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Crockpot/Slow Cooker to go


DawnM
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I go to a lot of potluck dinners between church and scouts, usually about 2 per month minimum.

 

I had a crockpot that clasped shut but the clasp broke very easily within a couple of months.  Since then, I have been taking cold foods, which is also ok, but I would like to start taking hot dishes again.

 

Is there one that won't break easily?  I am looking at the Hamilton Beach Stay N Go, but the plastic thingies on top look like they could break.  

 

Thoughts?

 

Dawn

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I have tried that many times, only to have huge spills.  I really need something sturdier that won't spill at all and that I don't have to worry about.

 

Dawn

 

 

Get a crockpot you like and a couple bungee cords to wrap around the pot. Line a sturdy cardboard box with a towel and place the bungee corded crockpot inside.

This works well for me!

I get boxes from liquor stores and use them until they are too beat up. Then I get more!

 

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The ones that seal have a rubber gasket seal type thing that helps prevent spills.

 

I currently have an older crockpot, like a 70s one, and I love it, but it does not transport well, even with bungies. The glass directly on the ceramic leaves room for soup to seep through easily.

 

I have tried it too many times to want to keep trying.  Dh is still mad about the large chili stain on the carpet in the trunk of my SUV.  It seeped through the cardboard box.

 

I want simple......seal it and go......

 

That stinks.

I've never had a spill with mine, especially if I wedge the box in a corner of the trunk.

 

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The ones that seal have a rubber gasket seal type thing that helps prevent spills.

 

I currently have an older crockpot, like a 70s one, and I love it, but it does not transport well, even with bungies. The glass directly on the ceramic leaves room for soup to seep through easily.

 

I have tried it too many times to want to keep trying.  Dh is still mad about the large chili stain on the carpet in the trunk of my SUV.  It seeped through the cardboard box.

 

I want simple......seal it and go......

 

But did you wrap it in towels? I do much like Unsinkable except I use rubberbands around the lid handle and the cooker handle--one on each side. Then I place the whole thing on 2 towels and load it all into a laundry basket. I think even if you have a sealing lid it makes good sense to wrap the whole thing in towels and load it into a basket/box; it just adds another layer of protection. And makes it easier to transport IMO.

 

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The ones that seal have a rubber gasket seal type thing that helps prevent spills.

 

I currently have an older crockpot, like a 70s one, and I love it, but it does not transport well, even with bungies. The glass directly on the ceramic leaves room for soup to seep through easily.

 

I have tried it too many times to want to keep trying. Dh is still mad about the large chili stain on the carpet in the trunk of my SUV. It seeped through the cardboard box.

 

I want simple......seal it and go......

Ugh. I'm sorry. I wish there was a reliable,msturdy option I could recommend.

 

I brought chicken wings home and the grease leaked out onto one of our van's seats. The towel* I put them on soaked up some of it but some still got on the seat. I got it all cleaned up without a stain, by scrubbing and blotting using dish detergent.

 

I told DH about it, in passing, and he asked me to show him where it happened. I was like, "are you sure you want to go check up on me?" :lol: There is something about cars...he couldn't care less about stains on furniture or clothes.

 

*We have dozens and dozens of these little towels that DH brings home from work. They come in surgery kits or something and they throw them out without using them. We keep stacks in the vehicles just in case.

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What about buying a new crockpot that has that gasket but just don't use the latch? Use a bungee cord instead. It'll give you the gasket protection but you won't have to worry about the latch breaking. 

I have a travel one with the gasket and latch and if my latch broke within the first few months, you can bet I'd be calling the manufacturer.  That shouldn't happen. 

 

When we take ours somewhere, we put it on one of those non-skid drawer liner things in the trunk or the floor of the car. I'd never put it on a seat- after years of transporting cakes, I know that seats are NOT good for anything you need to stay level while you're moving. 

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I told DH about it, in passing, and he asked me to show him where it happened. I was like, "are you sure you want to go check up on me?" :lol: There is something about cars...he couldn't care less about stains on furniture or clothes.

