Crock Pots

The Bread machine thread inspired me to ask if anyone here is into crock pot cooking?

I love to use my crock pot , but as my family grew I found I needed a new one larger , so I went to eopinions.com and amazon.com to read reviews on what was a good make and model . I was really surprised I couldn't find one decent review on a crock pot in the size range I was looking at (6-7 QT) they were all bad , from loose handles to easy to break stoneware , to the electronic timers were very limited.

I almost gave up , some how I ended up at sears.com They have a Kenmore Electronic Slow Cooker (Crock Pot is a trademark of the Rival Company everything else is a slow cooker...who knew lol ) This machine is 7QT , oval so you can fit larger cuts of meat , its totally electronic , you have the choice of low medium high and keep warm , you can use the stoneware in the fridge and the oven .heres how it works

I turn it on , and can set the time by 30 min increments , then I select the temp , and press start when its done cooking it turns over to warm for up to 6 hours then it shuts its self off, alternately you can not select a time limit and it will count up how long your food has been cooking.

it was a bargain 43$ shipping in which is less than most slow cookers in that size range and half the price of the leading electronic slow cooker. with more flexibility , in the other electronic slow cooker , you can only pick between 4 8 and 10 hours of cooking time.

So I make a slow cooker dinner , put the bread machine on and poof a hot yummy dinner with nice warm bread , I love technology!

Sounds like a nice one! I have one and it is the only way I'll cook chicken. I find that chicken from the oven is dry, but when I put it in the crock it's so juicy! I really need to get one with the removable pan, but I just haven't yet.

I love my slow cooker and use it mainly for stew and chilli. Since my apartment isn't air conditioned, I don't use I in hot weather.

I've been really wanting a crock pot for months now! I don't have much space in my kitchen though so I'm reluctant to buy another large appliance that is only used once in a while (like my breadmaker which I love but don't use more than once a month or so). I may check out sears.com now though lol!

Gotta have the kind where the pot can be removed from the electric elements and dishwasher safe. I HATE doing dishes!! LOL

I crock-potted a beef stew yesterday (yummy) on my Rival. I don't need a big size, as it's just hubbie and I. Leftovers for dinner tonight!

Originally posted by Big Kat
I've been really wanting a crock pot for months now! I don't have much space in my kitchen though so I'm reluctant to buy another large appliance that is only used once in a while (like my breadmaker which I love but don't use more than once a month or so). I may check out sears.com now though lol!

Click to expand...

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...ession.new=Yes

heres the link its even on sale !

I always loved my crock pot - and have had to live without one for over 20 years now, because they're not available here in Germany. Bringing one back from a visit to the U.S. isn't an option, because the current is different here (not to mention the plugs - here they have round tines).

I have one, with a removeable crock, too. Over the past 30 years, I've owned several, in varying sizes. When I was a single mother, chili, chicken noodle soup and roasts made sure that the kids got a hot meal, when I was too tired to cook, after work.

Nowadays, I use it for roasts, chili and beans.

I love the crock pot too!!! Really good to put a cheap cut of stk in. It makes it so tender. BROWN THE STK QUICK.... SATUE SOME ONIONS, THEN PUT IN CROCK...ADD 1 CAN OF CREAN OF MUSHROOM, THATS IT. COOK ON LOW 6 TO 7 HRS ...SO TENDER Good with noodles ,mash or rice. Makes a really nice gravy...
I can't believe there is no crock pots in Germany... Its funny how sometimes we take some things for granted....

Originally posted by oava
I can't believe there is no crock pots in Germany... Its funny how sometimes we take some things for granted....

Click to expand...

Electric frying pans, though available, are unpopular and hard to find, too. Two friends here (a Japanese-American and a Chinese-Briton) complained for years about not being able to get electric rice cookers. One day I actually saw some on display in a department store, and immediately bought them each one. Then again, some things that are "standard" here are difficult to find in North America. For example, almost all homes have shutters that roll down over the windows. They're really practical. Flat sheets and blankets aren't too common here; instead, our "bed linens" consist of down comforter/duvet covers with matching pillow cases. I'll attach a picture of JC on the bed - the stripes are on the comforter cover.

Originally posted by oava
I can't believe there is no crock pots in Germany... Its funny how sometimes we take some things for granted....

Click to expand...

Electric frying pans, though available, are unpopular and hard to find, too. Two friends here (a Japanese-American and a Chinese-Briton) complained for years about not being able to get electric rice cookers. One day I actually saw some on display in a department store, and immediately bought them each one. Then again, some things that are "standard" here are difficult to find in North America. For example, almost all homes have shutters that roll down over the windows. They're really practical. Flat sheets and blankets aren't too common here; instead, our "bed linens" consist of down comforter/duvet covers with matching pillow cases. I'll attach a picture of JC on the bed - the stripes are on the comforter cover.

I have a large oval crockpot (Rival) that I have been using for years...it lifts out of its base, as well. I love it! I am cooking a beef brisket in it tomorrow.

The shutters sound so cool,that would be so neat to have here. Are they inside or outside? what a good friend you are to pick up a rice stemer for your friends. Have you ever used one? I have heard about these, and wonder if they were worth using verses boiling.

You guys are making me hungry.*drools*

Originally posted by oava
The shutters sound so cool,that would be so neat to have here. Are they inside or outside? what a good friend you are to pick up a rice stemer for your friends. Have you ever used one? I have heard about these, and wonder if they were worth using verses boiling.

Click to expand...

The shutters are outside - they run along tracks outside the window frames, but you open and close them vertically from inside with a sort of strap set into the wall beside the window. I thought about getting myself an electric rice cooker, but we don't eat rice all that often, since my husband doesn't like it. Instead, I have a "rice ball", which looks like a giant "tea egg". You fill about 1/4 of it with rice, close it, and "hang" it in a pot of boiling water. It's great - nothing sticks, the pot is easy to clean, and you can put the ball in the dishwasher. My friends deserved the steamers - one helps me out with computer/cell phone problems (he went to M.I.T.), and the other picks up my favorite Chinese videos (with English subtitles) when he goes to Hong Kong. I was so pleased with myself when I found the rice cookers, since it was a great way to repay them for all their help over the years.