Mama2Three Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I mean on purpose. To cook a casserole or something. I just found out about lead in crockpots while doing research for a new crockpot, and it has me thinking about alternatives. I know some have suggested the sunoven, but I just don't see that as a practical, everyday solution. I'm wondering if I could put something in the oven and leave it cooking for several hours while I'm away. I've never done that before, and to be frank, the thought is rather unnerving. But maybe it's not much different than cooking in a crockpot. So, what say the hive? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraGB Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Yes. I do it all the time or some days we'd have no dinner because I wouldn't be here to cook it. Can't say I think it's the safest thing in the world, but I do it. I do worry that on those days I'll get into an accident and not make it home and then my house would burn down...but I still do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I have done it. Only several hours for a roast, but I leave things in for a short time while I pick up a kid or something like that fairly often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peri Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Well my oven has a cook timer , so I will set it to automatically turn off after a certain amount of time. It's very convienient. I don't have to worry about fogetting, not getting home on time, or anything like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA6336 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 My gas stove has a timer to turn itself on and one to turn itself off. I think it's designed that way so it can be used on the Jewish Sabbath, we're not Jewish but we've used the settings! Mostly for things that need to cook a long time like a roast on a day we'll have company and I'm going to be gone all afternoon. I've sometimes made up quick bread batter (like pumpkin bread or nut bread) and left it in the oven overnight, setting it to bake itself right before I get up. My kids love breakfast, but I don't function super great first thing in the morning. Certainly not well enough to actually cook something! My only concern is leaving things in the oven too long before it turns on, I don't want to invite bacteria while it's not being refrigerated. So I'm picky about what I put in and how long it's there before cooking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Not a chance. I won't leave on the washer/dryer either while I am gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I said 'no' because in just the past year, my stove blew a fuse and sparks flew everywhere in behind the oven, where it could have set the wall, floor or cabinets on fire. I've never had this happen with an oven before, but products are made more and more shoddily and just can't be trusted any more to work as they once were designed to work.... One large eye on this same stove has never worked properly, despite being worked on over and over again. I think 3 of the four eyes have had to be redone - and this stove is less than 5 years old.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 No way. And if something happened, the insurance would not pay because it would be considered negligence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 No. Fear of fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Quick trips only at low temps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I can program my oven to turn on, bake at a certain temp, and turn off after a certain amount of time. It's FANTASTIC. I use it when we're going to be gone all day and get home right before dinner time. I can come home to a hot meal and all I have to do is throw together a salad or quickly sauté some extra veggies, etc. I mostly use it for dry beans (I had NO idea they would cook so well in the oven!) and brown rice or frozen (prepared or homemade) lasagna, etc, so far... My range is a new-ish gas/electric dual fuel and I luuuurve it. Someone mentioned not leaving the washer or dryer on when they leave. I don't leave my dryer on 'cause unlike my oven, it *won't* turn itself off any more. Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2denj Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 No, I am paranoid about having things plugged in or turned on when gone or in bed at night!! I am also a little OCD. It drives my husband crazy! I check the locks and stove and candles 3 or 4 times before I go to bed!:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Well my oven has a cook timer , so I will set it to automatically turn off after a certain amount of time. It's very convienient. I don't have to worry about fogetting, not getting home on time, or anything like that. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I do it all the time. My afternoons are spent running kids around to activities, so that's the only way I can make sure dinner gets done. It does have a timer that I can set to turn on/off at a certain time and I only use low temps when I'm gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Sort of... dh works nights so he's always home and I'm sure I've done it for a roast for a little while. I leave the kids home "alone" that way often as well. He's asleep, but I'll open the door and tell him I'm gone - he'll sort of grunt that he heard me and then roll back over. It's probably horribly unsafe (for the oven... not the kids - I mean, if the kids have a problem, they'll go get him - if the oven has a problem it'll just blow up or something) but there it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txhomemom Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I have never left my oven on while gone, but then again I am not much of a cook. I try not to leave anything else running either like washer, dryer, or dishwasher. We have had several bad incidents with electrical appliances. Once when we were washing clothes and the washer was completely full of water, the hose on the back of the washer came off and flooded our first floor. My hubby was upstairs at the time and I was at the store, so we didn't notice it until it was too late and all the water had overflowed. It ruined our flooring, baseboards, and some wallpaper in the kitchen. We have had dishwashers that started cooking (melting them) the dishes inside. Every now and then something would fall down into the heating element and burn so bad that smoke was coming out of the dishwasher. Don't know if it would actually burn the house down, but I figure I don't want to find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyB Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 No. My dad was a firefighter when I was a kid, so I am really paranoid