 

This part made me laugh because there *is* something about cars. We just went on a vacation and dh was antsy about getting the car cleaned out before we left. I was antsy about getting the house cleaned up before we left. He didn't care if the house was cleaned up or not as long as we were driving a clean car. And I didn't care if the car was cleaned or not as long as I could come home to a clean house.  :laugh:

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I have the Hamilton Beach Stay and Go and really like it.  I have had it for about five years.

 

I also have an older-style 70's crock pot.  I find rubber bands work well .  Wrap one on each side around the handle and the knob on the lid.  I find I can get those tighter than a bungee and they have less give.

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I have never seen them that have the gasket without the latch.

 

I have never put it on a seat, only ever on the floor.

 

 

What about buying a new crockpot that has that gasket but just don't use the latch? Use a bungee cord instead. It'll give you the gasket protection but you won't have to worry about the latch breaking. 

I have a travel one with the gasket and latch and if my latch broke within the first few months, you can bet I'd be calling the manufacturer.  That shouldn't happen. 

 

When we take ours somewhere, we put it on one of those non-skid drawer liner things in the trunk or the floor of the car. I'd never put it on a seat- after years of transporting cakes, I know that seats are NOT good for anything you need to stay level while you're moving. 

 

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I have tried those too!

 

I have the Hamilton Beach Stay and Go and really like it.  I have had it for about five years.

 

I also have an older-style 70's crock pot.  I find rubber bands work well .  Wrap one on each side around the handle and the knob on the lid.  I find I can get those tighter than a bungee and they have less give.

 

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http://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RPSL-350-Quart-Slow-Cooker/dp/B0013IR88A

 

I have one similiar to this set up. It was a different brand, but the cord around the lid is the same.

Actually, it was too big for me, and the crock was too heavy, so I passed it along to my daughter.  The elastic cord when attached properly held the lid in place just fine.  I put mine on one handle, then twisted it, the looped over the knob, twisted it again, then went over to the other handle.  Much more secure than the way they are showing it here.

 

 

Edited to add this link which is what I had.

 

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hamilton-Beach-5-Quart-Portable-Slow-Cooker/15229926

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Get a crockpot you like and a couple bungee cords to wrap around the pot. Line a sturdy cardboard box with a towel and place the bungee corded crockpot inside.

 

This works well for me!

 

I get boxes from liquor stores and use them until they are too beat up. Then I get more!

OMGosh. I'm quoting myself because I look so darn excited about getting boxes from the liquor store. !!!

 

:rofl:

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No, I don't want to ruin my towels.

honestly, I just want to snap it shut.   I have dealt with using bungies or rubber bands, and then needing to find a box that it would fit in and some sort of wrapping (tin foil, etc...) and then getting it home and having to unload it and typically there is a mess and we have to throw the box away and then find a new one next time.

 

I just want this to be simple.  I go to so many pot lucks that extra work just makes me want to go get a bag of chips and forget dealing with it.

 

 

But did you wrap it in towels? I do much like Unsinkable except I use rubberbands around the lid handle and the cooker handle--one on each side. Then I place the whole thing on 2 towels and load it all into a laundry basket. I think even if you have a sealing lid it makes good sense to wrap the whole thing in towels and load it into a basket/box; it just adds another layer of protection. And makes it easier to transport IMO.
 

 

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No, I don't want to ruin my towels.

honestly, I just want to snap it shut.   I have dealt with using bungies or rubber bands, and then needing to find a box that it would fit in and some sort of wrapping (tin foil, etc...) and then getting it home and having to unload it and typically there is a mess and we have to throw the box away and then find a new one next time.

 

I just want this to be simple.  I go to so many pot lucks that extra work just makes me want to go get a bag of chips and forget dealing with it.

 

I only use my most ancient, saved-for-clean-up-but-still-have-lots-of-absorption towels. They're already ruined. :laugh:  But I rarely have spills because the towels help wedge the crockpot fairly snugly into the basket. Actually instead of a laundry basket I most often use a large rubbermaid tote (I think it's the 14q size, possibly 18q?); works even better because it's a smidge narrower than the laundry basket.

