Slow Cooker Advice: What to Buy? Should I?
I have an old Rival crock pot that I've had forever and it works great. It's got "Low," "High," and "Off." But lately, I find I'm becoming a bit spoiled with nifty programmable bells and whistles and I do so love my toys. Plus, my work days are long. I'm usually away from the house for about 10 or 11 hours, which is somewhat longer than most recipes take. For me, the thing works great for weekends or overnight, but not so much for during the week, the time it's supposed to make my life easier.
That said, I was thinking of getting one that automatically switches to "Keep Warm" when the cooking process ends, but in looking around various review sites, I keep coming upon the "Low" settings cooking way higher than they should, that the new slow cookers heat up much more quickly than the old ones did as it kills the bacteria faster. Have you found this to be so? Do you have any recommendations on what has worked really well for you in the newer models? Or should I just accept that the machine I've had for 15 years is perfectly fine and shouldn't be tossed in favor of a shiny "Trophy" gadget?
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15 Comments:
I had one of those digital controled crock pot had all the whistles and bell, needless to say after a year I went back to my ol standby Rival crock, the newer one stuck in the HI setting and wouldn't adjust, so out it went!
Markbb at 1:03PM on 01/17/09
I have one round 5qt and one oval 5.5 qt of the newer Rival crock pots. Both have a little thing that sticks out the front and allows you to select 4 hrs high, 6 hrs high, 8 hrs low, 10 hrs low, or warm. If you need an option that doesn't work with those, you have to play with it, but that's not a ton of effort. This might be good for you if you work 10-11 hours/day because once the time selected goes by, it automatically kicks over to "warm" instead of just staying on low or high until someone manually changes it.
joyyy at 1:15PM on 01/17/09
Mine is a lot like Joyyy's, but it has a timer (30 minute increments) at eiher high or low, then it switches to warm. I had the basic high/low/off before, but I spent the extra 10 bucks for the timer function.
I would not spend more than $40 on it (if even), and I would not bother with any any additional features.
renzata at 1:31PM on 01/17/09
Rival (I think) also sells add-on timers that work with crockpots that allegedly let you set a cooking time, and then it will go to warm. How that works, I'm not sure, since it simply connects to the plug. Maybe it cycles it on and off... ?
dbcurrie at 1:43PM on 01/17/09
Also, my 5.5 qt was on sale at Target for $20, the 5 qt we bought in a pinch elsewhere (long story) at a walmart for $30. @renata's line of $40 max sounds about right, but if you watch sales and shop around you should be able to pick one up cheaper.
joyyy at 1:56PM on 01/17/09
I'm still using my mom's ancient Rival -- low, high, off. It still works so I can't bring myself to replace it! I often start out cooking on high, then once things get cooking I turn it down to low and let it go all day or all night as the case may be. If it ain't broke . . .
ride&cook at 2:07PM on 01/17/09
I have an old one-piece model that is a pain to clean, but will use it until it kicks the bucket because of the old, TRUE low setting. I picked up a newer round one for $5 at a yard sale a couple of years ago and use it for when I can "attend" it or when I am away for less than six hours. Otherwise, for longer cooking or overnight, I pull out "old trusty."
hungryinhouston at 2:08PM on 01/17/09
Mine is also the Rival Crock Pot, digital programmable, you set either HIGH or LOW, set how many hours, then it switches itself to Keep Warm. It's nice. I pop it in before going to work or running errands on the weekend and come home a nice pot of stew or whatever.
As for running hotter than older models, I don't know, my Mom's old Crock Pot ran pretty hot as did my husbands old Crock Pot.
Not sure where it came from as it was a gift and no gift reciept. I have seen an almost identical model at Costco for about 40 bucks...can't remember exactly.
I kinda wish I had held onto my husband's old Crock Pot, as ugly as it was in all it's avocado green glory, an extra would come in handy for the upcoming superbowl party.
wookie at 2:14PM on 01/17/09
I have "Old Reliable," a Rival like yours. It's too small (though good for two people + leftovers). So, after many, many years (I think the Rival might have been a wedding present), I've been looking at this one. It's the right size, but freaking expensive, and I've heard that, owing to fear of litigation (?), the low and high settings on new crock pots are different from old-school one. Don't know how true that is -- since "Old Reliable" keeps perking along.
Would like to know what you decide on -- I too am keen on the "keep warm" function, and I REALLY need a timer.
TikiPundit at 2:38PM on 01/17/09
I have a great Farberware one that matches my cookware and works well. My next one will have a few more features, though. That locking lid one sounds great (particularly since we're transporting several quarts of minestrone to a soup party tonight) but I haven't researched it well enough. I, too, would really like one that has more options if you need it to run longer. I don't know how common it is, but the one my mom has had since the seventies is cooktop safe (mine is porcelain insert so no go) so she could brown her meat for stew or chili right in the thing before slapping it on the base and ignoring it. THAT is a feature I'd LOVE!
MaresyDotes at 3:54PM on 01/17/09
low and slow baby..... low and slow..... come over to uncle Pav's and feel the love! Low will get you where you need to be sans the recipe.....
Peace, black, out.........
Pavlov at 5:51PM on 01/17/09
There is an article in this week's WaPo Food pages on slow cookers. Has some discussion about features and models, advice on converting conventional recipes to slow-cookers and general advice on using them. Oh, and some recipes too :-)
kjgibson at 6:27PM on 01/17/09
I bought a cheap huge one (Rival) about four years ago. It's "Low" means slow boil, even at this altitude. I should throw it out.
Blue Iris at 7:43PM on 01/17/09
Thanks so much for all your advice. I took your suggestions and read the various link and stuff and I think I'm leaning towards the All-Clad 99009 Stainless-Steel 6-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker suggested by @TikiPundit, especially after reading Cook's Illustrated's review. That said, you're right Tiki, it's freaking expensive. But I love that it has a true "low" setting. So now my basic quandary is simply whether I need to spend $200 (with tax) on another crock pot, or whether I can happily continue using my ancient crock pot of years ago. Which I must seriously think on.
chisai at 5:27PM on 01/18/09
@Tikipundit~That's the exact one I want. And I don't even want one! I've been eying it for about a year now. I wanted a Chinois for years and years but it was so expensive. I finally got one for Christmas of 2007. I used it for the first time last night. It was a beautiful experience. If you have room for it and CAN buy it... I say go. As my husband said when he bought me a mandoline for Christmas. There's a better one that costs more. Ask yourself, everytime you use it are you going to wish it was the other one? If the answer is yes, order the other one and take this back.
@Pav~On my way...
carolrsfMISSESTEXAS at 6:37PM on 01/18/09