Here's a stupid "fluid ounces vs. solid ounces question

[maslex]

I can't remember if my crock pot is a 5 quart or a 6 quart. If I had to guess, I think it's a 6qt.

Anyhow, I'm making baked beans this weekend for a picnic that I'm going to. This is new to me (I'm usually the brownie maker--which I'm also bringing) But I thought I'd like to try something different for a change as well.

I'm just doctoring up canned beans with a recipe I saw on TV, I'm not doing the whole soaking of the beans thing.

The original recipe calls for (4) 15oz cans of beans. I'm going to double it though.

If my crock pot is a 6qt and my calculations are correct, than that would mean it could hold 192 ounces. Does that mean fluid ounces or "solid" ounces (meaning food)

Guess my big question of the day is, will the 8 cans of beans plus the extras that I'm putting in it (bacon, onion, mustard, molasses, brown sugar) all fit in the crock pot or will it be too much? Too little? I don't care if it's too much, I'd rather go with a full crock pot than a half empty one. Just want to make sure I have enough ingredients.

 

[cluvsdisney]

It's too early for me to do math but I would pour 8 cans of water in there and see how it looks.

 

[poohfriend77]

I can't remember if my crock pot is a 5 quart or a 6 quart. If I had to guess, I think it's a 6qt.

Anyhow, I'm making baked beans this weekend for a picnic that I'm going to. This is new to me (I'm usually the brownie maker--which I'm also bringing) But I thought I'd like to try something different for a change as well.

I'm just doctoring up canned beans with a recipe I saw on TV, I'm not doing the whole soaking of the beans thing.

The original recipe calls for (4) 15oz cans of beans. I'm going to double it though.

If my crock pot is a 6qt and my calculations are correct, than that would mean it could hold 192 ounces. Does that mean fluid ounces or "solid" ounces (meaning food)

Guess my big question of the day is, will the 8 cans of beans plus the extras that I'm putting in it (bacon, onion, mustard, molasses, brown sugar) all fit in the crock pot or will it be too much? Too little? I don't care if it's too much, I'd rather go with a full crock pot than a half empty one. Just want to make sure I have enough ingredients.

I don't think you can compare ounces, because the crockpot is talking volume and the beans are talking weight. Right? Now you've got me over thinking it too. ;-)

Here's what I would do. Open one can of the beans and put them in a storage container. Then use the empty can to pour 8 cans of water into the crockpot. That will give you a decent idea, then think about how much room the extra ingredients would take.

This is why I have multiple sizes of crockpots, lol. If it looks too empty in the big one, I dump it all into the medium one. In any case, 8 cans of beans sounds like a lot, unless it's a huge party! I would think its plenty, even if the pot is not full.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Mix recipe in separate large pot and then spoon into crockpot till it is full. If they are leftovers put into baking dish.

 

[MouseMomx2]

It's too early for me to do math but I would pour 8 cans of water in there and see how it looks.

 

[lynxstch]

My crock pot has a stamp on the bottom of it that tells the size, maybe there's one on the bottom of yours?

 

[kt_mom]

I can't remember if my crock pot is a 5 quart or a 6 quart. If I had to guess, I think it's a 6qt.

Anyhow, I'm making baked beans this weekend for a picnic that I'm going to. This is new to me (I'm usually the brownie maker--which I'm also bringing) But I thought I'd like to try something different for a change as well.

I'm just doctoring up canned beans with a recipe I saw on TV, I'm not doing the whole soaking of the beans thing.

The original recipe calls for (4) 15oz cans of beans. I'm going to double it though.

If my crock pot is a 6qt and my calculations are correct, than that would mean it could hold 192 ounces. Does that mean fluid ounces or "solid" ounces (meaning food)

Guess my big question of the day is, will the 8 cans of beans plus the extras that I'm putting in it (bacon, onion, mustard, molasses, brown sugar) all fit in the crock pot or will it be too much? Too little? I don't care if it's too much, I'd rather go with a full crock pot than a half empty one. Just want to make sure I have enough ingredients.

