topic Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker..... in Community Chat

suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

dmod nj — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 17:59:04 GMT

Hi everyone,

I am in the market for a slow cooker/crock pot. Any suggestions of brands/models/features that I should look at or stay away from?

I am looking for a 6 or 7+ quarts. After the size of it, I'm not sure what else I should be looking for/staying away from in a model.

Any and all suggestions/opinions are welcome.

I posted this in the kitchen/cooking area as well.

Thanks so much,

Donna

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

kdgn — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:17:14 GMT

I have a Rival that I bought at Costco a couple of years ago. Removable insert is very important! It's oval, no idea how many quarts but it's big enough for a large batch of stew. It came with a mini crock pot that I've never used; more of a fondue pot perhaps? Mine doesn't have high, medium, low settings; instead it's by hours: 4,6,8,10. It also has a warm setting.

No matter what kind of slow cooker you get, make sure you invest in a couple of boxes of slow cooker liners put out by Reynolds. I find mine in the section with the baggies and foil. They make cleanup a breeze!! Using a liner also helps to get the last of any juices out of the cooker. Just make sure you wear oven mitts because the liner will be hot.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

FUTURE — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:22:16 GMT

I have one that has the removable crock, and latches to lock on the top. I agree about the liners. They. Are. The. Best. I also love that I can put everything in the crockpot and put the crock in the fridge the night before, then have hubby take it out and put it in the warmer when he leaves for work (I leave hours before him in the am). If I ever get another one, I'll get one with a timer and delay on it. There are times when it would be more convenient, but it hasn't been a deal breaker, yet. HTH!

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

Marianne1 — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:27:06 GMT

Removable insert is my best suggestion. Also, only buy as large as you need--mine is kind of big, and I have a hard time cleaning it because of the size.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

kdgn — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:30:55 GMT

Complicated Marianne- Go out immediately and buy the slow cooker liners by Reynolds!!! 4 to a box, toss after using. I don't have to spray or scrub the insert any more. Never. I wipe it out and that's it. I have plenty of room so I think these are "one size fits all" liners.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

Marianne1 — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:32:08 GMT

good idea, kdgn.

Thanks!

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

docsgirl — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:32:59 GMT

Hello Fellow Yankee fan,

I was born and raised in New York and on the Yanks but currently reside in Ohio. I still wear all my Yankee gear. I wear my late husband's cap. He loved them so much and used to sleep in his Yankee cap. Anyway, it wasn't such a great year for us. Best of luck to 'O Captain, my Captain.' What a fine young man from a lovely family.

Back to the slow cooker. The one I have has a warm setting. I put everything in before I leave for work. If it's done cooking before I get home, the cooking stops and it automatically switches to the 'warm' setting. For me, that's an important feature. Gook luck in your quest. docsgirl

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:36:11 GMT

On 9/28/2014 kdgn said:
I have a Rival that I bought at Costco a couple of years ago. Removable insert is very important! It's oval, no idea how many quarts but it's big enough for a large batch of stew. It came with a mini crock pot that I've never used; more of a fondue pot perhaps? Mine doesn't have high, medium, low settings; instead it's by hours: 4,6,8,10. It also has a warm setting.

No matter what kind of slow cooker you get, make sure you invest in a couple of boxes of slow cooker liners put out by Reynolds. I find mine in the section with the baggies and foil. They make cleanup a breeze!! Using a liner also helps to get the last of any juices out of the cooker. Just make sure you wear oven mitts because the liner will be hot.

I have the same model, but would buy a Kitchenaid next time. The metal side handles get too hot without potholders, the Kitchenaid has plastic handles.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

irishmama5 — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:41:13 GMT

I have a 6qt. Removable cooking pot oval I also recommend the liners. Mine has a low setting 4 to 6 hrs and high 10 to 12 hr setting. Love mine last week pulled pork, cooking now for tomorrow beef stew.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

NoelSeven — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:42:35 GMT

o/~ Oh, Donna, oh, Donna o/~

Hi there

I have a suggestion... get one with an oval shape, it's usually available in the larger sizes, like 7 or 8 qts. Most roasts and larger cuts of meal don't come in a nice round shape, as you well know.

I got mine at Target awhile back, also because of the settings that control for heat and will switch to warm after you set the cooking time and it's done.

Or! If you want the really fancy stuff. Williams-Sonoma has a few excellent ones, but those run a couple hundred.

I have a smaller size, 5 qt. for soups, and a 4 qt. for side dishes.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

kdgn — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:43:19 GMT

Deep, my Rival has plastic/rubber handles on the slow cooker base. I don't think I've ever touched them while the machine is on. I place the slow cooker on a heavy plastic cutting board as a precaution. I've been told it doesn't radiate enough heat to damage the Corian but I decided not to take a chance. This way I just slide the cutting board over when it needs to be moved when full.

I always wait until it's completely cooled down before I do anything with the insert itself. That's why I like the liners.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:45:20 GMT

On 9/28/2014 kdgn said:
Deep, my Rival has plastic/rubber handles on the slow cooker base. I don't think I've ever touched them while the machine is on. I place the slow cooker on a heavy plastic cutting board as a precaution. I've been told it doesn't radiate enough heat to damage the Corian but I decided not to take a chance. This way I just slide the cutting board over when it needs to be moved when full.

I always wait until it's completely cooled down before I do anything with the insert itself. That's why I like the liners.

