talk to me about crock pots

[ProudGrandma]

I have a old crock pot...and it's time to replace it....actually my husband told me it's time to replace it...but when I went to look on amazon, crockpots come in all shapes and sizes and some are super fancy...others are very basic (which is what I have now)....so...tell me what you have (a link would be awesome) especially if you really like it.  Maybe you can tell me why you like...or even dislike a certain one.  Thanks.

[Arctic Bunny]

Mine is exactly what I wanted. High/Low/Warm. Timer that turns it to warm when done. Clips to keep the lid on when taking it somewhere.

My previous one had many functions, and a probe to automatically turn it off when done. Didn’t use any of that. Also had a hinged lid, which was nice for potlucks, but also the first thing to break.

[ProudGrandma]

1 minute ago, arctic_bunny said:

Mine is exactly what I wanted. High/Low/Warm. Timer that turns it to warm when done. Clips to keep the lid on when taking it somewhere.

My previous one had many functions, and a probe to automatically turn it off when done. Didn’t use any of that. Also had a hinged lid, which was nice for potlucks, but also the first thing to break.

so can you link me this one?  This sounds perfect to me.

[KatieJ]

I replaced a very old crock pot that loved, with a ninja slow cooker.

I love it. You can use it as a cook top and brown your burger before you add chili beans, for example, and then switch over to slow cooker function. It does have an oven setting, but I have not explored that at all. 

..The liner is not heavy (seriously can’t handle heavy crock pot liners).

It does have an elastic strap to secure lid for traveling. 

 

[ProudGrandma]

3 minutes ago, KatieinMich said:

I replaced a very old crock pot that loved, with a ninja slow cooker.

I love it. You can use it as a cook top and brown your burger before you add chili beans, for example, and then switch over to slow cooker function. It does have an oven setting, but I have not explored that at all. 

..The liner is not heavy (seriously can’t handle heavy crock pot liners).

It does have an elastic strap to secure lid for traveling. 

 

ohh.....link me this one please...I REALLY like this too...

[KatieJ]

 It’s on amazon for 129.00 I got it at Costco about 5 years ago for under a 100.00

newer version has more features. But I would love the glass lid!

3 minutes ago, kfeusse said:

ohh.....link me this one please...I REALLY like this too...

https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-80-Pre-Programmed-Steaming-Nonstick-CS960/dp/B074WN8JRL/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2DP1VOKEHQXWX&keywords=ninja+slow+cooker&qid=1575640737&sprefix=Ninja+slow%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-3

Edited December 6, 2019 by KatieinMich

[alisoncooks]

Following. My crockpot is 20 years old, and I'll be heartbroken when it finally goes. I've already had to buy 2 replacement lids off eBay just because I want willing to move on... 

[Bambam]

I have a basic-ish one - hot/low/warm. It does have a probe to tell when things are done, but I never used it and have no idea where it is. It does have a lockable lid - which is great when you are transporting food. Those three temps are all I need. 

However, I've started using my Instantpot as a slow cooker too. Unless I'm making a huge amount of stuff (like for a potluck), the InstantPot works well as a slow cooker too. 

[ProudGrandma]

2 minutes ago, Bambam said:

I have a basic-ish one - hot/low/warm. It does have a probe to tell when things are done, but I never used it and have no idea where it is. It does have a lockable lid - which is great when you are transporting food. Those three temps are all I need. 

However, I've started using my Instantpot as a slow cooker too. Unless I'm making a huge amount of stuff (like for a potluck), the InstantPot works well as a slow cooker too. 

I have an instant pot too...and I have never used the slow cooker option....I might need to look into that, huh?  Thanks. 

[G5052]

I do like mine with a timer. I got a really good sauce this week from Trader Joe's and dumped it over bone-in chicken parts with red peppers. I didn't want the chicken to dry out while I was out, so the timer prevented that. When we moved, I gave my biggest crock pot to a friend because I didn't see us doing a lot of entertaining any time soon, and I've been fine. I have a smallish one and one that can hold a good-sized chicken, and that is enough. 

Sometimes I use my Instant pot as a slow cooker too. It is nice that I can brown in the pot and then cook it. I make myself hamburger-and-cabbage soup to freeze, and I make a big batch that way. 

[KungFuPanda]

My crockpot is from the early 90s.  I thought about replacing it once, but then I read that the newer ones didn't cook the same . . . something about cooking at higher heat? I don't remember, but it was enough that I held on to my reliable one.  It's still going.  When it dies I'll probably replace it with one of those multi-cookers.  It seems the longer I hold out, the more features the multi-cookers have.  Now there's one with an air fry setting.  My crockpot is an ugly, blue flowered eyesore but there is nothing wrong with the way it functions.  I just hide it when it's not in use. 😂

ETA, my rice cooker also has a slow cooker feature, so I actually have two slow cookers in the house.  I'm not sure there's a great reason to own an appliance that only does slow cooking anymore.  Heck, my oven is even programmable and can be set to really low temperatures.  I didn't have these options when I got my crockpot as a newlywed.  

