The Rival SCVC604-SS is smarter than most slow cookers. This unit has a digital clock that lets you customize the cooking time, according to your needs.

The SCVC604-SS consists of an attractive brushed stainless-steel and black housing, with a removable 6-quart stoneware insert and clear glass lid. Two side handles on the base and a ring-style black handle on the lid allow safe access to the pot and its contents.

The Rival SCVC604-SS has a touchpad control panel, which lets you set the temperature (low, high or warm), cooking time (from 30 minutes to 20 hours) and shut the unit off at any time. Three indicator lights alert you to the selected temperature and the large digital display shows the time remaining in the cooking cycle. The Smart-Pot actually counts down so you can see at a glance how much time is remaining. When the specified time has elapsed, the unit switches automatically to a keep warm setting.

As you'd expect from a Rival slow cooker, the performance was flawless. Ingredients cooked evenly -- even when the pot was not filled to capacity -- and meats emerged tender and flavorful. The exterior surfaces on this unit do get quite warm so you should avoid handling or moving the pot during use.

The black stoneware crock is oval shaped to accommodate a variety of foods, from basic beef tips and chili to a whole chicken, pot roast or barbequed ribs. Recipes and appropriate cooking times are supplied in the instruction booklet, plus as a bonus this model also comes with a special Recipe Book with 75 additional recipes designed especially for slow cookers.

The SCVC604-SS slow cooker can complete a meal in about 3 to 6 hours on the high setting, or in 8 to 10 hours on low. For best results with most recipes, set the unit to cook all day on low so your meal is ready when you return home for dinner. The warm setting cannot be used for cooking but is handy for keeping a cooked meal warm and ready to serve. The warm setting should not be used for more than 4 hours.