Oops, my Costco must have carried a different model when I bought mine. I do like how it cooks.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

sunshine45 — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:50:27 GMT

hi dmod! this is a great time of the year to start using a crock pot!

i have a good old RIVAL.....probably well over 10 years old. it is oval and has a removable heavy ceramic pot with a glass lid. the handles on the base are plastic so no heat transfer. i dont use those plastic disposable liners, for me, it isnt necessary. the ceramic pots clean up so easily and can go into the dishwasher also. i think the oval style is a lot more versatile. it has served me well. no fancy electronic pads, just a on, low, and high switch. thats it. nothing fancy, but works well, and gets the job done.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

kdgn — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:52:12 GMT

I just checked Costco's website and they don't have the Rival oval one listed. I did find one at the Wal Mart website that looks like mine. It doesn't have the separate little one either.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

NoelSeven — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:59:06 GMT

BTW, crock pot cookbooks have changed tremendously from years ago. Back then, it was hard to get recipes that's weren't all based on a can of mushroom soup or a pack of Lipton's onion soup.

I know a lot of the updated recipes are online if you want to look around some time.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

Lion — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 19:10:52 GMT

Hi Donna - I also have the Rival "Crock Pot" brand.

I have a newer version - oval with removable ceramic crock. Off, Low, High, Warm.

I also have one of the original Rival Crock Pots, the tall round one. It still works like a charm.

When we had parties at work, staff would bring in a lot of crock pots. There were a lot of different brands and they all seemed to work fine. They all had the removable crock and most had the simple knob for On, Low, High. Very few had the fancy touch pad features.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

Preds — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 19:20:09 GMT

On 9/28/2014 Lion said:
Hi Donna - I also have the Rival "Crock Pot" brand.

I have a newer version - oval with removable ceramic crock. Off, Low, High, Warm.

I also have one of the original Rival Crock Pots, the tall round one. It still works like a charm.

When we had parties at work, staff would bring in a lot of crock pots. There were a lot of different brands and they all seemed to work fine. They all had the removable crock and most had the simple knob for On, Low, High. Very few had the fancy touch pad features.

You can't beat a real "Crock Pot" brand. I have a digital Cuisinart that can't come close to my Rival! The digital is going in the next yard sale.
Go with a REAL Crock Pot and you'll be good to go. DH likes to use the Reynolds slow cooker liners when he uses it.

I do miss my 6 quart Nesco, but I've adjusted.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

NoelSeven — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 19:25:58 GMT

On 9/28/2014 Preds said:
On 9/28/2014 Lion said:
Hi Donna - I also have the Rival "Crock Pot" brand.

I have a newer version - oval with removable ceramic crock. Off, Low, High, Warm.

I also have one of the original Rival Crock Pots, the tall round one. It still works like a charm.

When we had parties at work, staff would bring in a lot of crock pots. There were a lot of different brands and they all seemed to work fine. They all had the removable crock and most had the simple knob for On, Low, High. Very few had the fancy touch pad features.

You can't beat a real "Crock Pot" brand. I have a digital Cuisinart that can't come close to my Rival! The digital is going in the next yard sale.
Go with a REAL Crock Pot and you'll be good to go. DH likes to use the Reynolds slow cooker liners when he uses it.

I do miss my 6 quart Nesco, but I've adjusted.

Hi Preds

That's good to know! I have all Rivals, too. They work like a charm.

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

AnikaBrodie — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 19:36:53 GMT

I have an oval 6 qt. Hamilton Beach slow cooker in stainless steel similar to the one described below. (I prefer the oval to the round cooker.) I did not want the programmable cooker since I'm retired and would not use that feature anyway. It has Off, Keep Warm, Low and High settings. It has a removable stoneware crock that is dishwasher safe but I always hand wash it.

I use it to make a variety of meals. I also use it to make homemade spaghetti sauce, apple butter, apple sauce, pork and sauerkraut, bar-b-cue, etc., etc. This is an easy cooker for Stay or Go and I often use it for a variety of soups or other dishes that I take to church functions.

I also have an older model 6 qt. round Rival slow cooker but this is my go to cooker.

~~~~~~~~~ Information on Hamilton Beach ...........

Designed with portability in mind, the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart Slow Cooker features a gasket lid with canister-style clips to prevent spills. Able to accommodate a chicken up to 6 lbs or a roast up to 4 lbs, this Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker has a sealable lid that locks for spill resistance. With its full-grip handles for easy carrying, the Stay or Go Slow Cooker can travel with you. The dishwasher-safe stoneware allows for quick and easy cleanup. The main cooking base of the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart Slow Cooker has high, low and keep warm settings.

Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart Slow Cooker:

Six-quart capacity
Accommodates a 6-lb chicken or a 4-lb roast
Removable stoneware crock
Sealed lid locks for spill resistance
Dishwasher safe stoneware
High, low and keep warm settings
Limited one-year warranty
14.75"L x 8.75"W x 13.00"H

Re: suggestions needed for a slow cooker.....

151949 — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 19:40:24 GMT

On 9/28/2014 kdgn said:
Complicated Marianne- Go out immediately and buy the slow cooker liners by Reynolds!!! 4 to a box, toss after using. I don't have to spray or scrub the insert any more. Never. I wipe it out and that's it. I have plenty of room so I think these are "one size fits all" liners.

I used to use these but my niece told me they release chemicals that are dangerous into the food so I stopped using them.