Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Bread Machine, and Rice Co... - Page 2

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

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.

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

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.

PinkyPetunia · ‎03-09-2010

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.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

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.

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

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. 😉

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

@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.

OKPrincess · ‎03-10-2013

I use my instapot the most.

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

ScrapHappy · ‎03-28-2010

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.

RollTide2008 · ‎02-14-2017

@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.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

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)