Recipes

[Desertdi]

It IS possible to use a crock pot as a dehydrator...

[KathyM23]

When making a roast in the crockpot, DH adds a can of Campbells Beef Broth Soup.  It is darker and richer than boxed beef broth.  He may add a little water if needed during the cooking process.

Vegetables go in the bottom with the roast on top in a crockpot.  DH adds potatoes, carrots, onions, turnips, Italian green beans. Comes out tender and delicious.

[Enufstuff]

@GoneButNotForgotten  There are many cuts of beef that can be roasted. If you look on line, you can find what is suggested to be

a best cut for an oven roast or the best cut for a pot roast. You can also get this information from a cook book. In our supermarket,

many times, roasts are labeled "oven roast" or "pot roast". You can also ask the butcher in the meat department for recommendations. You can get instructions online to cook a roast. Less expensive cuts  are usually pot roasts.

  A pot roast, I have always done on the stovetop and added vegetables and liquid to that. Cook with a cover on the pot.  You can also do it in a crockpot or

slow cooker. For me, if I have to brown meat in oil, on top of the stove, I'm cooking in the same pot. I hate washing pans.

 An oven roast  is always roasted in the oven. That is what we

call roast beef. A pot roast is what you cook in liquid, usually

with vegetables. One pot cooking is great, only one pot to wash.

  You mentioned that you did not add liquid to the crockpot.

That was the problem, it just dried out. Food will never boil in a crockpot.  It just simmers at low temperature for hours.

  Good luck on your next oven roast or pot roast.

[RollTide2008]

I hate using a crock pot. I feel like it’s the easiest way to turn tasty eats into dog food.

[ECBG]

@RollTide2008 

I don't have any issue.  Give me a can of beef broth, a little wine and garlic!

I can make a mean rump roast with mushroom gravy.

[Q-Checker]

I love cooking in a crock pot-- usually on a low temp for a long time, 

HOWEVER, I think it is critical to use an excellent crock pot cookbook or an online source to learn how to cook with a crockpot. It is not hard at all, but there are things to learn about it, Just "winging it" can easily result in a mess of inedible food if the prinviples are ignored. I like Stephanie O'Dea's slow cooker cook books for the basic simple meals and principles.

[GoneButNotForgotten]

Pook--I'll try that; it sounds yummy! 

[Q-Checker]

@Enufstuff, you might be interested in a slow cooker that has a setting for browning meat before changing to a setting for the long slow cooking usually needed for a roast of some kind. My ages old slow cooker has that setting -- I don't know about newer models. The meat comes out fantastically tender and tasty.

[Enufstuff]

@Q-Checker   Thank you for that suggestion. If I still had 7 people to cook for every night and was working in a lab and going to school to finish my degree, and running a household, all at the same time, that would probably be a good thing. That was my life in the 80's and that was the last time I

used a crockpot.

  Now, I only cook for three and try not to cook every night. After

close to 60 years of cooking for family, I'm tired and have lost interest in doing that every night. I try to keep things simple or

get take out. After tasting Raos  pasta sauce, I don't even make my own sauce anymore.