Please tell me about your crock pot!

[Deanie]

I'm really getting into freezing meals that I can dump into the crockpot, but I kind of hate my crockpot.

The problem is, it cooks stuff so fast! I have it on low setting and it will have something done in 2 hours that should cook for at least 4 hours. Doesn't this affect the quality of the cooking? I mean, isn't the whole point to cook it on low for a long time?

Anyhoo, does anyone else have this problem? If you like your crockpot, what kind do you have and how much did it cost?

[abunchoflemons]

I think 7 or so fr9om JCP here and love. I don't remember cost. oval I think Rival. we have bought off brand like from Aldis for stuff and they are better than more expensive stuff.

[tesslouise]

I've got two Crockpot brand slow cookers, a 4 qt. round from Walmart and a 6 qt. round from Big Lots, about $20 each. They might run a little hot but nowhere near as crazy as my former boss's (I was a nanny). She had one of those fancy programmable ones and it boiled the food on low. It was gross.

[ecotwinmom]

I have a Rival Smart Pot, oval. It's pretty old but still works great. My smaller round one gets way too hot.

[raisingcropsandbabies]

I love my rival. I use it 2-4 x a week for the 6 yrs. I recently tried my mil hamilton beach one and it took 2x the amount of time to cook. My rival takes around the suggested amount of recipe time to cook.

[expaik]

Let me guess... you have the stainless steel type?

Those get way too hot. If you want genuine crockpot cooking (i.e. SLOW cooking), you need to get your hands on the older ceramic style. Look on craigslist - here people are selling the vintage Rival crockpots for around $5. They think that because these are from the 70s and 80s, they're worth nothing!

[Deanie]

Originally Posted by expaik Let me guess... you have the stainless steel type? Those get way too hot. If you want genuine crockpot cooking (i.e. SLOW cooking), you need to get your hands on the older ceramic style. Look on craigslist - here people are selling the vintage Rival crockpots for around $5. They think that because these are from the 70s and 80s, they're worth nothing!

Do you mean there's stainless steel in the bigger, heater-element part and then the insert is ceramic? If so, yes that's what I have.

It's a Rival. I'm not a fan, but have read so many different things from different people about different styles (or different things about the same styles) that I just don't know what to try next. I don't want to waste my money, you know?

[madebymommy]

Originally Posted by Deanie Do you mean there's stainless steel in the bigger, heater-element part and then the insert is ceramic? If so, yes that's what I have. It's a Rival. I'm not a fan, but have read so many different things from different people about different styles (or different things about the same styles) that I just don't know what to try next. I don't want to waste my money, you know?

I have 3 crock pots all together (and I've been known to use all 3 in one day, haha) and I have 2 like yours... and they BOTH do the same thing. I love the fact that you can remove the crock and put it in the dishwasher, but I hate how quickly they cook no matter what, and how hot the outside gets!

I have the biggest oval-shaped one, and the only thing I use it for is cooking a whole chicken... it works great for that, cooks the chicken in about 6 hours. I don't trust it for anything other than that!

I have the large round Rival with the removable crock... I avoid using it because it takes FOREVER to warm up, and then all of a sudden its overcooking my food. I don't get it.

And then I have a smaller old school round crock pot that is from the 1980's, all one piece. I LOVE it. I do everything in it and its the first one I reach for unless I'm cooking a chicken. I make yogurt, soups, stews, I even try to cram pot roast in there!! I wish the other two were as great and reliable!

[Lauren1041]

I have a white rival stoneware crock pot. I have the same issues you describe. Everything takes much less time than it's supposed to to cook. Things get pretty toasty on the bottom and on top if I'm not careful. I can't really stick it in and forget about it. I always thought I just needed a smaller one. Like I"m not putting enough food in there, so it gets overheated. Who knows!

[mel j]

I got mine from freecycle and I like the round Rival one more. My daughter actually accidentally knocked it off the counter and it broke, so I looked for another one. I don't really always follow the instructions for cooking time though, I just keep an eye on it. I've mostly done grains (brown rice, oatmeal, barley) in it, but also chicken pot pie. I have another cheaper brand, newer style, not sure what brand... but it's worked well for baked potatoes and sweet potatoes. I don't like it for other things though.