topic Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice in Kitchen

Slow Cooker Brand advice

Bigbro — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 01:26:05 GMT

I have never cooked in a slow cooker. I would like advice on a brand to buy. Thanks !

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

DiAnne — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 01:35:05 GMT

I just took two to Goodwill that I never use - they just took up space in the cupboard!

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

azgal — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 01:36:36 GMT

My advice would be to just get a simple slow cooker. High, low and warm settings. I have a Rival.

I previously had an digital one that only lasted about a year and stopped working so I went back to simple.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

Tigriss — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 02:18:05 GMT

Ask yourself about size. If you are only cooking for 2 or so, a 4 to 5 quart will do, but you can't get a whole chicken in a 4 quart. Size does matter. If you are cooking for many, then there are 7 and 8 quart ones. An 8 quart one is new to WalMart for around 30 bucks with simple manual settings. My sister picked one up that has a locking lid, sincer her husband broke the lid on theirs Thanksgiving Day last year, so I brought my old one over for her to use. I've had mine since college. It came with a insulated bag to keep it warm while traveling, plus it keeps the lid secure without dropping it while storage. There are some that have a multi crock set where you have 3 different sizes of crocks, so that would be very versatile. Newer crocks run hotter than older ones, so foods get done quicker and can run out of liquid. Share your needs with us, and we can help.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

aubnwa01 — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 04:10:09 GMT

I found the last couple of Rival Crockpots I had got too hot & scorched things, even on the low setting. I now have a Hamilton Beach oval 6 qt. & I like it a lot.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

milkbone — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 07:22:18 GMT

I just bought two from the Salvation Army. 5 dollars each.

One had a recall !

When loaded the handles would come off !

I am happy with my 5 dollars I spent !

I cook beans, chicken, a roast.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

novamc1 — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 14:20:58 GMT

I have wound up giving away a series of larger-sized slow cookers over the years, as they did not cook as well as my enameled cast iron pots can do in the oven over several hours at low temps. I especially hated the ones I've used since the 1970s that had dark-colored or black inserts. Eventually, they all developed a white film of some sort or looked worn on the surface, to the point that I did not want to cook food in them.

However, I do miss the little 4-quart white Emerson slow cooker with white insert that I had to discard because it finally developed a crack under the porcelain (or whatever the top layer of ceramic was), so I didn't trust it anymore.

I've looked and looked, and can't find a deep but smaller-sized slow cooker with a white porcelain//ceramic insert, unless it is a low-profile casserole size.

By the way, if you want to see a large variety of slow cookers, go to the original Crock-Pot website and see all that they have for sale.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

momtochloe — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 14:25:29 GMT

@novamc1 wrote:
I have wound up giving away a series of larger-sized slow cookers over the years, as they did not cook as well as my enameled cast iron pots can do in the oven over several hours at low temps. I especially hated the ones I've used since the 1970s that had dark-colored or black inserts. Eventually, they all developed a white film of some sort or looked worn on the surface, to the point that I did not want to cook food in them.

However, I do miss the little 4-quart white Emerson slow cooker with white insert that I had to discard because it finally developed a crack under the porcelain (or whatever the top layer of ceramic was), so I didn't trust it anymore.

I've looked and looked, and can't find a deep but smaller-sized slow cooker with a white porcelain//ceramic insert, unless it is a low-profile casserole size.

By the way, if you want to see a large variety of slow cookers, go to the original Crock-Pot website and see all that they have for sale.

@novamc1 is this along the lines of what you are looking for?:

http://amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-33042-4-Quart-Slow-Cooker/dp/B005KKWT04/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1451312625&sr=8-3&keywords=4+quart+white+crock+pot

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

novamc1 — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 15:57:27 GMT

@momtochloe

Yep, that is EXACTLY what I've been looking for and couldn't find even a few weeks ago. Thanks for pointing it out.

I'll look at it again when I get back in town after a January trip. Thanks so much. I became almost certain no white ones were available anymore, and the 4-quart size is great for me..........good for cooking small pork roasts for pulled pork barbecue and for keeping mashed potatoes and other dishes warm for dinner guests.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

momtochloe — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 16:06:09 GMT

@novamc1 wrote:
@momtochloe

Yep, that is EXACTLY what I've been looking for and couldn't find even a few weeks ago. Thanks for pointing it out.

I'll look at it again when I get back in town after a January trip. Thanks so much. I became almost certain no white ones were available anymore, and the 4-quart size is great for me..........good for cooking small pork roasts for pulled pork barbecue and for keeping mashed potatoes and other dishes warm for dinner guests.

