Hello Margaret! Thank you for sharing your experience with the Crock‑Pot 4.5qt Slow Cooker in Silver. A slow cooker should absolutely be able to handle basics like rice and chicken, so I understand why this would be disappointing. A few quick troubleshooting steps that may help: 1. Check the fill level — slow cookers heat best when they’re between half and three‑quarters full. Too little or too much can affect cooking performance. 2. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking — each lift can drop the temperature significantly and extend cook time. 3. Verify the setting for rice or chicken, using High is usually necessary to reach a safe cooking temperature. 4. Run a water test — fill the pot halfway with water and set it to High for 2 hours. The water should be very hot and close to simmering. If it isn’t, the heating element may not be functioning correctly. If the cooker still isn’t reaching proper temperatures after these steps, we recommend contacting the retailer Target, as they can often provide the quickest replacement or return options. And if you face any issues or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out to us through our official website — we’re here to help. Have a nice day! Crock-Pot Consumer Care Team