I've gotta hand it to the people at Crock-Pot for taking something so retro and turning it into a modern stunner. (Target)(Target)
While chocolates and long-stemmed roses remain among the most popular Valentine's Day gifts, I can't think of anything sexier than a new Crock-Pot. Wait, where are you going? Hear me out! I'm not talking about any old Crock-Pot — I'm talking about the stunning burgundy Crock-Pot 6-Quart Slow Cooker I caught sight of this morning. As a former pro baker who obsesses over all things kitchen, I started envisioning how gorgeous the color (dubbed "Lambrusco Red") would look on my counter. I'm writing this in hopes that my husband will get the hint: After all, it's on sale for just $40 at Target and will arrive before Feb. 14. Plus, it's really for both of us since I'd let him use it. Well, maybe.
I'm already imagining all of the meals I'm gonna make in this thing...
If deep maroon isn't your thing, perhaps this neural Mushroom tone is more up your alley. This beauty has a roomy 7-quart capacity and even comes with the brand's Little Dipper food warmer for serving dips and sauces.
This is the lowest price I'm seeing anywhere for this color — yes, even Walmart and Amazon have priced it higher. It's likely on sale because it's a holiday color, but I think this reddish-purple hue is very romantic for Valentine's Day. Plus, the fact that it's not bright pink makes it suitable for year-round use.
Related: Surprise your Valentine with Drew Barrymore's heart-shaped Dutch oven, only $40
While I could go on and on about how beautiful I think this kitchen essential is, I do realize that appliances should, first and foremost, perform well. Seeing as Crock-Pot is a trusted brand that's been making slow cookers for many decades, I have no reason to believe this stunner would give a home cook any trouble.
What makes slow cookers so ingenious is that they let you prepare meals that take a long time without having to babysit them. They don't say "set it and forget it" for nothing! You could toss ingredients in before you leave for work and have a delicious dinner ready to go by the time you get home. This Crock-Pot also has a Cook & Carry locking lid, which tightly seals everything when you're taking it on the go. (Invite me to your dinner parties and I'll bring over some queso!) Speaking of dinner parties, it can also hold enough food to feed at least seven people. And if you want to give your mac and cheese a little crispy finish, the stoneware bowl can go in ovens up to 400°F.
Now, I'm the sort of person who wants my appliances to be as user-friendly as possible — and with just two buttons, this model is just that. There's a button that allows you to set the cooker to "Low" for 8 or 10 hours, or "High" for 4 or 6 hours. It also has a "Warm" function if you just want your food to stay hot. The other button? "Off." Yeah, I think I can handle that.
This aesthetically pleasing pot is, well, no crock — it scores high marks in both the looks and performance departments.
"[I] made an eight-hour recipe today and it performed perfectly!" exclaimed one satisfied shopper. "Beyond performance, I like the more modern appearance, the digital controls and the rubber bumper around the lid. Would definitely recommend if you're in the market for a new slow cooker."
"Great Crock-Pot!" raved another. "Works as it should. [It] traveled to Christmas [and] got lots of compliments on its color! [It] also kept smokies very warm on the car ride."
"So far, this Crock-Pot works well," shared a third. "I love that the lid locks and the timer works well. The color is nice. It is easy to clean."
"Quickly heats up," wrote a buyer, adding, "The warm option seems to be too high. I had to continue stirring my queso so it wouldn't burn, even on [the] warm setting."
"I think it might run a bit hotter than any Crock-Pot I have used before," echoed a final reviewer. "I wish the time wasn't preset, but maybe a dial option or something like that in one-hour increments."
Psst: Did you know that Crock-Pot has a Designer Series?
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.