about stuff like that. I don't leave the dryer running either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I do. Dryer, too. That's me, tempting fate all over the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathkath Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Well my oven has a cook timer , so I will set it to automatically turn off after a certain amount of time. It's very convienient. I don't have to worry about fogetting, not getting home on time, or anything like that. ditto--and delay start too, so I can put something in to start in an hour or 2 (or 3) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Other because if my electric oven had one of those automatic on/off timers then I'd preset it & go. I used to do that before I moved into this house where I have the only electric stove I can remember that doesn't have that feature. Without that, I will only leave it on if someone else is at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I said 'no' because in just the past year, my stove blew a fuse and sparks flew everywhere in behind the oven, where it could have set the wall, floor or cabinets on fire. I've never had this happen with an oven before, but products are made more and more shoddily and just can't be trusted any more to work as they once were designed to work.... One large eye on this same stove has never worked properly, despite being worked on over and over again. I think 3 of the four eyes have had to be redone - and this stove is less than 5 years old.... Just curious--what kind of stove is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 No. My dad was a firefighter when I was a kid, so I am really paranoid about stuff like that. I don't leave the dryer running either. Isn't it amazing how much our parents' jobs can affect us? I still can't bring myself to go on a motorcycle because of what my dad saw in the ER. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I mean on purpose. To cook a casserole or something. I just found out about lead in crockpots while doing research for a new crockpot, and it has me thinking about alternatives. I know some have suggested the sunoven, but I just don't see that as a practical, everyday solution. I'm wondering if I could put something in the oven and leave it cooking for several hours while I'm away. I've never done that before, and to be frank, the thought is rather unnerving. But maybe it's not much different than cooking in a crockpot. So, what say the hive? ;) I voted yes (electric oven) as I am often not in the house when something is in the oven. I'm usually in the farmyard, though. I don't normally oven cook things for a really long (2 hours or more) amount of time. If I need to be away, I'll use the crockpot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i.love.lucy Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I do.Dryer, too. That's me, tempting fate all over the place. Me too. I also use my probably lead filled crock pot and my alien-inviting microwave. It might be an early end for all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest momk2000 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Never. I don't leave any appliances running when I am out, it's just not worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 No way. Twice now I've had the coil literally burn on our electric oven and the thought of that possibly happening while I'm out of the house gives me the shudders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Well my oven has a cook timer , so I will set it to automatically turn off after a certain amount of time. It's very convienient. I don't have to worry about fogetting, not getting home on time, or anything like that. Yep. This one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I have, for very short periods of time, when I am slow-cooking something that has the oven on for 6-8 hours at a low temperature. It is not something I make a regular practice of doing. Our oven at least has some interlocks that would keep the gas from firing if it wasn't lighting. I do not leave the washer or dryer running when I am gone. It only takes one instrument failure on those to cause either a flood or fire. I also don't leave the toaster plugged in. The house next door had a fire due to a toaster oven shorting out while nobody was home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenL Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I voted no as I'm so fearful of my home burning down. I don't even leave our toaster oven plugged in. I can't leave with the washer/dryer and/or dishwasher running either. I know me being here may not help if something were catch fire; however, it just makes me feel more comfortable having everything off when I leave the house. This is where I am neurotic :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Me too. I also use my probably lead filled crock pot and my alien-inviting microwave. It might be an early end for all of us. This is me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsrevmeg Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I had an oven element burn out one time when I lived in an apartment. If I had not been right there when it happened it could have burned down our home as well as all the others in our building. Even though my oven now has a timer and we live out disconnected from everyone and everything, I still am too paranoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 My gas stove has a timer to turn itself on and one to turn itself off. I think it's designed that way so it can be used on the Jewish Sabbath, we're not Jewish but we've used the settings! <SNIP> Yep, they call it sabbath mode, but it actually can't even be used on sabbath (when we can't cook or open the oven, thus causing the thermostat to turn the heat on again). We can use it on non-sabbath holidays when we can actually cook in an oven, but the oven has to be turned off before the holiday starts. So really, it should be called holiday mode. :) :) :) And all "sabbath mode" does is prevent the oven from automatically shutting off after 12 hours, and makes the light bulb not come on when you open the door. Just a little trivia... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilymax Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 No. DH was a safety officer in the Navy and would kill me even if I didn't burn the house down! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 My mom did this often and we survived. However, I just can't do it! Just seems too unsafe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Other, I have a slow combustion wood stove. I cook things in the oven all the time while I am out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 The heating element in our oven has shorted out and caught on fire twice. So no, I would never leave the house with the oven on. We are going to get a new stove when I get my bonus next month, but I still won't leave with the oven on because even new things don't always work the way they're supposed to. We once had a brand new ceiling fan short out and catch on fire in the room where dd16 (then a baby) was sleeping. If dh had not been in the next room and saw what was happening while the fire was small, dd very well might have died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 An oven set low is similar to a crock pot and those that turn off automatically are even better. I have no problem doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 No, but then again I don't leave the dryer running or the toaster plugged in either. It drives my DH nuts that half the time I wait until the dryer is done before I fall asleep. I have a very strong fear of fire, stemming as far back as my childhood. I was the kid that snuck back downstairs to make sure the fire in the fireplace was completely out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 No, absolutely not. I don't leave the dryer running either. A couple years ago, a local family nearly lost the entire house when the dryer caught fire. They had done a load of laundry right before bed and left the dryer running. The smoke alarm woke them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 No way. Twice now I've had the coil literally burn on our electric oven and the thought of that possibly happening while I'm out of the house gives me the shudders. I had an oven element burn out one time when I lived in an apartment. If I had not been right there when it happened it could have burned down our home as well as all the others in our building. Even though my oven now has a timer and we live out disconnected from everyone and everything, I still am too paranoid. The question I was going to ask here was, did food fall on the elements? The heating element in our oven has shorted out and caught on fire twice. So no, I would never leave the house with the oven on. We are going to get a new stove when I get my bonus next month, but I still won't leave with the oven on because even new things don't always work the way they're supposed to. We once had a brand new ceiling fan short out and catch on fire in the room where dd16 (then a baby) was sleeping. If dh had not been in the next room and saw what was happening while the fire was small, dd very well might have died. Wow, now that's a concern. Our cheapo stove that came with our house has already had one of the surface elements go. If dh didn't want to wait until the stove was really done for, I'd have replaced it by now. Guess I won't be leaving dd home alone with the oven on anymore unless I'm in the yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I haven't read all the responses, so maybe this has been mentioned, but... This is what you need: http://www.rayburn-web.co.uk/ I'm sure you can find an American supplier. It's an oven that can cook like a slow cooker. We have one, but the temperature control in it doesn't work, so we don't get the full benefit. I've heard they're wonderful when they work properly, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 The question I was going to ask here was, did food fall on the elements? For my instance, no, food did not fall on the elements. Still freaked me out good though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 The question I was going to ask here was, did food fall on the elements? . Food does not have to fall on them. I witnessed the top heating element in our late toaster oven burn out - it just broke open at one spot, started shooting sparks, and then went into flames. Fortunately I was right there. I unplugged it and left the door shut and it went out on its own. If it had remained plugged in, I suspect it would have been worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Food does not have to fall on them. I witnessed the top heating element in our late toaster oven burn out - it just broke open at one spot, started shooting sparks, and then went into flames. Fortunately I was right there. I unplugged it and left the door shut and it went out on its own. If it had remained plugged in, I suspect it would have been worse. This happened to one of the burners (aka elements) on our stove. Dh was sure it was because of water spilling on it sometimes when it was wet. But the fuse blew & it stopped. Is this something that has always happened, or is it that newer stoves are made of inferior materials? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 Sears Kenmore. I'll never buy another Kenmore appliance. We replaced our entire kitchen at the same time with all Kenmore and we've had nothing but trouble with every single piece of it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsrevmeg Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 This happened to one of the burners (aka elements) on our stove. Dh was sure it was because of water spilling on it sometimes when it was wet. But the fuse blew & it stopped. Is this something that has always happened, or is it that newer stoves are made of inferior materials? Ours was an older GE, no food or liquid in it. I was preheating it to put a chicken or a duck or something in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 Not a chance. I won't leave on the washer/dryer either while I am gone. Diddo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 Yes, I do. I'll leave the dryer running also. I do wet used matches before tossing them in the trash, if that gains me any safety cred ;). My dad was OCD on fire safety (his childhood home burned down), and I always tended to react the opposite way. Dad (upon discovering that I left the dryer running): Do you want the house to catch fire when you're gone?? Mini-me (genuinely puzzled): Well, I don't want it to catch fire when I'm here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2Three Posted November 1, 2010 Author Share Posted November 1, 2010 Thank you for your replies. Interesting that the yays and nays are rather even. I'll check to see if our oven has a timer, but since we just bought our house and I suspect that it's an older electric model, I might decline for now. I do try to worry about about real threats vs. something that's not as likely to happen. Just not sure which camp this falls into. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissKNG Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 No way. Before I was born, my family completely lost their home from a fire. Not due to leaving something on - it was an electrical fire - but I grew up in a "fear of fire" atmosphere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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