topic Re: Crock Pot Questions in Kitchen

Crock Pot Questions

HonnyBrown — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 03:34:30 GMT

I don't own a crock pot. I do my braising or long stovetop cooking on the weekends when I Wen. The questions I have:

Are they safe? Can you leave a heat source on and cooking without being home?

Are they good for turning on in the morning (before work) then coming home 10 or 11 hours later? Can they cook (safely) that entire time?

Can you prep Tuesday night, put everything in the pot, put the pot in the fridge, then start cooking the next morning? I'm not a morning person. I wouldn't do any prep work in the morning.

How is the clean up? DH is on cleaning. Nothing more needs to be said.

Is there anything else I should consider? Bells and whistles? Must haves?

Re: Crock Pot Questions

house_cat — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 03:37:33 GMT

I researched them a bit and they seem to be safe. However, 10-11 hours is a long time to cook something even on the low setting. Mine has no bells nor whistles, but if I were making the purchase again I would get one with a timer. As it is now, I have to make sure to stop at home in between work and other obligations because my dog needs to be walked - I turn the crock pot off when I get home after about 8 hours. It would be nice if it could turn off on its own.

Re: Crock Pot Questions

151949 — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 03:43:49 GMT

I used to work 12 hour shifts and before I went to work i would start the crockpot. when DH got home he would have his dinner and keep it on low for me when I got home around 8PM.

I would often have everything all prepped and in the fridge in a lock & lock then in the morning all I had to do was dump it in the crockpot and turn it on.I never had any problem leaving it. You always have to have a considerable amount of liquid in anything you make in the crockpot.

As for cleaning - I generally spray the sides with Pam before putting anything in and it washes out easily.

Re: Crock Pot Questions

lovesrecess — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 03:48:14 GMT

they sell crock pots with timers; if you can prep things the night before, best to put it in a bowl or other container and refrigerate till morning....I once put the stuff in the crock and put in fridge till morning; when I put the cold crock into the cooker, the crock cracked into pieces due to the temperature change....

you will love coming home in the early evening during the winter and having the aroma of your dinner greeting you!

Re: Crock Pot Questions

debcakes — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 03:48:49 GMT

On 9/8/2014 house_cat said:
I researched them a bit and they seem to be safe. However, 10-11 hours is a long time to cook something even on the low setting. Mine has no bells nor whistles, but if I were making the purchase again I would get one with a timer. As it is now, I have to make sure to stop at home in between work and other obligations because my dog needs to be walked - I turn the crock pot off when I get home after about 8 hours. It would be nice if it could turn off on its own.

You can buy a timer that plugs into an older crock pot. Check the hardware store or a place that sells a lot of them. This will turn it off when you want it off.

Re: Crock Pot Questions

house_cat — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 03:51:37 GMT

On 9/8/2014 debcakes said:
On 9/8/2014 house_cat said:
I researched them a bit and they seem to be safe. However, 10-11 hours is a long time to cook something even on the low setting. Mine has no bells nor whistles, but if I were making the purchase again I would get one with a timer. As it is now, I have to make sure to stop at home in between work and other obligations because my dog needs to be walked - I turn the crock pot off when I get home after about 8 hours. It would be nice if it could turn off on its own.

You can buy a timer that plugs into an older crock pot. Check the hardware store or a place that sells a lot of them. This will turn it off when you want it off.

I'm such a dodo sometimes. I ordered a set of two timers from Amazon Prime and when they arrived I realized they were two prong and not three.

I think I'll get one next time I'm at Wallymart.

Re: Crock Pot Questions

debcakes — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 03:55:20 GMT

http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Touch-C30001-Original-Shut-Off/dp/B002KKCVYQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-3&keywords=crockpot+timer

Not sure how many prongs on this, but it looks easy to use. Happy cooking.

Re: Crock Pot Questions

beach-mom — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 04:40:57 GMT

I couldn't live without mine! YES - to most of your questions!

The only thing I would do differently is not to put everything in the pot the night before and put it in the refrigerator. I prep, then put items in separate containers in, and dump it all in in the morning. I do allow myself about 30 minutes, just to put everything in, even though it may not take that long.

Clean up is so easy. Sometimes I do have to let it soak a while, but I've never had a problem with anything sticking.

I have 4. I use one for taking food other places, then I have one oval, one round, and one extra large. Only the extra large one has a digital read out; the others are just standard, so I really don't think you need all of the "bells and whistles."

Re: Crock Pot Questions

moto — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 04:41:10 GMT

I encourage you to get one! With the one I have (and it is at least 5 years old) you can set to cook for certain amount of time, and after that set period of time, it will automatically keep on a warm setting until you come home.

Also you can find crockpot liners to make cleanup even easier (find them in the aisle with foil and plastic wrap.

Re: Crock Pot Questions

colliemom4 — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 05:46:34 GMT

They are very safe. I've been using them forever. You're going to love having one!

Re: Crock Pot Questions

PINKdogWOOD — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 12:13:33 GMT

Crock pots are the bomb!!! I've had two in my lifetime - had to buy another one b/c I used the first one for SO many years it finally gave up after years worth of delicious no muss cooking.

First, buy one that's at least 6 quarts - you want one that's big enough to cook in. Neither of mine had a timer, you don't really need one. Start it in the morning, put it on low and 6-8 hrs later BOOM - dinner is served!!!. Crock pots are not very expensive at all either so I wouldn't spend a whole lot on them - not necessary.

