Kitchen

[Sweetbay magnolia]

What a great idea - an inexpensive automatic timer plugged into the wall and the slow cooker into it!

I have two Rival Crock Pots - one big (5 qt), one small (2qt). Love them! I have, many times, put frozen meat in mine. Simply cook it long enough to be done. Maybe you could make up a salad ahead and cook just your protein of choice in the cooker, unless you want your veggies in the pot to infuse flavor (onions!). Fresh sliced tomatoes on hand? My husband insists on a "starch", so I often have cold pasta in the fridge that can be tossed with dressing/veggies/olives, to serve with the meat (I don't eat it but I enjoy preparing it).

Cooking potatoes in my little one right now. Love it. Doesn't heat up the kitchen and frees me up to so other things. Once, I broke the insert for the big one and it was easy to order a replacement from the Crock Pot people.

[dfyre]

On 8/21/2014 dfyre said:

I have two - one is a Rival that I think cooks a little hot, and the other is a Temptations that I got about 4-5 years ago from Q. This one is my favorite since on one setting I can brown foods and then just flip it over to slow cook. Sadly, they no longer carry it. I like the time suggestion best but have also assembled the ingredients in a slow cooker liner and then just plop it in in the morning to cook.

So, maybe it's not technically safe, but I put frozen stuff in there pretty often.

Oops - didn't mean Temptations - it's Technique.

[bells4me]

Mine is a Hamilton Beach about 25 years old. I live alone so sometimes will start it the night before on low so I can eat it at noon & again at 6:00. I prefer my pot roast in my Nesco, but one of my favorite crock pot things to make are ham hocks & northern beans. Other items are chili & soups. I have lost a couple of meals when my electric has gone down so I don't use it if I will be gone all day. Besides, I will eat out then.

[EatWell]

On 8/20/2014 dgluvr said:

First- which do you recommend as safest to leave on when not home?

Second- I have weird hours- I go to bed around 4:00A.M.-5:00A.M. Don't feel like "fixing" a dinner at that time--- BUT rest of family has "normal" hours and we like to eat dinner together around 5:30 - 6:00 pm--- SO since Most people prepare their meals in the A.M and it's done when they get home- How would I work this? It would seem if I tried to make a meal before "I" go to bed-- then it would be mush by the time everyone is ready to sit down to dinner. Or not? Will a slow cooker cook frozen? Dh and kids are not "kitchen appliance" "savvy" and wouldn't remember to turn it on in the AM.---- TIA

Get an electric P.C. that also has a slow cooker setting. Then set the timer for "delay start". Done. Btw: do not cook "from frozen" in a slow cooker because of the possibility for bacteria to form. For cooking from frozen, better to use a NuWave Oven or microwave. Or pressure cook your frozen food. Also, use caution plugging your kitchen appliances into timers not meant to carry the electrical load of kitchen appliances. It could cause a fire.

[sipp]

Thank ALL OF YOU! for your suggestions!!! ( and I have a whole house generator so I won't have to worry about power) Really- Thanks so much!!!

[docsgirl]

I have a Rival that I've had for years. I set it before going to work. If it finishes cooking prior to me getting home, it automatically stops the cooking process and turns to the 'warm' setting. I love this feature as I don't have to worry about getting home in time to turn it off. My food does not get soggy. Since I live alone, I pretty much use it about once a week during the school year and it makes several meals for me. It's easy to clean and, to make things easier, I use the plastic liners that are made specifically for slow cookers. I am definitely a morning person and the thought of having to prepare a meal when I get home is not for me. Instead of grabbing junk for a meal, I have a hearty, healthy meal waiting for me. I highly suggest getting one with a 'warm' setting. Good luck. docsgirl

[Peaches McPhee]

I used to feel weird about leaving it on when I wasn't home, too, but then I remembered that I leave all sorts of electric stuff on all the time! Fridge, cable box, lights, alarm clocks.

[VaBelle35]

On 8/21/2014 ccassaday said: You could get a programmable one that switches to warm automatically after 4 or 8 hours and stops cooking.

This might be a fire hazard. Usually the manual will say that you can't use an extension cord with it.

Plus, if this means putting raw meat in it and leaving it on the counter for a few hours, I wouldn't leave raw meat at room temperature for hours before it turns on. That's a hospital visit waiting to happen.

[geegerbee]

I think you could put it on HIGH when you wake up or when you get up to go to the bathroom. I usually use High and it only takes 2 or 3 hrs. instead of 8 and uses less electricity. I like the suggestion that you put all the ingredients in the liner and put it in the fridge till you get up.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

I checked my Crock Pot owner's guide. Here's what it says about frozen meats:

"When cooking frozen meats, at least 1 cup of warm liquid must first be added. The liquid will act as a "cushion" to prevent sudden temperature changes. An additional 4 hours on LOW or 2 hours on HIGH is typically required. For larger cuts of frozen meat, it may take much longer to defrost and tenderize."

Regarding vegetables:

"Many vegetables benefit from slow cooking and are able to develop their full flavor. They tend not to overcook in you slow cooker as they might in your oven or on your stovetop."

And of course there is the usual verbiage about avoiding sudden temperature changes with ceramic/stoneware to avoid cracking the insert, among other things.