topic Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker in Kitchen

Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

Sooner — Mon, 01 May 2023 20:53:25 GMT

Do we use our appliances? You bet we do! Yesterday we used the 3 qt. Instant Pot for a big batch of fresh green beans.

Today the 4 qt. slow cooker was filled with pork tenderloin with some tomato juice around it, and the rice cooker made a batch of brown basmati rice that will last for two more meals. The bread machine made a beautiful loaf of whole wheat bread too!

So we had pulled pork, green beans, basmati rice and fresh whole wheat bread - and food for several meals. All without standing in the kitchen tending to it, and all with very easy cleanup.

The 3 qt. instant pot, 3 cup rice cooker, 1 lb bread machine and 4 qt slow cooker are great for several meals for a couple of people. And they do get used around here!

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

Ainhisg — Mon, 01 May 2023 21:22:05 GMT

Same here. On Saturday, I cooked eggs in the pressure cooker for deviled eggs. Later in the day, I used it to cook baby back ribs. I used the bread machine to make banana bread on Saturday, as well.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

Carmie — Mon, 01 May 2023 21:40:08 GMT

@Sooner I use my KA food processor every day. I use my KA mixer and air fryer often.

I use my waffle iron when my grandson sleep over. He insists on waffles for breakfast.

I don't have an instant pot or bread machine. I do have a crock pot, but mostly use it during the summer months when we're boating for the day. When we get off the water around 6 pm, our dinner is cooked.

I have a rice cooker in the basement. I used to use it a lot, but not much anymore.

I have an unused Vitamix in my basement too. What a waste of money for me.

I also use my Weber gas grill and my Blackstone griddle all summer long.

I cook everyday. We don't go out to eat or order take-out unless on vacation. I have double ovens in my kitchen and use them a lot.

Out of all my appliances, I love my processor the best. It makes veggie prep fast. My dishwasher I love second best.

I have looked t bread machines, but I can make dough in my mixer and bake in my oven. I made dough into sticky buns on Saturday...it was easy. I also baked a loaf of bread.

I don't have room for appliances on my counter tops or room in the pantry or cupboards. I have to store them in the basement.

If I make multiple meals and don't freeze them right away, my husband gives them away to either our children, other family members or neighbors. He gives food away about twice a week.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

RedTop — Mon, 01 May 2023 22:01:31 GMT

I have never been tempted to buy small appliances I don't use.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

Sooner — Mon, 01 May 2023 22:42:22 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
@Sooner I use my KA food processor every day. I use my KA mixer and air fryer often.

I use my waffle iron when my grandson sleep over. He insists on waffles for breakfast.

I don't have an instant pot or bread machine. I do have a crock pot, but mostly use it during the summer months when we're boating for the day. When we get off the water around 6 pm, our dinner is cooked.

I have a rice cooker in the basement. I used to use it a lot, but not much anymore.

I have an unused Vitamix in my basement too. What a waste of money for me.

I also use my Weber gas grill and my Blackstone griddle all summer long.

I cook everyday. We don't go out to eat or order take-out unless on vacation. I have double ovens in my kitchen and use them a lot.

Out of all my appliances, I love my processor the best. It makes veggie prep fast. My dishwasher I love second best.

I have looked t bread machines, but I can make dough in my mixer and bake in my oven. I made dough into sticky buns on Saturday...it was easy. I also baked a loaf of bread.

I don't have room for appliances on my counter tops or room in the pantry or cupboards. I have to store them in the basement.

If I make multiple meals and don't freeze them right away, my husband gives them away to either our children, other family members or neighbors. He gives food away about twice a week.

@Carmie Interesting! You sound like you get a lot of mileage out of those appliances. The only one that lives on the counter is the 1-lb Zojirushi bread machine and it gets used a lot for whole wheat bread and it does a great job!

The rice cooker lives under the counter, and another one lives in the garage (they do different types of rice, cake, quinoa, steel cut oats, cake and such and one is very old but still going).

The 3-qt instant pot lives under the counter too. We started using these when we worked, and they are really part of life for us now. I got a Cuisinart food processer in the 1970's and would hate to do without it--I'm on my third one now.