Oh that's great to hear @novamc1! The reason why I was pretty sure Amazon had them is because I bought a small, oval, white crock pot about a month ago from Amazon and I thought I remember a 4 quart coming back in the results.

No wonder they signed up over 3 million new Prime customers over the holidays, they have everything!

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

soonersis — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 16:10:35 GMT

I really like my Ninja Multi-Cooker. It does everything a slow cooker does and more. I plan to use it tomorrow to make a batch of chili and will be able to brown my ground beef and onion in it (using the saute setting) before throwing everything else in and setting it on low to cook all day.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

amateurcook — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 22:37:17 GMT

You are absolutely correct. The Rivals do run hot. The company changed their temp settings in the early 2000s.what's the point of a show cooker if you can't leave it on all day. Hamilton Beach is my recommendation.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

JeanLouiseFinch — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 00:36:14 GMT

Many years ago, I purchased a Hamilton Beach 3-in-1. The same heating base accomodated any of the three included crocks; 2 qt., 4 qt,. and 6 qt. I am able to choose the right size crock according to the dish I'm making. I haven't been a huge crock pot cooker, but was happy to have it for the times I did want to use it. Earlier this year I bought a Ninja 4-in-1. I've used that a lot, but not only for crock pot cooking. I make large quantities of hard boiled eggs in it all the time and it was perfect for reheating Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey that I prepared a day in advance. There are a couple of groups on Facebook that share multiple recipes. With preparation, I think anyone could use that small appliance every day, trying new recipes.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

bigbro6 — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 00:37:16 GMT

Thanks to everyone !

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

docsgirl — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 10:33:16 GMT

I agree with azgirl. The simpler the better. I have a 6 quart Crock Pot that has high, low, and warm settings. I use it quite a bit throughout the winter and it always does a great job. Good luck with whatever you choose. Bon Apetit! docsgirl

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

Toppers — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 12:09:23 GMT

@aubnwa01 wrote:
I found the last couple of Rival Crockpots I had got too hot & scorched things, even on the low setting. I now have a Hamilton Beach oval 6 qt. & I like it a lot.

This is the brand that I "have my eye on next."

I have a newer Rival that is a large 7 quart that can fit a larger roast and veggies in it, for example, but like someone else said, it runs too hot and cooks too fast, and if you aren't careful, things can get scorched on the bottom.

I don't want to be out for the day, for example, and then be worried that something is going to be burned around the edges/bottom while it's cooking, and have the taste be ruined, or just have it be a safety issue where it's just getting too hot and I/we're not home to check it.

So I have seriously been thinking of replacing it with another brand, like the Hamilton Beach.

I already have an older Rival that is over 20 years old. It is a 4 quart, and I tend to use it more than the other Rival. It is safe to use.

I plan on getting a larger Hamilton Beach so that I can fit larger meals into it.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

azgal — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 15:23:35 GMT

I made a mistake on the brand I am using it's not Rival it's Crockpot and I got it at Walmart.

The brand that didn't even last a year was Hamilton Beach but it was digital.

Good luck with your choice. I hope you like it.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

novamc1 — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 15:38:34 GMT

Until about a year ago, I used a 6-quart oval Hamilton Beach that I had owned for several years. Eventually, I got tired of its tendency to cook too fast and too hot, when I could make the same dishes in an enameled cast iron pot for extended times on low temperatures.

The Hamilton Beach probably didn't cost more than about $30 when I just happened to see and buy it at Home Depot. It was still working when I donated it to charity and was very simple---only had warm, low, high settings.

I wouldn't invest a whole lot in any slow cooker today, because they all probably cook a little too hot and fast, and the fancier an appliance is, the more problems it can develop.

Re: Slow Cooker Brand advice

Toppers — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 11:41:55 GMT

@novamc1 wrote:
Until about a year ago, I used a 6-quart oval Hamilton Beach that I had owned for several years. Eventually, I got tired of its tendency to cook too fast and too hot, when I could make the same dishes in an enameled cast iron pot for extended times on low temperatures.

The Hamilton Beach probably didn't cost more than about $30 when I just happened to see and buy it at Home Depot. It was still working when I donated it to charity and was very simple---only had warm, low, high settings.

I wouldn't invest a whole lot in any slow cooker today, because they all probably cook a little too hot and fast, and the fancier an appliance is, the more problems it can develop.

Thanks for letting us know that the Hamilton Beach was also running hot, too.

I may just have to look at thrift stores for an older cooker, then. Maybe I'll luck out and find one there.