Programmable Slow Cooker Recommendations?

[MamaSheep]

I'm thinking that for various reasons I want to acquire a programmable slow cooker. Does anyone out there have a brand/model that they love and would recommend? Are there some I should stay away from?

[MamaSheep]

What, NOBODY?

 

I refuse to believe that NOBODY on THIS board has an opinion about slow cookers. The very notion stretches credulity WAAAAY beyond the breakingpoint. It just does.

[jenn-]

I love this one.

 

Hamilton Beach

[MamaSheep]

Thanks! That is one of the ones I was looking at. What do you like about it?

 

The main reason I want a programmable one is that sometimes when I cook things overnight for breakfast they get a bit too well done around the edges, and it would be nice to have a cooker that automatically switches to "keep warm" when it's done.

 

One of the things I'm trying to decide is whether a 6 quart is too big for 4 people. But I do think I maybe want one big enough to hold a whole chicken. The one I have now is too small. But I can't remember what size it is either. I may have to get out a quart jar and count how many jars of water it holds or something.

[tots2teens]

This is the one I have:

http://www.amazon.com/Crock-Pot-SCCPVL610-S-6-Quart-Programmable-Stainless/dp/B004P2NG0K/ref=pd_sbs_k_1

 

I love it! I use it 2-3 times a week. We are a family of 6 and the 6 qt size is perfect! When it is done cooking, it switches automatically to warm mode. Everything always turns out great.

[jenn-]

Thanks! That is one of the ones I was looking at. What do you like about it?

 

The main reason I want a programmable one is that sometimes when I cook things overnight for breakfast they get a bit too well done around the edges, and it would be nice to have a cooker that automatically switches to "keep warm" when it's done.

 

One of the things I'm trying to decide is whether a 6 quart is too big for 4 people. But I do think I maybe want one big enough to hold a whole chicken. The one I have now is too small. But I can't remember what size it is either. I may have to get out a quart jar and count how many jars of water it holds or something.

 

I think they might have a 5 qt version. I have owned several slow cookers, all were CrockPot brand. Each and every one of them would over cook meat in hours. I could start with frozen chicken breast at 8am and by 1 they would dry as a bone and that was while being cooked on keep warm. It was so bad that the only thing I would cook in them were vegetarian meals. This Hamilton Beach is the first slow cooker that actually cooks slowly enough that I can through a roast (or chicken breast) in the morning and not have dried up meat for dinner. I have a 5 qt by the same brand but it is not programmable, but it still works well for when we go camping.

[MamaSheep]

Do you find the probe useful, or just another hassle? And does steam escape out the hole if you're not using it?

[jenn-]

I lost the probe shortly after receiving it. I do not find that steam escapes from the hole. I vaguely remember being annoyed with it when I did use it once. I think it got the meat up to a certain temperature and then cut the whole thing back to keep warm. Unfortunately most meats that are going in the slow cooker are meant to be cooked low and slow so you are trying to maintain a low temperature for a longer time, not just get it there and stop.

[Annie G]

I have the Hamilton Beach one linked above. Love it. Never used the probe, though. But I love the programmable feature and the crockpot has been used quite a bit during the past two years. I'd like a smaller one just like it- this is really large for our little family- usually just three of us eat what I cook in it.