I need to buy a new Slow Cooker - any suggestions?

rubysmama · Feb 11, 2016

So I guess I won't look at Bravetti ones. Or least not the one you have. Except for it cracking, what else didn't you like about it?

sivyaleah said:
I try not to think about all that. A few weeks ago, we came home to hear all our CO-2 alarms blasting. To make a long story short, there were embers smoldering in the ash pit of our fireplace (goes into the basement). Apparently there was an exposed wood beam cutting across the space of the pit! When Tom pushed down the dead ashes a few nights before, I guess some were still burning. I later read it can take up to 72 hours for ashes to be completely safe. Unbelievable. So, the CO2 built up while we were out of the house all day. We were lucky we got home early that night. I'd hate to think about the cats being affected because of it let alone the house burning down. It took 2 hours for the firemen to put the darn thing out and now we have to think about how to repair it/insurance, etc. Ugh.

I'd love to be able to utilize the crock pot better but wind up using it on weekends when I can make a batch of something and freeze it for later use. We have the last of my home made split pea soup ready to defrost tonight

It's freaking cold out today!

How frightening. Definitely lucky you got home early that night.

sivyaleah · Feb 11, 2016

rubysmama said:
For sure. It makes you want to unplug everything when you leave the house. Or go to sleep.

So I guess I won't look at Bravetti ones. Or least not the one you have. Except for it cracking, what else didn't you like about it?

How frightening. Definitely lucky you got home early that night.

Yea. We thought it was the brand new furnace at first. Then Tom by chance happened to lean against the wall in the basement that the pit is in, and it was hot. The firemen had already been there once and found nothing, told us to call our hvac repair peeps and call them again if necessary. Well, they came back within minutes.

Was an interesting evening for sure. The poor kitties had to be put into a room to keep them from underfoot. They were the least pleased of everyone ROFL

ovetia · Feb 11, 2016

Just to offer a potentially dissenting opinion: at those prices for slow cookers I'd actually consider looking into an electrical pressure cooker as an option, especially a multi-function one. For about the price of those recommended slow cookers you can potentially get a pressure cooker that slow cooks and does a whole lot more.

I bought the Instant Pot Duo a little after Christmas (I'd been eyeing it up for a couple of months, it was on as a daily deal, and I had some gift money) and I really like it, though it's been mostly used for homemade yogurt at the moment

I dunno what kind of price you'd consider paying, but everything I've seen as the Instant Pot as the pressure cooker to buy.

As to how it runs, I've only used the pressure cooker, rice cooker, and yogurt maker settings. I think I've done something like 5 batches of live yogurt (at 50p a kilo plus electricity costs vs £2.50 a kilo bought at the supermarket); one attempt at ribs (so-so, they were almost there at 22 mins cooking time), beef stew (25 mins in the pressure cooker, 30 mins in the oven), and I'm going to be attempting a pressure cooker chicken curry tomorrow; and one batch of rice (a little watery, so a little less water next time). I still have to remind myself that it's okay if I haven't started a meal that needs a long time in a slow cooker or conventional oven because the pressure cooker means it takes about a third of the time.

Kat0121 · Feb 11, 2016

Ovetia said:
Just to offer a potentially dissenting opinion: at those prices for slow cookers I'd actually consider looking into an electrical pressure cooker as an option, especially a multi-function one. For about the price of those recommended slow cookers you can potentially get a pressure cooker that slow cooks and does a whole lot more.

I bought the Instant Pot Duo a little after Christmas (I'd been eyeing it up for a couple of months, it was on as a daily deal, and I had some gift money) and I really like it, though it's been mostly used for homemade yogurt at the moment

I dunno what kind of price you'd consider paying, but everything I've seen as the Instant Pot as the pressure cooker to buy.

As to how it runs, I've only used the pressure cooker, rice cooker, and yogurt maker settings. I think I've done something like 5 batches of live yogurt (at 50p a kilo plus electricity costs vs £2.50 a kilo bought at the supermarket); one attempt at ribs (so-so, they were almost there at 22 mins cooking time), beef stew (25 mins in the pressure cooker, 30 mins in the oven), and I'm going to be attempting a pressure cooker chicken curry tomorrow; and one batch of rice (a little watery, so a little less water next time). I still have to remind myself that it's okay if I haven't started a meal that needs a long time in a slow cooker or conventional oven because the pressure cooker means it takes about a third of the time.