I can't really help with the measurements, but wanted to say that recipe sounds similar to my mom's baked beans except she uses honey instead of molasses and also ketchup. They are so good though and I often take them to events. I've never done them in the crockpot though. They bake for 2 1/2 hours and usually stay warm for awhile after that in the baking dish I use.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Use a variety of Bush's Grillin' Beans. I don't even Dr them and everyone thinks I do. They'd be even better with bacon & such

 

[scrapquitler]

I can't remember if my crock pot is a 5 quart or a 6 quart. If I had to guess, I think it's a 6qt.

Anyhow, I'm making baked beans this weekend for a picnic that I'm going to. This is new to me (I'm usually the brownie maker--which I'm also bringing) But I thought I'd like to try something different for a change as well.

I'm just doctoring up canned beans with a recipe I saw on TV, I'm not doing the whole soaking of the beans thing.

The original recipe calls for (4) 15oz cans of beans. I'm going to double it though.

If my crock pot is a 6qt and my calculations are correct, than that would mean it could hold 192 ounces. Does that mean fluid ounces or "solid" ounces (meaning food)

Guess my big question of the day is, will the 8 cans of beans plus the extras that I'm putting in it (bacon, onion, mustard, molasses, brown sugar) all fit in the crock pot or will it be too much? Too little? I don't care if it's too much, I'd rather go with a full crock pot than a half empty one. Just want to make sure I have enough ingredients.

Given the type of recipe you are making, I'd do the following: Add about 5 or 6 cans of beans, add all the 'extra' stuff. Look at how full the crock pot is, and then add the last few cans of beans. If it starts looking too full, skip the last can of beans. It's not something that you are baking like bread or cupcakes that requires precise proportions, so if there's more extras and less beans, it really isn't going to matter. I make beans the way you are describing, and I never measure anything, it won't hurt to leave some of them out if the pot is too full. (in other words, you don't need to think so hard about this)

 

[leebee]

You're right…you can't mix units of volume and units of mass, even though we call them both ounces. (This'd work in the metric system, where 1 milliliter equals one cubic centimeter, but it'd take a LOT of math!)

I'd mix everything in a big bowl, put what fits into the crockpot, and put the rest in the fridge for another day!

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Given the type of recipe you are making, I'd do the following: Add about 5 or 6 cans of beans, add all the 'extra' stuff. Look at how full the crock pot is, and then add the last few cans of beans. If it starts looking too full, skip the last can of beans. It's not something that you are baking like bread or cupcakes that requires precise proportions, so if there's more extras and less beans, it really isn't going to matter. I make beans the way you are describing, and I never measure anything, it won't hurt to leave some of them out if the pot is too full. (in other words, you don't need to think so hard about this)

I second this recommendation.

 

[SirDuff]

You're right…you can't mix units of volume and units of mass, even though we call them both ounces. (This'd work in the metric system, where 1 milliliter equals one cubic centimeter, but it'd take a LOT of math!)

I'd mix everything in a big bowl, put what fits into the crockpot, and put the rest in the fridge for another day!

It still wouldn't work in metric. Both millilitre and cubic centimetre are measuring volume. The beans are measured in neither - they'd be measured in grams (the metric equivalent to ounce as a unit of mass).

 

[dawnball]

If my crock pot is a 6qt and my calculations are correct, than that would mean it could hold 192 ounces. Does that mean fluid ounces or "solid" ounces (meaning food)

Guess my big question of the day is, will the 8 cans of beans plus the extras that I'm putting in it (bacon, onion, mustard, molasses, brown sugar) all fit in the crock pot or will it be too much? Too little? I don't care if it's too much, I'd rather go with a full crock pot than a half empty one. Just want to make sure I have enough ingredients.

