Do I dare use this?

[Paper Roses]

I have never had a slow cooker(Crock Pot). Today at a yard sale I bought a Rival pot, model SCV400 Slow Cooker. It was nice and clean, the seller told me she hardly used it. I did not see the dent in the side under the handle. Looks like it might have been dropped on something with a hard edge or perhaps it was hit with something to cause this indentation. I wish she pointed it out to me but it is my fault. I picked it up by the handle, never looked at the exterior.

I saw the dent when I got home but I washed it up anyway. Put about 2 qts water in and turned it on. It got nice and hot.
Do I dare use this thing with the dent? It seems to be exterior only. The interior does not show any damage.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. I think my parents' is dented too. still works fine.

If you're worried, you might set it on a stove top when you use it? Or only use it on days when you're around to keep an eye on it, just in case?

[Major Nikon]

2. I've had crock pots that were dented up and no worse for wear

The metal outer casing is just kind of a shell that protects the innards. As long as it turns on and heats up, there should be no issues.

[lamp_shade]

3. My Rival is about 30 years old - lots of dents - works just fine.

I only use it maybe once a year, but she never fails me.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Stick in in a safe place and cook a few potatoes with water overnight

That will tell you.

Safe place: back porch, deck, etc.
or tub, if you can reach an extension cord that far.

[DawgHouse]

5. Is that one where the stoneware lifts out?

As long as the stoneware looks fine, I'd use it for sure!

Crockpots are so useful. You'll enjoy it quite a bit, I'll bet.

[Warpy]

6. If the ceramic insert is fine, so is the pot, most likely

because the heating element in most of them is in the bottom.

Plug it in, turn it on. If there aren't any fireworks, you got a bargain. My best guess says there will be no fireworks, or I'd never suggest this.

ETA: Mine is a thrift shop cooker, original late 60s avocado green. It works fine. They're hard to kill.

[SheilaT]

7. If the insert isn't damaged, then you're fine to go.

At the risk of being rude, I'm astonished you've never used a crockpot before this. I hope you love it. A crockpot is one of god's best creations. If you're a working person, you'll adore it. Put the ingredients in before you leave home, come back to dinner. It doesn't get much better than this. And if you don't work outside the home, it still works. Go online, or buy a couple of crockpot cookbooks and your life will improve enormously!

Enjoy.