That's a good point. There are reviews on this one on Youtube and the ones I have seen have been good. You can slow cook in it too and there is a rice setting as well as a bean setting.

catlover19 · Feb 11, 2016

It's mainly the temperature on he bravetti that I don't like. It needs a medium setting. Low is often too low and high gets so hot that it actually boils liquid.

kittyluv387 · Feb 11, 2016

I bought this one for $40 at the time. Fancy/programmable. So glad slow cooker is one appliance that's actually cheap.

rubysmama · Feb 12, 2016

Thanks @kittyluv387. That one looks pretty good. I like the option of setting the temperature.and the clips for the lid.

Winchester · Feb 12, 2016

Ovetia said:
Just to offer a potentially dissenting opinion: at those prices for slow cookers I'd actually consider looking into an electrical pressure cooker as an option, especially a multi-function one. For about the price of those recommended slow cookers you can potentially get a pressure cooker that slow cooks and does a whole lot more.

I bought the Instant Pot Duo a little after Christmas (I'd been eyeing it up for a couple of months, it was on as a daily deal, and I had some gift money) and I really like it, though it's been mostly used for homemade yogurt at the moment

I dunno what kind of price you'd consider paying, but everything I've seen as the Instant Pot as the pressure cooker to buy.

As to how it runs, I've only used the pressure cooker, rice cooker, and yogurt maker settings. I think I've done something like 5 batches of live yogurt (at 50p a kilo plus electricity costs vs £2.50 a kilo bought at the supermarket); one attempt at ribs (so-so, they were almost there at 22 mins cooking time), beef stew (25 mins in the pressure cooker, 30 mins in the oven), and I'm going to be attempting a pressure cooker chicken curry tomorrow; and one batch of rice (a little watery, so a little less water next time). I still have to remind myself that it's okay if I haven't started a meal that needs a long time in a slow cooker or conventional oven because the pressure cooker means it takes about a third of the time.

We have an electric pressure cooker and I really love that thing! It's completely programmable, digital and it works beautifully. Beef stew in less than an hour, good pasta sauce in about 30 minutes, stove top-type mac and cheese in less than 10, without the box. I've put a chicken carcass in it with water and veggies and out comes gorgeous chicken stock in about 60 minutes, versus the hours on the stove or in the oven. Cooks beans very well. Often, the food does not have to be thawed. It even browns the meat, so no extra pans to wash. I cannot complain about it.

When we did our kitchen over, the pressure cooker saved us more than once. We could work on the kitchen, then make a good dinner in the PC in about an hour, so there was no calling out for pizza or grabbing fast food. I can't say enough good things about our pressure cooker.

kittyluv387 · Feb 12, 2016

The clips are just for transportation or storage though. Not supposed to use it when cooking.

rubysmama · Feb 12, 2016

kittyluv387 said:
The clips are just for transportation or storage though. Not supposed to use it when cooking.

I wasn't aware of that. Thanks for the clarification.

rubysmama · Feb 13, 2016

My crockpot went out with the garbage yesterday, and I'm missing it already.

So I've been Googling different sites and reading reviews. Now I'm not sure what size I should get. Mine was a 6 quart, but I rarely filled it more than 1/2 full, so I'm wondering if I should get a smaller one.

What size do you all have? And how full do you usually fill it?

artiemom · Feb 13, 2016

Thanks for posting this thread! Several years ago, it was suggested to me go get a slow cooker, crock pot. I never did

Now, since I am getting lazier, I am thinking about buying one....

I need one which is a good size for one person; with enough for a day or 2 or leftovers.

rubysmama · Feb 14, 2016

@Artiemom: I didn't use my crockpot for the longest time, then I made a soup in it, and loved it. I mostly am only cooking for one person too, but I do freeze leftovers, which makes it easy to have a decent meal on days when I don't have the time or just don't feel like cooking.

I'm vegetarian, so I don't cook meat, but crockpots are supposedly great for cooking less tender cuts of meat.

