I have been taking lunch in this since I got it a week ago and it works great for me. I plug it in my office about an hour before lunch time and I have hot food right at my table. Love the convenience and portability. The 4 stars is for the lid that comes loose easily. One day, it toppled in the car and the lid came open pouring the food out. Since then, I made sure it stays upright all the time. Simple fix. I hope crock-pot fixes this issue and I will buy the improved product in a heartbeat. The clean up is easy too. I let the inner-pot soak for an hour in warm soap water and it cleans like a non-stick. Thank you for this wonderful product!