Best invention for crocks? CROCK POT LINERS!!!! Makes clean up as easy as taking out the liner and tossing it in the trash!!! FABULOUS!!! I do wash my crock out every few times I use it just because.

Crocks are not to be scared of, they're VERY easy to use, no fuss no muss. There's SO much you can make in them too - many things I've never tried likes desserts.

Re: Crock Pot Questions

Campion — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 12:58:28 GMT

1. They are safe. The newer crock pots cook on a higher temperature and seem to spike at the end, to make sure food is at the right temperature to avoid bacterial growth.

2. Clean up is quite easy. Most of the crockpots now have a removable liner, and the ceramic glaze prevents food from sticking. Soak a bit and wipe out with a scrubby sponge and dish detergent.

3. If you refrigerate your pot, it will take a lot longer to cook--the pot will have to heat up the ceramic and in fact, if it gets hot spots, you could crack the pot (ceramic expands unevenly.)

4. A great cookbook is a help--hints on timing and techniques: Slow Cooking

5. Best buy slow cooker as recommended by America's Test Kitchen is The Crockpot Touchscreen

Re: Crock Pot Questions

Iwantcoffee — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 13:04:37 GMT

I have never cooked anything in the crock pot for 10 or 11 hours. The ones I have used cook to fast and food would be overcooked. In my crock pot, food is usually done in 4 hours cooked on high, sometimes even sooner. A very thick roast would probably do okay on low for 10 hours.

This is the one I am currently using. You can cook a 3 pound chicken or 2 pound roast. We are a family of 4 and this is the perfect size for us.

Hamilton Beach 33138 Slow Cooker, 3-Quart

Re: Crock Pot Questions

PamelaSue72 — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 13:22:30 GMT

I have four crock pots in various sizes and love them. Honestly, they're a wonderful appliance for people who work during the day and even for those are really busy and want a nice meal when they get back home without a lot of work.

I do a lot of food prepping the night before and put the food into a container (I don't really have the time to do with food prepping in the morning). I prepare my sauces and such the night before as well and put that into a container. Then the morning of, all I have to do is spray the crock pot insert, put the food in the crock pot, set it and go to work.

I use my crock pots in the basement (we have cats and I don't quite trust them around cords on the kitchen counters), either on top of the chest freezer or on top of the dryer. I usually leave the house around 7 in the morning and I'm home to finish dinner prep by 4:30 - 5:00.

Soups, stews, roasts and the like can all be done in a crock pot. There are a lot of casserole-types dishes that can be adapted for crock pot cooks. There are so many nice crock pot cookbooks out there now for ideas, too.

Re: Crock Pot Questions

HonnyBrown — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:04:52 GMT

Thanks everyone! You all love your crock pots.

I'm going to start with an inexpensive, no frills one and then upgrade if I like it and use it a lot.

Re: Crock Pot Questions

Theoriginallacey — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:36:54 GMT

I have the Hamilton Beach slow cooker with Intellitime. It cooks up to 12 hours and decides the temperature by the amount of time you tell it to cook. It works very well in that capacity. You don't come home to mush that has over cooked all day. You can also select your own temperature from high, low, medium but you can't choose how long when you do that, you would have to turn it off manually. Still good if you are home or not gone for an excessive amount of time during the day. I highly recommend it, especially for people who work. http://www.hamiltonbeach.com/6-quart-slow-cookers-intellitime-6-quart-slow-cooker-33564.html

Re: Crock Pot Questions

mima — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:56:02 GMT

I love my crockpots. I have different sizes. I leave them on all day while I am at work. I don't worry about it since I've did this for 40 years. Cleanup is great. The pot comes out and goes in the DW. If stuff is stuck on, you might have to soak it with soap and water to loosen up stuck on food until you run the DW.

One hint: If you are planning on leaving while it is cooking, avoid the digital type. If the lights flicker, the pot goes off and stays off. If you get the dial type and the electric flickers, it will come back on and continue cooking. I learned this the hard way.

I never want a digital one again.

I think the more full the crockpot, the better it cooks. So that's why I have different sizes. Depends on what I'm cooking.

Re: Crock Pot Questions

DJs mom — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 16:51:22 GMT

I have a Hamilton Beach one with a timer. I also use the Reynolds crock pot liners so after my dinner is done I pull out the bag and throw in the trash. The crock pot is clean, I just rinse with warm soapy water and store it. I'm just learning how to cook. On the box it said "for the busy mom or beginner cook". They both apply to me and I was sold. LOL

Re: Crock Pot Questions

beach-mom — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 17:42:54 GMT

On 9/9/2014 HonnyBrown said:
Thanks everyone! You all love your crock pots.

I'm going to start with an inexpensive, no frills one and then upgrade if I like it and use it a lot.

YW! Good choice - most recipes will say to cook at medium or high, and most crock pots have a "keep warm" feature. That's all you need!

Re: Crock Pot Questions

Foggy morning — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 01:20:27 GMT

My crockpot is a oldie but is still hanging in there. I don't believe I've ever cooked anything more than 8 hours. I have heard that some crockpots now cook at higher temps than the older ones, even on the low setting. I just recently did order a new one after reading reviews that it didn't cook too hot. The new one should be here in about a week. Enjoy your's when you get it!