The Vitamix we use constantly for smoothies, smoothies we make ice cream out of, gazpacho (that we LOVE) and basic kitchen chores. We have had it a long time too.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

Carmie — Mon, 01 May 2023 22:54:38 GMT

The only time I use my Vitamix is in the fall when we process pumpkins to make pies. I can use my processor for that, but feel I should at least use it for something.

I don't drink smoothies, nor does my husband. He eats I've cream every night. I don't like dairy all that much, so no milk shakes. My Vitamix does not have variable speeds and I hate it. It has two speeds...fast and faster. It was QVC product and not a good one.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

cjm61 — Mon, 01 May 2023 23:32:20 GMT

@Sooner Glad you use your fun appliances. Most the time posters complain about the rarity of use of these items. I rarely make rice so we don't have a rice cooker though. I would add the air fryer as another needed appliance. We use it quite often.

I go in spurts though. The bread machine may be used several times a day (up to 3 loaves in one day) for a week then it will sit for a week or two. But oh yummy, nothing like the smell of fresh bread. The Instant Pot is such a necessity in our household as are the 2 crockpots we have. I also use my Vitamix once a week or so, couldn't live without it as we make our own nut butter.

Your meal sounds wonderful.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

KathyM23 — Mon, 01 May 2023 23:42:43 GMT

@Sooner We also had a pork loin today. DH cooked in the crock pot with potatoes, carrots, green beans and brussel sprouts. Took some over to our neighbor who lost her husband last year.

Tomorrow we are also having pulled pork for sandwiches and there is alot of the vegetables left to go with.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

Sooner — Mon, 01 May 2023 23:47:56 GMT

@KathyM23 That's one of my favorite meals--pulled pork! We smoke pork butts outside sometimes, but pork loin and pork tenderloin are a staple for us. So lean and so good!!!!!

I can't remember when I bought pork chops.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

shoesnbags — Tue, 02 May 2023 00:04:14 GMT

@Sooner

My Instant Pot doesn't get used as often as some of my other small appliances because I feel it takes longer to clean it afterwards.

The stainless steel pot is easy and quick to clean, but I find cleaning the lid a pain - literally. There's the silicone ring to remove, wash, dry and replace. Then the little perforated metal cup thingy inside of the lid has to be removed, cleaned, dried and replaced. Both of these hurt my arthritic hands a lot. Then the little plastic thing on the outside that catches drippings is supposed to be removed and cleaned, too.

So I have to admit that I'd rather just cook my rice (or whatever) in a regular pot rather than going to all of that trouble. Afterwards I can just clean out the pot and I'm done.

I do use my IP for soups and sometimes beans, and love cooking a big chuck roast and shredding it. But oy, the cleanup pains me. Just wondering if you have any helpful advice.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

JeanLouiseFinch — Tue, 02 May 2023 01:14:44 GMT

I don't own a rice cooker.

I don't own a bread machine.

I use my 6 Qt.Instant Pot weekly for hard cooked eggs.

Ninja XL Pro 9-in-1 Smart Grill - I use it often.

I only use my slow cooker occasionally but I'm glad I have it for those occasions.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

Icegoddess — Tue, 02 May 2023 00:52:10 GMT

No rice cooker.

I use both my air fryer and my Ninja grill often.

I have a 2 qt CE pressure cooker but really only use it for hard boiled eggs which I swear by. I tried using it for green beans, but then the silicone ring took on the smell and I couldn't stand it, even after removing it and washing it. And CE doesn't have replacement silicone rings, so that was that for cooking green beans.

The "crock pot" mostly gets used for chili. I don't like cooking my meat & veggies together as they take on the other's flavor and then everything tastes the same.

I also have a bread maker which I really like, but it's not something I do on a regular basis as it's something I have to plan for. I like to remove the dough and cook it in the oven though.

I have others that rarely get used, but like them for what I do use them for.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

PinkyPetunia — Tue, 02 May 2023 01:39:40 GMT

Out of those 4 appliances I just have a crock pot. Used it Sunday to make a pork stew. Turned out good.

