Buying my first crockpot/slowcooker...which one?

[2mickeys1minnie]

We are a family of 5 but my teenage boys and husband have huge appetites. I need a crockpot large enough to make big meals. I've never had or used one before but I really want to try cooking with one. We are busy busy after school with the kids activities and I'd love to come home to a meal all done. So...which one to get? Best source for recipes? TIA I have no clue what I'm doing lol.

 

[WLfamily]

I purchased a new Crockpot brand crockpot last summer and I'm now sending it off to Goodwill. I didn't do my research first and thought all crockpots were the same. The Crockpot brand has apparently changed theirs and they cook much faster and hotter. I would never leave the house with it on, that's how hot it got.
I just ordered a new crockpot from JCP. It's a Hamilton Beach 6 qt programmable. It has really good reviews so I have my fingers crossed.

As far as recipes I always go to Pinterest or The Crockin Girls. Good Luck!

 

[scbelleatheart]

I purchased a new Crockpot brand crockpot last summer and I'm now sending it off to Goodwill. I didn't do my research first and thought all crockpots were the same. The Crockpot brand has apparently changed theirs and they cook much faster and hotter. I would never leave the house with it on, that's how hot it got.
I just ordered a new crockpot from JCP. It's a Hamilton Beach 6 qt programmable. It has really good reviews so I have my fingers crossed.

As far as recipes I always go to Pinterest or The Crockin Girls. Good Luck!

I have never had a problem with any of mine getting too hot. I have 6 in various sizes/brands (Crockpot brand included) and also the 3 in one, 1 1/2 qt.; the 3 in one 2 1/2 qt and the 4 in one, 2 1/2 qt. I turned them all on before Thanksgiving and Xmas and went to bed. Got up, foods all cooked, turned them on warm and dinner was ready.
I do the same everyday when I leave for work

 

[kiddisney]

not going to recommend a brand - but i would recommend one with a numbered timer - and also at least a 6 quart - though the knobs work just as good - having specific cooking tiimes makes cooking easier

 

[WLfamily]

I have never had a problem with any of mine getting too hot. I have 6 in various sizes/brands (Crockpot brand included) and also the 3 in one, 1 1/2 qt.; the 3 in one 2 1/2 qt and the 4 in one, 2 1/2 qt. I turned them all on before Thanksgiving and Xmas and went to bed. Got up, foods all cooked, turned them on warm and dinner was ready.
I do the same everyday when I leave for work

My previous crockpots were Crockpot brand and I NEVER had any issues either. I was shocked that this one was cooking so hot. By hot I mean when it was set on low it would simmer so hot the lid would rattle. I started googling and found many others had the same issues. Some even said theirs caught fire. I then found some reviews of the best brands and such and it explained that Crockpot has redesigned theirs to cook faster and hotter and to adjust recipes accordingly. I cooked a crockpot candy recipe for the holidays and it said to cook on low for three hours....after an hour and a half mine started burning. Maybe I got a bad one, either way its outta here!
I'm glad your not having any issues! Have fun Crockin!

 

[FiggieFan]

I believe all of the new crock pot brands cook on a higher temperature than the older ones - even on the low setting. I remember some sort of report years ago saying that the low temperature on some crock pots was not hot enough to kill are bacteria. From what I recall, they were recommending the minimum temperature be raised. I have noticed all the more recent ones, while still on low, seem to be a higher temperature and liquid actually lightly boils or bubbles. The lid usually starts collecting extra condensation too and rattles after a few hours. I always try to stick with a 6 quart oval crock pot because it fits cuts of meat better than the round ones.

 

[scbelleatheart]

Just looked. Mine are GE, Hamilton Beach and Cuisinart with removable liners. My older ones had permanent liners and I hated cleaning them.
That sounds scary if it got that hot so fast.

 

[Kathi OD]

I purchased a new Crockpot brand crockpot last summer and I'm now sending it off to Goodwill. I didn't do my research first and thought all crockpots were the same. The Crockpot brand has apparently changed theirs and they cook much faster and hotter. I would never leave the house with it on, that's how hot it got.
I just ordered a new crockpot from JCP. It's a Hamilton Beach 6 qt programmable. It has really good reviews so I have my fingers crossed.

As far as recipes I always go to Pinterest or The Crockin Girls. Good Luck!

THIS! Mine has a stainless look on the outside and I think is 6 qt. It has 3 options, low, high, & warm. If I leave something on low for 8 hours, I can guarantee it will be burned. I never use the high setting any more, and only use it for family gatherings if I can be around to watch it, or turn it down to warm after a couple of hours. Cooking on low is like the old cooking on high.

Since it's just DH and I at home now, I use my old crockpot if I want to use it during the week for dinner.

Both have removable liners.

 

[Pembo]

Just got the Hamilton Beach from Amazon. I did a lot of research. I had a Rival that sparked and shorted out just a few weeks ago. I wanted one that didn't get TOO hot. HB seemed to fit my criteria. I've used it a lot the last week and it works great and doesn't cook the food too fast.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005QB4WAC/ref=pe_175190_21431760_M3T1_SC_dp_2

 

[Kathi OD]

We are a family of 5 but my teenage boys and husband have huge appetites. I need a crockpot large enough to make big meals. I've never had or used one before but I really want to try cooking with one. We are busy busy after school with the kids activities and I'd love to come home to a meal all done. So...which one to get? Best source for recipes? TIA I have no clue what I'm doing lol.

forgot about the recipe request... there are a couple of threads here on the DIS that you might find something your family will like

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2367027

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2941032

ENJOY!


for dinner tonight DH and I had pork loin in the crockpot.