Edited December 6, 2019 by KungFuPanda

[PeterPan]

The oldest crockpots have lead in the glazing, which is why people are replacing them.

Mine has a simple time select (4/6 high, 2/4 low) and I think a timer would be better. This one reviews exceptionally well 

                                            Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel                                     

Fwiw, I also really like my basic crockpots I got from JCPenny on deals. So handy when you're only cooking for 2-3 people. It's like this, 3qt, just maybe their cooks brand or whatever, don't remember. I only paid $10 on a deal, lol. https://www.jcpenney.com/p/hamilton-beach-3-quart-oval-slow-cooker/ppr5007584814?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000011&catId=cat1009760004&urlState=%2Fg%2Fhome-store%2Fkitchen-dining%2Fsmall-appliances%3Fitem_type%3Dslow%2Bcookers%26id%3Dcat1009760004&sort=PLH&productGridView=medium

Edited December 6, 2019 by PeterPan

[RootAnn]

2 hours ago, Bambam said:

However, I've started using my Instantpot as a slow cooker too. Unless I'm making a huge amount of stuff (like for a potluck), the InstantPot works well as a slow cooker too. 

I thoight this when my old slow cooker failed, but the Instant Pot made a very bad slow cooker for us. It was terrible. So, I had to buy a new slow cooker. Mine is probably too big for you.

Edited December 6, 2019 by RootAnn
Fixed link

[ProudGrandma]

5 minutes ago, RootAnn said:

I thoight this when my old slow cooker failed, but the Instant Pot made a very bad slow cooker for us. It was terrible. So, I had to buy a new slow cooker. Mine is probably too big for you.

the link takes me back to this thread....

[barnwife]

I have one that has has warm, low, and high settings. It has a digital timer for the high and low settings (in half hour increments). For me, the size is important. I don't know what size it is off the top of my head, but it's big enough to hold a good-size whole chicken. 

I often throw in a whole chicken in the morning. At dinner, I take whatever broth is in there and make a sauce to go with it. 

Now, if we weren't a family of 6, I probably wouldn't need one that's so large. But we have 4 four kids heading into the teen years (3 of which are boys), so I'm guessing I'll continue to appreciate the ability to do that.

 

[RootAnn]

Sorry. I think I fixed it.

Edited December 6, 2019 by RootAnn

[ProudGrandma]

12 minutes ago, RootAnn said:

Sorry. I think I fixed it.

thanks.

[Ottakee]

I would think of what size you need.  I actually have 3 crock pots in different sizes as I use them for different things.  Going from a family of 9 (when I had lots of fosters) to just 2-3 of us eating has really changed what I need.

I like keep warm, low, high.  That is all I need.  I would have liked a snap on lid for transporting but other than that, simple is base.

[Arctic Bunny]

4 hours ago, kfeusse said:

so can you link me this one?  This sounds perfect to me.

This one is mine, but without the clips for the lid. I can’t find that one!

[Kassia]

I love mine and it does have clips for the lid.  Mine doesn't have a timer but they make this same slow cooker with a timer and the clips.  My sons bought the same slow cooker when they moved into their own places and we've all been happy with them.  https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-33461-6-Quart-Portable/dp/B005JB049C/ref=sr_1_6?crid=32L477AZKNWRS&keywords=hamilton+beach+slow+cooker+6+quart&qid=1575661467&s=home-garden&sprefix=hamilton+beach+slow+cooker+%2Cgarden%2C183&sr=1-6

[Pen]

I donated a perfect and excellent crock pot after I got my Instant Pot. 

[Angie in VA]

6 hours ago, G5052 said:

I do like mine with a timer. I got a really good sauce this week from Trader Joe's and dumped it over bone-in chicken parts with red peppers. I didn't want the chicken to dry out while I was out, so the timer prevented that. When we moved, I gave my biggest crock pot to a friend because I didn't see us doing a lot of entertaining any time soon, and I've been fine. I have a smallish one and one that can hold a good-sized chicken, and that is enough. 

Sometimes I use my Instant pot as a slow cooker too. It is nice that I can brown in the pot and then cook it. I make myself hamburger-and-cabbage soup to freeze, and I make a big batch that way. 

 

Mine is very basic too. Just Off, Warm, Low, High. I use a plug-in timer like this. 

[KungFuPanda]

This is a few years old, but might be helpful:

 

[Carol in Cal.]

I have a crockpot but I don’t use it that much.

What I do use is a Vita Clay with an earthen pot in it.  It’s fantastic as a rice cooker at altitude because although it isn’t a pressure cooker, the slight increase in pressure just from the design is helpful at 5300 feet.  The other thing I actually use is my Sun Oven, for cooking dry beans from scratch outside using solar.  I love keeping the heat and smell out of the house, and it’s pretty easy to use.

[katilac]

The lid locks are a great feature even if you don't transport the food out of the house. Very helpful for moving the crockpot with the house (like at holidays when you're juggling space) and even just to have on to avoid possible spills and accidents while cooking, particularly if you have kids or pets.