But help me instead. I don't own a Crock Pot, never have. Recently, I keep hearing all about them. They're all the rage again, I'm seeing recipes and cookbooks for them, my friend, Phoebe, even has Crock Pot Wednesday on her blog, but I've yet to actually ever use one. Crock Pots aren't really part of my history; I don't remember my mom ever having one, I didn't register for one when I was engaged, and didn't receive one for a wedding gift.But now, you know what? I think I want one.
I mean, now I acutally have space enough to store one in my kitchen, and the more children I have, the more the smell of beef stew the minute I walk in the door from church sounds appealing. So, tell me, girls, do you think a Crock Pot is a good purchase? What kind of Crock Pot do you have? What size should I get? And what is your favorite crock pot recipe?
Comment below with your suggestion on a size/brand, and when you get around to it, email me your favorite recipe (my email is right there, in the sidebar). I'll even post my favorite on From Our Kitchens to Yours. How's that for motivation, eh? Eh?
Thanks, ladies! You're a collective peach.
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20 comments:
Bah! This confession is almost as bad as not owning a pair of red shoes. (Please say you have those!) Every single recipe I use has been used at least once in my crock pot. Especially when we were both working full time, I loved throwing all the ingredients in before work and having a fully cooked meal when I walked in the door. I'll send you some good recipes. Buy one. I don't think it matters what brand. Though my new one is red. Our old scary one we got for our wedding 10 years ago, and it still works great.
um, mom had a crock pot. i remember her using it from time to time to make beef stew. so i don't know what your excuse is. crock pot cooking is so easy. seriously. get a big one. we got a few for our wedding, and i returned them all except the smallest one. i thought that because it was just me and mike we didn't need a big one. i was wrong.
I love my crock pot!
The funniest thing is that my crock pot is the exact one that you have pictured. The handle broke after about 18 months. So, I emailed Rival, and they sent me a brand new one.
I have 7 kids and I use a 6 quart one. I wouldn't go any smaller than a 5 qt. Crock pots make everyday cooking so easy because you can throw frozen food in it in the morning and it's ready at dinner time. Also, I read on another blog a tip- plug it in outside because then your kitchen doesn't get hot. Good advice especially if you're in Texas. :)
I have the 101 Ways to Use a Slow Cooker recipe book and I love it! I have a couple of fave recipes, but it would be a long comment. Email me if you'd like: swampbrat at gmail dot com and I'll email a few to you.
Love it! It is so easy and yummy. I used it for a great roast Sunday for all the Moms we had over. Get one! And I want the 101 recipe book (ps--The author of those books was in our ward at the BYU and Ryan was her Home Teacher!)
Les, I am surprised you never had one. They are wonderful. I have a very old one and it is still working great. I do stews, and my favorite is a pork butt cooked all day with green chilies and then shredded and put in the oven for abit. Makes delicious tacos and tamales.
You will love a crock pot. Just make sure that the lining comes out for easy washing. Think all of the new ones do now.
Love you
Grammy
You can buy "Crock Pot Classic" meals that are Betty Crocker brand in the frozen food section. I will buy several when they are on sale for $4.99 and then it has the meat, veggies, and gravy completely ready. You just throw it in and do NO work. It works great when you aren't into cooking, but your husband thinks you have been slaving away in the kitchen! It is plenty to feed my family of 5 (of course, my small kids don't eat large portions).
i say, get a crock pot! i have awesome recipies too!!! OR, you can buy the banquet dinner in a frozen bag... ;) easy meal that requires nothing but a pot and a plug! PLUS, you can do queso in it and keep it warm while you are hosting a party!
I've never owned one either! I thought I was the only one - you'll have to do a follow up and let me know how you like it.
I think we got FOUR crockpots for our wedding. I gave a couple away, and kept the other two. If I were buying my own, I'd get a big one with a removable bowl thingy. Mine don't come apart, and they're hard to clean. I use my crockpot all the time, especially in the summer or on very busy days. I'll try to email some yummy recipes later, but for now, here's a link to my very favorite:
Sweet Pork Burritos
we have one - got it when we got married - we don't use it alot because certain people are super pickey when it comes to meat and it's texture when crockpoted - chicken can dry out super fast and that just won't fly when you are Iron Chef Jay. If you do get one, make sure you get one that allows you to take out the actual pot and clean it seperate from the large plug-in base - our's doesn't do that and cleaning is a nightmare.
