The Crock-Pot 3.5-Quart Casserole Crock is especially versatile for making casseroles and so much more.
Prep your meal in the Crock-Pot 3.5-Quart Ceramic Casserole Crock the night before – French toast casserole, chicken and biscuits, sausage and egg casserole, barbecue chicken and veggies, just about anything else you fancy — store the crock in the fridge overnight, slip it into the Crock-Pot base when it's time to get cooking, go about your business for the next several hours, and then come home to a delicious, hot meal. Of course, you don't have to prepare your dish the night before, but it sure is convenient to have that option.
The 3.5-Quart Casserole Crock is, as the name suggests, shaped like a casserole dish instead of the traditional upright slow cooker design. That means it's ideal for casseroles and lasagnas, but don't limit yourself. You can cook chicken, meat, and veggies in this slow cooker as well, and in fact, larger pieces of meat or chicken tend to cook more evenly and quickly. The removable stoneware crock is also oven-safe, so you can warm or finish dishes in the oven if desired.
And of course, as casseroles are classic potluck fare, this model comes with a Cook & Carry locking lid system, so no worries about your meal spilling out en-route to the event. As a bonus, the attractive lattice design looks great on the buffet table, so no need to transfer your food into another serving dish. It's also available in solid charcoal, plum, and navy.
The 3.5-Quart Casserole Crock has more than 1,000 reviews and a 4.5 star average on Amazon. Buyers really like this slow cooker; many say they also own a traditionally shaped Crock-Pot but reach for this one when preparing a meal that isn't large enough to fill their other crock to the recommended half-to-three-quarters-full mark. They use it for all sorts of things beyond casseroles, too, including ribs, chicken and rice, mac and cheese, corned beef, pork chops, and cake.
On the downside, some customers said the handles didn't feel strong enough to carry the full crock. Others commented about the heat of the appliance's exterior while it's cooking, but this is an issue with every slow cooker, not just this one. Touch a Crock-Pot after it's been on a while, and you're likely to burn your finger.
This is a manual Crock-Pot, with a knob for setting it to "Off," "Warm," "Low," or "High."
Pros: Versatile size and shape, locking lid, attractive appearance, reasonable price
Cons: Handles might feel unstable when carrying the full crock