I mostly use mine for making all different vegetable soups. I made lasagna once, and it turned out well, only I cooked it too long and some noodles were burnt, while at the same time mushy!

I also make baked beans in it.

I've read you can make applesauce and even oatmeal in them.

Since I'm also stuck on what size crockpot to buy, hopefully we'll get some replies to my query of the size crockpots others have.

Winchester · Feb 14, 2016

I have five slow cookers. The one I use most often is the (really) old Rival Crock Pot 5-quart with the ceramic insert. That's the one for crock pot stuffing, for the "baked" beans, for pot roasts, stews, chili, etc. It makes a lot, but I'm a firm believer is making meals ahead and freezing them, so it works out well. Wider than it is tall; I don't really like the old really tall cookers. Glass lid. I'm going to be in trouble when that one dies because I can't find one like it anywhere, not even on Ebay.

Two of them are about 3.5 quarts or so and I'm not fond of them. One has the metal insert and it burns and scorches the food. I should just throw the thing out and be done with it. The other one is oval and has a ceramic insert, but it's not really big enough for what I use a crock pot for.

One is a "dipper" crock pot. It holds enough of a dip for a few people and you simply plug it in to keep the dip warm. I do use it, but not that often. It came with the oval crock pot as a freebie....I didn't plan on actually buying it.

And the last one is the newest one, the 9 x 13 casserole crock pot. It's very deep and it works well. I used it yesterday to make baked corn for the large family turkey dinner at my sister's house. (Actually, I put baked the corn in the ceramic insert in the oven and then transported the baked corn to my sister's in the crock pot and simply plugged it in there to keep warm while we were working on the rest of the dinner.

denice · Feb 14, 2016

I have a Rival with a ceramic insert. It is a cheap one, no bells and whistles just low, high, and warm but it works really well. I usually use the low setting and things cook fine. I actually made a beef stew in it on Friday which is really good. I will be eating beef stew for a couple of more days. Of course I made too much and will probably not be able to finish it.

kittymomma1122 · Feb 14, 2016

I have two 6 quart with ceramic inserts, one 5 quart with a ceramic insert, one double crock maybe 1 1/2 quart each, a small freebie dip one, and a Ninja cooking system. I use my Ninja all the time because it can switch between electric fry pan, to slow cooker to oven setting. It is large though. I like my small double one because it has low, high and warm setting on each pot. Perfect for just my husband and I. My daughter is also vegetarian so I can do a meat lasange in one side and a vegetarian one in the other one. I only use the bigger crocks for holidays or special occasions. I want one of the rectangle casserole ones, but my husband says the pantry is already full.

stewball · Feb 14, 2016

Winchester said:
Rubysmama, when you say rectangle, do you mean the newish casserole-type crock pots? Like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/38762860?...89580552&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=88658214272&veh=sem

I have this one (in red) and I really like it. I've used it many times since we got it....we found it on sale at KMart, I think it was. It's from Rival and I like Rival crock pots. You can use the insert in your oven, too; that makes it nice if you're having a big dinner and you need an extra 9 x 13-inch casserole; it has come in handy for me that way. My one complaint about that particular crock pot is that the cord isn't very long at all and you almost need to have the crock pot really close to your receptacle....I understand why, but it's really too short, in my opinion. I will say that it seems to clean very well.

One thing you need to know about today's crock pots and slow cookers (and you probably know this already). :2cts: They cook faster than the crock pots from years ago. I'm serious. I have found that my newer crock pots will cook a meal in 5-6 hours versus the 8 hours that the older crock pots took. And that casserole crock pot is like that. I can put the food together in the crock pot and, more often than not, the food will be ready in about 6 hours.

My personal opinion about the crock pots with the stainless inserts is that they burn the food at the point where the food touches the insert. I've stopped using one of my crock pots for that reason.

There was a good article from America's Test Kitchen, probably Cook's Illustrated, about crock pots and slow cookers. They tested them, but I forget which one came out on top. If you'd like I can check on that tonight when I get home from work. I know that a lot of people seem to really like Hamilton Beach crock pots/ slow cookers. I don't have one, so I can't say.....mine are all from Rival.

That's probably more than you wanted to know, but well, you know me.....I write chapters of books sometimes!