A can of beans is about 14 fluid ounces per the labeling on the side (3.5 servings of .5 cup each) - the density of beans is not that far off from the density of water. I'd call them a pint each, just for simplicity of math. At a pint each, 8 cans of beans is 4 quarts of beans, with an error factor of a pint (est 3.5-4 quarts). So a 6qt crockpot has 2 quarts of space for additional ingredients and stirring.

 

[maslex]

Thanks!!

I actually just went and re-read the original recipe and it says (for the normal recipe, not doubled) to put everything in a 3-qt pan and bake. So, I'm assuming if I double it, it'll fit in a 6-qt crock pot. I guess I was truly over thinking it. I get like that with things like this and it drives ME crazy. Sometimes i guess it's best to read all the way though the whole recipe.

Here's another question though. The recipe calls for baking the beans in the oven, do you think it'll still come out the same if I just throw it all in the crock pot to cook, instead of doing the oven first?

 

[TifffanyD]

I can't remember if my crock pot is a 5 quart or a 6 quart. If I had to guess, I think it's a 6qt.

Anyhow, I'm making baked beans this weekend for a picnic that I'm going to. This is new to me (I'm usually the brownie maker--which I'm also bringing) But I thought I'd like to try something different for a change as well.

I'm just doctoring up canned beans with a recipe I saw on TV, I'm not doing the whole soaking of the beans thing.

The original recipe calls for (4) 15oz cans of beans. I'm going to double it though.

If my crock pot is a 6qt and my calculations are correct, than that would mean it could hold 192 ounces. Does that mean fluid ounces or "solid" ounces (meaning food)

Guess my big question of the day is, will the 8 cans of beans plus the extras that I'm putting in it (bacon, onion, mustard, molasses, brown sugar) all fit in the crock pot or will it be too much? Too little? I don't care if it's too much, I'd rather go with a full crock pot than a half empty one. Just want to make sure I have enough ingredients.

Quarts are a measure of volume. The amount of ounces (weight) that will fit depends on the density of item(s). Just mix it all in a big bowl and if it doesn't all fit put the rest in your fridge for a home batch.

 

[leebee]

It still wouldn't work in metric. Both millilitre and cubic centimetre are measuring volume. The beans are measured in neither - they'd be measured in grams (the metric equivalent to ounce as a unit of mass).

That's true, you're right- BRAIN CRAMP! I know better- I just mis-thought! That and the fact that one ml. of water weighs a gram got all jumbled in my brain, I guess.

You could check the bean cans; that should tell you how many servings per can, and how many cups per serving, and THEN you can do the math! Maybe I'll put my 5th graders onto this task tomorrow; it's only a half-day of school and nobody is very motivated at the moment!

 

[yoopermom]

As far as precooking them goes, no, if they're canned beans you can just slop the whole mess together and call it good. However, if you're in a rush, and basically want to use the slowcooker as something to keep them warm, not actually cook them, then you might want to warm then first. To me, beans are best the longer that they cook, long and slow. I will slop all the ingredients together in the am, put it on slow, and let them cook all day. Yum.....

And I never measure how many cans, like someone else said, just keep adding til desired fullness. Remember slowcookers need to be at least 3/4 full for best heating, but not to the tippy top full.

Terri

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

If my crock pot is a 6qt and my calculations are correct, than that would mean it could hold 192 ounces. Does that mean fluid ounces or "solid" ounces (meaning food)

6 quarts is 192 FLUID ounces. Both are measures of volume.

 

[Squirlz]

I worked with a guy once, he was allegedly a Tool Designer. We were developing a 32 ounce deli container. In a project meeting he was asked if it had been tested for the maximum weight it could hold. He replied "2 pounds". Puzzled looks all around. Then he says "Well it's a 32 ounce container".



You could hear a pin drop.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I worked with a guy once, he was allegedly a Tool Designer. We were developing a 32 ounce deli container. In a project meeting he was asked if it had been tested for the maximum weight it could hold. He replied "2 pounds". Puzzled looks all around. Then he says "Well it's a 32 ounce container".



You could hear a pin drop.

:facepalm: