Kitchen

[ciao_bella]

Count me in as another who's not a big fan of crock pot meals. With the exception of soups, I think crockpots make meats dry and unappealing. It doesn't matter how much liquid, gravy or sauce is in with the meat when it cooks...it just seems to draw all the liquid out of the meat making it overly dry. I'll stick with making pot roasts in my cast iron Dutch oven.

[RedTop]

I do not own a crock pot. One of my favorite wedding gifts was a Sunbeam crocker, cooker, fryer, that died after about 15 years. I loved that appliance, but now that I'm retired, I don't feel the need for a slow cooking device.

[willomenia]

Nothing for me ever comes out right, my sister uses hers all the time. I think it overcooks meat.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

I love my crock pot(s). I have a large and a small one. Once I realized that my electric furnace was "cooking" even when I wasn't home, as was the water heater, and that I had numerous other appliances plugged in while I wasn't watching, I stopped worrying about leaving the slow cooker on. I've never heard of one causing a fire.

Back to the original post - it's not the only method I use, though at times it is to me the best answer, and I find that it is effective for tenderizing tough but economical cuts of meat. I've had success with pasta dishes, too.

Happy cooking! It's fun.

[Daysdee]

I like using a crockpot even though I cook for one. I don't work so I'm here when it is cooking. Love the nice aroma of food cooking. Seems like you have to do very little to have a nice dinner and leftovers.

[Demitra1]

This is an issue for me ....for some reason. I know it sounds silly, but the smell of cooking food in the crock pot permeates my house. We keep our bedroom door closed always, and it is on the opposite side of the house, but I can smell it in there. It's just NOT a pleasant thing. (Don't lift the lid, either.) Again, I know that sounds weird,

[phoenixbrd]

I have an instapot and it is the best! Stainless steel inner, quick, easy, effortless...I use it frequently.

[chrystaltree]

Crocs are okay, I just dont see the point of stewing up food for hours. It doesnt save any time at all, you still have to prepare the meal and like someone else said, the smell can fill up the house. I haven't used my crockpot in years.

[Marienkaefer2]

I make marinara in it, and chili. It always comes out great. Also, beef stew comes out really well.in the crockpot (at least mine does). I don't where the idea comes from that you don't use "quality ingredients." I buy all organic and local.produce and meats. ? It is nice to.come home, especially when I make chili in the winter, and dinner smells good. A quick.salad and it's ready. I don't worry about leaving it on. I never have.

[mima]

I have cooked in a crockpot for 40 years. Most of the time I use low, and never had food poisoning from it. I also have never had a house fire from a crockpot and I leave mine unattended all day.

If I was home all day to watch the crockpot, I wouldn't need it.

The only downside to having the digital ones is that one time our electricity flickered and it does a lot since we live in the country. It turned off and when I came home supper was ruined. I never liked the digital ones after that and never use that one.

BTW, I have almost all the sizes.