If your wire is too short, you can make it longer by buying a special cord for both ends.

rubysmama · Feb 14, 2016

Winchester said:
I have five slow cookers. The one I use most often is the (really) old Rival Crock Pot 5-quart with the ceramic insert. That's the one for crock pot stuffing, for the "baked" beans, for pot roasts, stews, chili, etc. It makes a lot, but I'm a firm believer is making meals ahead and freezing them, so it works out well. Wider than it is tall; I don't really like the old really tall cookers. Glass lid. I'm going to be in trouble when that one dies because I can't find one like it anywhere, not even on Ebay.

I'm thinking 5-quart is what will work best for me too, as it is still large, but a bit smaller than the 6-quart I just threw out.

Hopefully the one you have will last a lot longer.

Denice said:
I have a Rival with a ceramic insert. It is a cheap one, no bells and whistles just low, high, and warm but it works really well. I usually use the low setting and things cook fine. I actually made a beef stew in it on Friday which is really good. I will be eating beef stew for a couple of more days. Of course I made too much and will probably not be able to finish it.

You can always freeze the leftovers.

KittyMomma1122 said:
I have two 6 quart with ceramic inserts, one 5 quart with a ceramic insert, one double crock maybe 1 1/2 quart each, a small freebie dip one, and a Ninja cooking system. I use my Ninja all the time because it can switch between electric fry pan, to slow cooker to oven setting. It is large though. I like my small double one because it has low, high and warm setting on each pot. Perfect for just my husband and I. My daughter is also vegetarian so I can do a meat lasange in one side and a vegetarian one in the other one. I only use the bigger crocks for holidays or special occasions. I want one of the rectangle casserole ones, but my husband says the pantry is already full.

I've never heard of the Ninja cooking system. Looks like something else to Google.

Winchester · Feb 17, 2016

KittyMomma1122 said:
I have two 6 quart with ceramic inserts, one 5 quart with a ceramic insert, one double crock maybe 1 1/2 quart each, a small freebie dip one, and a Ninja cooking system. I use my Ninja all the time because it can switch between electric fry pan, to slow cooker to oven setting. It is large though. I like my small double one because it has low, high and warm setting on each pot. Perfect for just my husband and I. My daughter is also vegetarian so I can do a meat lasange in one side and a vegetarian one in the other one. I only use the bigger crocks for holidays or special occasions. I want one of the rectangle casserole ones, but my husband says the pantry is already full.

Do you have a basement, KittyMomma1122? Rick built shelves for me in our basement to store the kitchen things I may not use every week, but still need to keep around. Things like the dehydrator, my canning supplies, the roasters, the electric roaster, the food grinder, the large coffee pot, the indoor grill, etc. I don't use them every week, but I do use them and so we keep them. When Mom passed away, my sister told me to take the small appliances; she figured that if she needed to use something, she knew where it was. She has a key to the house, so when she needs something, she'll call me, say she's coming over, and if we're not home, she comes in and takes what she needs.

We had a huge entertainment center in the living room and when we decided to get rid of it, I asked Rick if we could put it in the basement. He figured out where I was going with that and we took it apart, took it downstairs and put it back together. I use that for kitchen storage, too. That has casseroles and dishes that, again, I may not use regularly, but that I do use. I have two huge plastic containers of cookie cutters and I store them there. When I'm making cut-out cookies, I'll go down and root around, finding the cutters I want: for Christmas cookies, for other holiday cookies, etc. It works out well.

Rick built shelves under the steps going into the basement. I store my cans of food there: beans, tomato products, condensed milk, soups, etc. I do some canning in the summer and we store the jars on those shelves, too.

I realize that not everybody has a basement, but thought I'd mention it to you.

kittymomma1122 · Feb 17, 2016

No I do not have a basement. My mother passed also and left all her canning supplies, roasters ect... My dad is in a nursing home so everything of hers is still at her home. I need to learn how to can before I can use it. She was always by my side when we made sauces so I did what she told me while she was doing other things. I have two spare rooms with closets and extra room in my laundry room and a pantry. My husband doesn't get it because it is just us, but if there are any family get togethers I am elected because I am the only one that know how to cook.

I need to buy a new Slow Cooker - any suggestions?

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