I purchased two Kenmore 5 qt (4.7L) Slow Cookers from Kmart about seven or eight years ago. Life at my house is usually quite relaxed, but during the holidays, my large Cuban Catholic family visits, so I bought these smaller slow cookers as buffet warmers. The first time I used them, I was impressed by how evenly they cooked food and maintained a steady warm temperature throughout the day. I liked them so much that I started using them more frequently, even between holidays. These cookers are excellent for preparing dried beans and other dishes.
However, one of my 5-quart Kenmore slow cookers has proven to be practically useless. Since its first use, it has been the slowest and least hot of any slow cooker I have owned. I have been using slow cookers since the 1980s, and unfortunately, this particular model is the worst. Despite its perfect size and space-saving design, it’s ineffective for cooking.