 

What kind of food are you transporting? Perhaps less liquid-y foods would work out better--mac-n-cheese, pulled pork/chicken, something like that?

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But did you wrap it in towels? I do much like Unsinkable except I use rubberbands around the lid handle and the cooker handle--one on each side. Then I place the whole thing on 2 towels and load it all into a laundry basket. I think even if you have a sealing lid it makes good sense to wrap the whole thing in towels and load it into a basket/box; it just adds another layer of protection. And makes it easier to transport IMO.

 

 

This is how I transport mine. The towel catches spills (I use and old beach towel) and it insulates the put to keep the food warm.

 

OMGosh. I'm quoting myself because I look so darn excited about getting boxes from the liquor store. !!!

:rofl:

I suspect you buy a full case and empty it yourself.

 

 

If you get sturdy rubber bands and store them on your cord they will always be at hand. Maybe you need one of those soft, zippered coolers to carry it in so you'll know that if there is a spill it is contained and the cooler can be washed out. Perhaps you should figure out a way to create your own gasket. You need a flexible, food-grade material to go between the lid and the crock. Some sort of thin, rubber lid-like thing that will give you the seal you want.

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Guys, I appreciate you trying to help me find a way to use a regular crockpot, but I really don't want to have to keep fiddling with trying to rubber band it, wrap it in towels, find a basket, and still worry about spills.

I need another crockpot anyway, so I may as well get one that is already set for transporting easily.  

 

Dawn

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The ones that seal have a rubber gasket seal type thing that helps prevent spills.

 

I currently have an older crockpot, like a 70s one, and I love it, but it does not transport well, even with bungies. The glass directly on the ceramic leaves room for soup to seep through easily.

 

I have tried it too many times to want to keep trying.  Dh is still mad about the large chili stain on the carpet in the trunk of my SUV.  It seeped through the cardboard box.

 

I want simple......seal it and go......

 

Put the crockpot into a large plastic container like a dishpan, laundry basket, rubbermaid box, etc.  it will contain the spill.

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I don't have a crockpot with clamps but this is how I transport stuff. We used to take turns making chili to sell at games. I made the chili, then put it into a large Rubbermaid type container with a lid. I put this into a box just in case. Then I took it and my crock pot, and filled the crock pot when I got there.

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If you don't need to plug it in, you could get a thermal cooker instead ... you boil it before you go, then put it in the insulated container. It's designed to be used on the go, so spills shouldn't be a problem.

 

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NZV95C/ref=pd_luc_rh_sbs_01_04_t_lh?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00432OQVK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3SQ9YFE6CSCS0

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That is an interesting idea.  

 

My issue right now is time.  I am really needing to throw things in the crockpot in the am and grab and go in the PM.

 

This year is just crazy with time constraints.

 

Dawn

 

 

If you don't need to plug it in, you could get a thermal cooker instead ... you boil it before you go, then put it in the insulated container. It's designed to be used on the go, so spills shouldn't be a problem.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NZV95C/ref=pd_luc_rh_sbs_01_04_t_lh?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00432OQVK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3SQ9YFE6CSCS0

 

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No, I don't want to ruin my towels.

honestly, I just want to snap it shut. I have dealt with using bungies or rubber bands, and then needing to find a box that it would fit in and some sort of wrapping (tin foil, etc...) and then getting it home and having to unload it and typically there is a mess and we have to throw the box away and then find a new one next time.

 

I just want this to be simple. I go to so many pot lucks that extra work just makes me want to go get a bag of chips and forget dealing with it.

I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

 

I don't want you feel like we're deliberately ignoring what you want, like you asked for secular science and we recommended Answers in Genesis.

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I didn't know they made crock pots with latches. I have two. One is 20 years old with just a lid. The other is about 8 years old with a rubber seal on the lid. It's a pretty big crock pot. I transported that one this afternoon. I've never had a spill. I don't use cords or towels. I just stick it in my van and go. This probably isn't what you want to hear either, but I'd use a larger crock pot and not fill it so full.

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