It is a simple matter to cook rice on the stove. I'm not interested in getting the other items. I doubt I would use them.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

Sooner — Tue, 02 May 2023 01:47:09 GMT

One thing we do is make our own pre-packaged mixes to dump in the bread machine and add liquid, a little butter or oil and yeast and turn it on.

It works fine to do it that way and sure makes it quick. We mix organic whole wheat flour with anywhere from 1/8 to 1/4 bread flour and the loaves turn out so good. Sometimes we add ground flax seed to it as well.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

Snowpuppy — Tue, 02 May 2023 05:44:52 GMT

I cook. I bake. Don't own any of these. No air fryer or Ninja anything.

Seems too much of a hassle for me.

I bake bread the old school way my Gram taught me. Rice on the stove top. I do some oven fried items but not often.

I've never seen Ina recommend any of these, either. 😉

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

haddon9 — Tue, 02 May 2023 07:02:55 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
Do we use our appliances? You bet we do! Yesterday we used the 3 qt. Instant Pot for a big batch of fresh green beans.

Today the 4 qt. slow cooker was filled with pork tenderloin with some tomato juice around it, and the rice cooker made a batch of brown basmati rice that will last for two more meals. The bread machine made a beautiful loaf of whole wheat bread too!

So we had pulled pork, green beans, basmati rice and fresh whole wheat bread - and food for several meals. All without standing in the kitchen tending to it, and all with very easy cleanup.

The 3 qt. instant pot, 3 cup rice cooker, 1 lb bread machine and 4 qt slow cooker are great for several meals for a couple of people. And they do get used around here!

@Sooner Sounds delicious! Now I'm in the mood for making a pork tenderloin in my slow cooker.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

OKPrincess — Tue, 02 May 2023 08:31:48 GMT

I use my instapot the most.

My favorites are beans and ham and ground beef vegetable soup.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

ScrapHappy — Tue, 02 May 2023 11:07:34 GMT

I use my crock pot a lot. Especially during the colder months. I have a Tiger rice cooker and use that when making stir fry. A friend showed me how to make rice that is even better than chinese restaurant rice. I don't use my bread make enough. My husband has been eating no carbs and it would be wasteful right now.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

RollTide2008 — Tue, 02 May 2023 13:10:02 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
No rice cooker.
I use both my air fryer and my Ninja grill often.

I have a 2 qt CE pressure cooker but really only use it for hard boiled eggs which I swear by. I tried using it for green beans, but then the silicone ring took on the smell and I couldn't stand it, even after removing it and washing it. And CE doesn't have replacement silicone rings, so that was that for cooking green beans.

The "crock pot" mostly gets used for chili. I don't like cooking my meat & veggies together as they take on the other's flavor and then everything tastes the same.
I also have a bread maker which I really like, but it's not something I do on a regular basis as it's something I have to plan for. I like to remove the dough and cook it in the oven though.

I have others that rarely get used, but like them for what I do use them for.

Unless your pressure cooker is an usual shape, a standard replacement gasket will fit it. They're about $10 for a 2 pack on Amazon.

Re: Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Cooker

Sooner — Tue, 02 May 2023 13:51:00 GMT

Thanks for all the interesting responses! I think different times and different lifestyles come into play with using appliances.

When we were younger and entertaining more we cooked a lot and these things were handy in certain circumstances. Since we are retired, our outlook has changed. More time to cook when we want, but I think husband and I are happy to have more free time.

So we use these appliances a lot more because we don't have to stand over them or watch them, or deal with the meal at an exact time. Also, we eat almost all meals at home, no restaurants or takeout which was part of working life.

Anyway, interesting stories and ideas and thanks again!

In order of most used I'd say for us:

Rice cooker--2 x week (lives under counter)
Instant Pot (3 qt. one.)--2 x week (lives under counter)
Vitamix--2 x week (lives in the laundry room near kitchen and with a sink)
Slow cooker--maybe 2 times a month (small, cheap 4 qt. oval lives in the garage)