I didn't register for mine when we got married, but we recieved 7 of them anyway.
Make sure you get a big one, that has a few temp options (high, med, low) and that the pot part comes out, or else cleaning it is an absolute pain.
Mine (that was made by Rival) is 9 years old and still going strong.
I'm telling you, the crockpot will change your life! Or at least simplify it.
I use mine (almost exactly like the picture) at least 3 times a week. It is great for the bussy Mommy. As we both are.
The slow cooking cookbooks are really hit or miss.
"Slow Cooking in the Fast Lane" is a great cookbook if you need one...but make sure to tone down the "hot seasonings."
Good Luck.
Handle...my handle broke, too. Shucks. I just went out and bought a new (bigger) one. I should have called! Dummy, Dummy, Dummy.
I like the oval shaped one over the round one. It just works better when doing a roast and some other things. I haven't had trouble with my chicken drying out, but I oil it before I put it in, so that may make a difference. Here's an easy one
A split chicken (oil it down first)
carrots
potatoes
cream of chicken soup
salt
pepper
--or--
A beef roast
cream of mushroom soup
lipton onion soup packet
potatoes & carrots
The gravy from this is delicious!
This will cook in as little as 3 hours, but you can let it go longer and it won't hurt it.
I always put the veggies in for the last 90 min-2 hrs.
LOVE the crock pot! Once, for Enrichment, one of the co-authors of 101 Ways to Use a Crock Pot spoke...and gave us a preview issue of the book (less recipes...spiral bound). The BEST is the Tortilla Soup. I also have TONS of recipes and have at least 2 going when I'm doing cooking for a month in a day. My favorite is a Rival (like the one pictured, but mine is white). I got it at Sam's for a great price and it has 2 inserts- one normal, and one that is split into 2 to make a side dish (like rice) in addition to the meal. Fantastic!
I bought a wonderful crock pot a couple of years ago to replace my old one which finally gave up the ghost. Costco had a wonderfully large, oval and removable crockpot. I believe I used it twice before I forgot that the pot was removable. CRASH! right into the sink. sigh....broke in two. The pot, not the sink.
So do get a crock pot that is removable, but don't forget while cleaning it. :)
And Jenny's Sweet Pork Burritos recipe is *wonderful*.
crock pots rock! looks like you've gotten lots of good advice here, but I'll second what everyone else says. i think crock pots are kinda all the same. although I do know they have super fancy ones that cost over 100 bucks, and then the basic ones that are probably closer to 50. I have a basic... it's easy, you can't go wrong. one of our fav is chicken tacos...
use approx. 1 frozen, boneless chicken breast per person in crockpot, cover with one jar of salsa, and cook on low all day (about 8 hours) or high about 4 hours. right before serving use 2 forks to shred chicken. serve it up with whatever taco fixings you like. yum!
andy: i do own red shoes. three pairs, in fact, which is a bit silly, but then, so is the rest of my shoe wardrobe.
steph: i stand corrected. i do recall mom's beef stew, just not the cooking implement.
jenny: thanks for the recipe. i've made your recipe before, but just used my big enameled cast iron pot. which weighs like 65 pounds.
Everyone else: THANK YOU!! i'm so excited to get a crock pot and that cookbook. i'll be trying the recipes you suggested. now i just have to decide if i should get it at sam's club or bed bath & beyond with a coupon. hmmmm . . .
I agree with everyone. Get a large one and get one with at least three temperature settings. And the removable crock is a must. The biggest chore is finding a good place to store it. I have mine in a pull-out cabinet drawer and then I store my brown sugar and my powdered sugar inside the crock when it is not in use. I believe all of the crocks are made of ceramic and then glazed. And I too often use mine outdoors on the deck or patio. Crock pots are "IN."
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