I avoided slow cookers for years because my mom’s old one turned everything into mush. Chicken that fell apart into a gray slurry. Vegetables with no texture. I assumed every slow cooker was like that, so I cooked everything in a hurry on the stove instead. Then my friend made a pot roast that was actually good, and I asked what she was using. A new style of slow cooker, that was the answer.

What I got and why

I picked a 6 quart programmable slow cooker with a digital timer and a removable stoneware insert. The timer is the key feature. My mom’s old one had a low and high dial and nothing else. It cooked for however long you happened to be gone. The programmable one switches to warm automatically, so the food stops cooking when it hits the time you set. No more gray chicken, no more mush.

What I love

• Set it and forget it. I load it in the morning, and dinner is ready when I am done with work.
• Cheap cuts of meat become tender. The tough chuck roast that needs hours on the stove turns out perfect.
• One pot to clean. The insert comes out and goes in the dishwasher.
• Breakfast too. Oatmeal and egg casseroles cook overnight, which I never expected to use.

What I do not love

Everything tastes a little same-y if you do not season properly. Slow cooking blends flavors, which is good, but it also dulls spices, so you need more seasoning than you think. Also, browning the meat first makes a huge difference and I skip it when I am lazy. The lazy version is fine, the browned version is noticeably better.

Who should buy one

If you cook for a family, meal prep, or just want dinner waiting after work, a programmable slow cooker is worth it. If you like crispy food or fancy technique, it will sit in the cabinet. I use mine two or three times a week, which is more than I used my stove for stews before.

My mom borrowed mine for a week. She bought her own before she gave it back.