Due to moving overseas a couple of times, I have bought a number of slow cookers over the years. I usually pick the simplest design with just slow cooking functionality in a ceramic pot with high, low and warm functions. This one fitted the bill. This slow cooker is hands down the worst I have ever used! It never seems to reach a high temperature and boil. Even when I put already boiling liquids into it. I usually cook stocks and broths over-night. Even after 5 or more hours it is still not boiling on the high setting. This is not fit for purpose and is probably dangerous!!!! Buy another brand.

After the second use the unit became very hot on the outside, dangerously so and cracked our benchtop. We returned it to Sunbeam who told us it was fine!! Now we are faced with a huge repair bill and Sunbeam haven't even returned the cooker to us. Absolutely terrible customer service, on hold for extended lengths of time and never return calls. Useless!

I have had this slow cooker for a few years now and have used regularly. It has been great. It is easy to clean the inside pot and makes great stews. soups and casseroles. The inside croc pot has just developed a crack which leaks (Maybe hubby put it in Dishwasher?). So going to buy another one just like it today. Would recommend.

Very happy with my 5520, although don't use it very often. The control switch is broken, so I'm actually going to buy a replacement unit tomorrow. Re heating, before using, I put in about 2 cups of water from the "Hydro Tap" (almost boiling) while it is heating up. Tip this out then add food. Good result!

I understand the appeal of the slow cooker, but I still can't get into them. I'm not a huge fan of slow cooked meat anyway, but I cook lambshanks for the men in this and they love it. I use extra liquid (stock/wine) as I find it has a tendancy to dry out and burn around the top edges.

We have had this slow cooker for a couple of years and it has now developed two cracks down either end of the bowl (near the handles). It now leaks during cooking and will need to go in the bin. Thought we had purchased one like they used to be, lasting more than 30 years!

I broke the lid of my last slow cooker and it was going to cost more to replace the lid than buy a new one. While we were happy with the previous brand, we decided to give the Sunbeam a try. The black ceramic pot was a big draw card. I am happy to say that I love the way it cooks very evenly, have never had any burning. I like the keep warm function which I did not have on my old model. My only wish is that there was a slightly bigger model. We are a family of 7 and I would love to be able to cook enough for 2 meals however my lot manage to not leave very much even with a full slow cooker.

I noticed a slanting crack going down the side of the insert beside the handle. After the next time I used it, I noticed a similar crack on the other end. The insert is very heavy and I think the weight of the bottom of the crock is pulling the base away from the top, especially around the handles. I have been using slow cookers for over thirty years. The cost of a new insert is more than a new slow cooker. This is going in the garbage.

I bought one, it works well and picked it up at good guys for $55.
I read some of the reviews here... one person's insert cracked and another's burned the food.
If you read the instructions it actually tells you it can crack if the insert is heated too quickly when cold or contains frozen goods. I found that if I have a lot of frozen stuff in it and it becomes cold, I just use the low function not the high one to prevent this. I never found it burned anything because I put the correct amount of liquid in it, and made sure if was filled to at least half way, as the instructions also says.
Basically it seems if you follow the instructions it does everything it says it's going to do with no fuss for a low price.
I'm happy.

I have a HP5520 Slow Cooker. When it was first turned on, the switch emitted a lot of white smoke which stunk like burning plastic. Returned it to the store and was told that the smoke was perfectly normal. Apparently preservative oil from the heating elements, burning off. No mention of this in the manual. The exteriar of the cooker gets extreamly hot as mentioned in other reviews. But the contents in the dish never gets over luke warm. Just as well I've got a microwave.
Looks Smart
Keeps meals warm but doesnt cook

I love my slow cooker, it cooks everything perfectly . A leg of lamb slowly roasted is my favourite - I will never cook lamb in the oven again as it just falls off the bone. This appliance makes life easy as you can come home to a beautifully cooked meal. This is one sunbeam product that hasn't failed me:)