. Everything was cooked perfectly — the carrots were soft and flavorful and the chicken melted away from the bone. I have no complaints or regrets. I would have given it five stars if it were just a tad prettier..