This is the first slow cooker I have owned, and I'm very happy with it. I avoided getting one in the past, because I wasn't sure how much I'd use it, but having it now, I am confident I will use it often because it is so easy to use. Temperature settings and cook time settings are both easy to set (with a nice blue light on the digital screen), and the pot cooks the food very evenly. The first thing I used it for was an eight serving mac and cheese recipe, and there was still a lot of room in the pot to make a larger recipe if needed. The lid on the pot secures tightly, but easily, and it washes out with minimal effort. Great investment!