Allright, so a 7qt slow cooker isn't exactly little, but it made for a better title.
Anyways, my slow cooker died a few weeks back. I was washing the ceramic insert and noticed that there was a hairline crack running straight across the bottom. After doing some research online, it appears to be a common problem with the model I had purchased, and once you notice a crack it's basically a ticking time bomb. It might last you another couple of weeks, or tomorrow you could find it's shattered and your beef stew has leaked everywhere. In other words, it's really not worth risking it.
Fortunately, this is the time of year to get a deal on slow cookers. I'm steering clear of Crock-Pot this time, not only because it cracked, but because the lid tended to rattle and the last couple of times moisture was getting trapped between the insert and the actual metal pot, leaving a layer of funkiness I could never quite clean off. Eventually I found a cheerful looking red one from Hamilton Beach which had surprisingly good reviews and only cost $15. It's a 5 qt instead of 7, but I think that's really all I need - it's not like I'm cooking a Thanksgiving turkey in there. I've been debating whether to hold off on buying it until after Cyber Monday in case someone has an amazing sale on it, but I use it pretty often during the fall/winter, and $15 really isn't a bad price. So if I do end up just going ahead and ordering it tonight, I will post pictures of it later in the week.
I have a Hamilton Beach and I love the darn thing. Its easy to use and I have no fear leaving it alone. What I do suggest to help you in the cooking/cleaning process are the Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners (http://www.reynoldspkg.com/reynoldskitchens/en/slowcook.asp) They are really worth it because you just throw it out and don't have to fight with the stuck on hard stuff on the side of the bowl so it also helps minimize the possible damage from cleaning. LOVE YA!
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