I sliced one small onion and put it in the bottom of the crock.
Rubbed pepper on the loin.
Placed loin on the onions.
Poured 1/2 C ginger ale over loin.
Added 8oz can of crushed pineapple.
Added about 1C of Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ sauce.

Cooked on low for about 6 hours.

Served with homemade cole slaw.

 

[roushcivic]

cant help you with crock pots. but when you get one.....

go buy a 4-5 lb pork shoulder.
cover with dr. pepper
set on warm for 6-8ish hours.
drain, shred, cover with bbw sauce. leave on warm for 1 hour
eat and enjoy.

 

[msmama]

I just got a new Cuisinart "Multi-cooker." The thing is freaking amazing. I can brown things in it and roast in it and use it as a crock pot. I swear it does everything but my laundry!!

What I like about it (that I didn't think I missed in previous crocks I had, but found out I did) is that it's programmable, so I can have it start when I'm not home (and turn off or turn to warm). And the temperature is adjustable (not just high or low, I actually control the temp).

I use my crock weekly (at least) - there's a blog out there where a woman cooked EVERYTHING in her crock for an entire year - I'm sure you could google it and find lots of recipes.

Easy stuff though - chili, shredded chicken for tacos(chicken breasts and a jar of salsa), spaghetti sauce.

 

[motor58]

Funny, we are a family of 5 (but kids are 4,6,8) and I JUST bought my first slow cooker at costco yesterday. Did some research and knew I wanted a bigger one, but not much more. Costco had a calphalon 7qt for $99 and it gets good reviews and there is the costco return policy. It's still in the box so I have no idea. I want to double or come close to doubling recipes and I hope I can do that in the 7qt one. I hope you get a good one, so many bad reviews out there and it seemed daunting. I will be watching this thread to see what you all have to say!

 

[SandrA9810]

The year of slow cooking is here

crockpot365.blogspot.com/

I have an old and a new crockpot from Rival, and can cook on hot without a problem. Both are 6qts. I just bought a Hamilton Beach 5qt at Lowes for $25 on clearance. It has the locking lid for transporting. I think it's the same price at Walmart. All of them are oval, but none are programmable. I usually cook my food overnight, then hit it to warm in the morning.

I do a lot of chili in them, and whole chickens for various meals.

 

[ORDisneyfans]

I purchased a new Crockpot brand crockpot last summer and I'm now sending it off to Goodwill. I didn't do my research first and thought all crockpots were the same. The Crockpot brand has apparently changed theirs and they cook much faster and hotter. I would never leave the house with it on, that's how hot it got.
I just ordered a new crockpot from JCP. It's a Hamilton Beach 6 qt programmable. It has really good reviews so I have my fingers crossed.

As far as recipes I always go to Pinterest or The Crockin Girls. Good Luck!

Funny this is exactly what happened to me! I bought a new shiny stainless steel crock pot brand 6qt 2 years ago? It always cooked way too hot! DH bought me the Hamilton .beach programmable 6qt and I love it ! Works perfect! I've had it a whole year with no complaints!

 

[tikistitch]

Not to hijack the OP's thread, but what size (in ounces) would everyone recommend getting if I'll only be feeding 2 people on a regular basis? I'm clueless to everything crockpot myself, and am moving out on my own for the first time next month and think a crockpot would be the best way to cook delicious meals while I'm at work for 8 hours a day and then come home to tend to my masters studies.

 

[anniemck]

I purchased a new Crockpot brand crockpot last summer and I'm now sending it off to Goodwill. I didn't do my research first and thought all crockpots were the same. The Crockpot brand has apparently changed theirs and they cook much faster and hotter. I would never leave the house with it on, that's how hot it got.
I just ordered a new crockpot from JCP. It's a Hamilton Beach 6 qt programmable. It has really good reviews so I have my fingers crossed.

Rather than sending it off to Goodwill, as it may be a defective crockpot.. I would send it back to the company or just trash it. If it is defective I wouldn't want some family to get a hold of it, have something cooking and either wake up or come home to a house fire.

 

[SandrA9810]

Not to hijack the OP's thread, but what size (in ounces) would everyone recommend getting if I'll only be feeding 2 people on a regular basis? I'm clueless to everything crockpot myself, and am moving out on my own for the first time next month and think a crockpot would be the best way to cook delicious meals while I'm at work for 8 hours a day and then come home to tend to my masters studies.

I would still choose a 5-6qt oval crock pot. You don't need to fill it, but it works well for larger cuts of meat, like being able to fit a whole chicken. You can also freeze the left overs for meals later in the week. Soups and stews also freeze well.

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

Thanks everyone! Looks like I am going to try the Hamilton Beach model. I have a question that's probably dumb...but...if you don't brown the meats before putting it into the crockpot won't the meat be grayish?

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks everyone! Looks like I am going to try the Hamilton Beach model. I have a question that's probably dumb...but...if you don't brown the meats before putting it into the crockpot won't the meat be grayish?

I cook roast in my crockpot without browning it first. If I am using ground beef, I always brown it before putting it in.
I just wanted to say that the crock pot liners are great. I have a crock that is black and I feel like I cant get it completely clean...there is always a film but not raised. I bought some (Reynolds, I think) crockpot liners and these things are great. They are a plastic bag that you put in the pot and just pull out when done. EASY clean up!