topic Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker in Kitchen

Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

classic — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 03:35:42 GMT

I'm thinking of purchasing a slow cooker & would kindly appreciate any input as to which brand is better..

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

noodleann — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 03:41:23 GMT

I bought a Rival some years ago. Control knob and handles began to disintegrate. Handles worried me--what it they came away and I scalded myself when moving it? So I checked their website, found it was under recall. Sent them the plug and they sent me a replacement.

All was well for a few months. Then the knob on this one started breaking up as well. I returned to the website and lo and behond, they had sent me a replacement that was under an extended recall, and despite having all my contact data, had never alerted me to it.

The second replacement cooker they sent me has yet to show defects and is a somewhat different design. But based on this experience, and especially their failure to notify me that the replacement was also subject to a recall for the same reasons, I would not go with Rival.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

tucsongal — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 03:54:07 GMT

We use our Instantpot as a slow cooker, pressure cooker and rice cooker. It works great for everything and you can easily brown any meat right in the pot before you slow cook.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

classic — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 03:55:00 GMT

Thank you so much for your detailed reply.. I sincerely appreciate it.. Today, nothing is made like the good ole days..

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

classic — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 03:57:00 GMT

@tucsongal wrote:
We use our Instantpot as a slow cooker, pressure cooker and rice cooker. It works great for everything and you can easily brown any meat right in the pot before you slow cook.

Thanks for this idea...

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

hopi — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 04:09:38 GMT

I love my Ninja 4 in 1

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

aubnwa01 — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 04:24:47 GMT

I had a Rival & even on Low, it got way too hot. I have a Hamilton Beach now & it works fine.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

MsSuze — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 05:48:59 GMT

I also suggest buying an Instant Pot. They have a new model the Duo Plus 9-in-1 6qt or 8qt. If you can wait, it will probably go on sale on Black Friday or Cyber Monday for $25 to $40 off. On Amazon Prime day it was on sale and the Instant Pot was the number one selling item in the U.S. That should tell you how popular it is and how much people want one. It sold out in about 20 minutes. So if you consider buying it and are going to wait until Black Friday, be ready to buy it as soon as Black Friday starts.

I have one and use it a couple of times a week. I mainly use the pressure cooker function, but it also has a slow cooker function. I have never used the slow cooker function. I see no reason to use it when the pressure cooker cooks food so fast.

Read the reviews on Amazon. Plus a lot of food bloggers use the Instant Pot so it is easy to find lots of recipes on the internet. I also suggest taking a look on YouTube.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

Pook — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 08:02:14 GMT

@classic I love my Ninja 4 in 1. It is the best slow cooker but you can brown in it, use as stove top, steamer, steam roast also. I don't use my other slow cooker anymore. Other brands have multi cookers also.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

panda1234 — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 10:21:02 GMT

If you don't want to cook all day, an electric pressure cooker is something to think about. Same results in less time, usually 20 mins or less.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

qualitygal — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 10:38:50 GMT

This is interesting to read about from the ladies here. I didn't know about either, but I am not cooking a whole lot now. Pretty much easy things now. Appetites are different now, but these look like good products to have.

Have 3 crockpots and top of stove is the extent of cooking now.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

LonestarBabs — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 12:29:59 GMT

I have a West Bend slow cooker. Also can use the base as a griddle.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

alicedee — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 12:34:14 GMT

Mine is the CrockPot brand. I don't use it much in the summer, but a lot in the winter. I think it was less than $25 at Menard's a couple years ago. Works fine!

What's nice about a slow cooker is you can pick one up without making a huge investment....if you find you use it all the time, you can investigate more expensive brands, I guess...but this one works well for my needs.

I use it mostly for soups, cooking chicken breasts for shredding, and bbq ribs.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

software — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 13:30:31 GMT

My DD just moved into her first apartment and I'm trying to talk her OUT of buying a slow cooker and just get an Instant Pot or other pressure cooker appliance that also can do slow cooking. I haven't tried any of the new electric pressure cookers yet myself but it appears you get similar results in less time.

If the new pressure cookers are reliable and safe, I just don't see the purpose of a slow cooker anymore. Plus why use up all that electricity?

@classic

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

MKR14 — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:02:29 GMT

I love the Ninja 4-in-1 also. It is Multi use so in the long run you get more for your money. It also cleans easily.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

straykatz — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:15:01 GMT

I have a slow cooker and a pressure cooker. Hands down my slow cooker gets used far more often.

I bought mine at Sam's Club. It has hi/low heat setting and a 4/8 hour timer that auto switches to warm once done. Been a while but I think it was only about 30 bucks to buy... might be a little more now... maybe 40.

this is the one I have:

https://www.amazon.com/Crock-Pot-6-Quart-Programmable-Cooker-Stainless/dp/B0061TWKWU/ref=sr_1_11?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1500563616&sr=1-11&keywords=4+to+8+hour+slow+cooker

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

deeva — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 18:11:07 GMT

We bought one to keep food warm during a party, that was ten years ago. I've never used it since. However, I do use my pressure cooker all the time.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

classic — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 18:58:01 GMT

I sincerely want to thank everyone for their honest input.. I'm going to look into the InstantPot & the Ninja. 4 in 1...

On a side note, I just want to say how much, I love & find helpful this entire selection of forums.. There are so many, many, many wonderful people replying; & in any given category, one always gets an honest input regarding that particular subject.. I've recently started to post & I want to say a very simple THANK YOU to all.. 😊

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

Ruthie-Roo — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 19:57:18 GMT

classic wrote:
I sincerely want to thank everyone for their honest input.. I'm going to look into the InstantPot & the Ninja. 4 in 1...

On a side note, I just want to say how much, I love & find helpful this entire selection of forums.. There are so many, many, many wonderful people replying; & in any given category, one always gets an honest input regarding that particular subject.. I've recently started to post & I want to say a very simple THANK YOU to all.. 😊

@classic :-) I find that the comments people offer here on the forums, are more helpful than product reviews anywhere. Reviews are fine, but personally, I get more from the input from the nice folks on here. Welcome to the forums.

As for my input.... I've had a CrockPot for years, and currently have the model, Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker (got it for maybe $30 at Target), Stainless Steel, SCV700SS -- look it up online. I love it very much, with one exception: it has only three legs, and has a tendency to tip forward if you're not careful when you handle it. I have no idea why it was designed that way, but honestly, if you're careful, it shouldn't be a problem. I don't consider it a safety hazard, as I don't have to move the CrockPot around much,if at all. Never had any issues with it. Among other things, I have made THE BEST teriyaki chicken "stir fry" in it ever, beans, frittatas, etc.. I also have an Emeril Lagasse 6-quart pressure cooker (a QVC oldie but a goodie), but it doesn't have a slow cook function. Eh. No biggie. If I could afford it, and if I didn't already have multiple small appliances that do the jobs, I'd probably get an InstantPot, too, like soooooo many others. I've also had my eyes on the Paula Deen multi-cooker, which has a slow cook function. Whatever you decide to buy, good luck and enjoy!!!

Re: Thinking of purchasing a slow cooker

classic — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 22:32:57 GMT

EXACTLY!!! ... You get better input than the product review.. Thanks...