I'm a crockpot virgin...Please help!

Re: I'm a crockpot virgin...Please help!

• NicoleWI member

  October 2012

  Hmmmm. There are a lot of "good" ones. 

  If I were you, I would get a Cuisinart 4 qt. It's a more expensive model, but we LOVE LOVE LOVE Ours and use it all the time and have for a few years now. It is good for roasts and most meals for a family of your size.

   https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-PSC-400-Stainless-4-Quart-Programmable/dp/B000VA7JL2

  I also have a 6 qt Hamilton Beach "stay and go". I like that one a lot, too, for bigger things and parties, but the Cuisinart works better and is more attractive. I use the larger one for roasting a whole chicken, doing a big pot of pulled pork, etc.

  

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• lovebug33 member

  October 2012

  I have a big one and a small one. The big one wll burn stuff if there isn't enough in it, so for us we use the small one (2 adults), but we use the big one for soups and beans and things that have more liquid.
  

  

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• lawgalheel

  October 2012

  1. I have a Cuisinart, but I don't know if its the best brandname or not.  I personally like it--it has a timer which I find essential as a working mother!

  2.  Most recipes are for between 4-6qt cookers.  My cuisinart is a 6ct.  If I am cooking something that does not fill up the cooker 3/4 full (which happens often!), then I put a layer of tin foil inside the cooker directly on top of the food.  It prevents burning that would occur otherwise.  You can probably do well with a 4 qt, but you may not be able to cook large things like whole chickens.

  3. check out this website, or get the website author's cookboks:  https://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

  DS #1 Born 5/19/2009 Sunshine in my life! DS #2 Born 6/3/2011 at 26 weeks, 4 days; passed away 6.5 hours later Transabdominal cerclage placed 4/16/2012 BFP 6/20/12!!!

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• TheNewMrsCfont member

  October 2012

  I took the approach that this was something I was going to buy once and hopefully  use for a very long time. 

  With that said, I bought this all-clad version 4 years ago https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-deluxe-slow-cooker-with-aluminum-insert/?pkey=celectrics-all-clad and love it.  It is pricey but in my opinion worth every dime.  The insert is cast aluminum you can brown on the stove and then put the insert right into the crockpot base. 

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• 1026pumpkin member

  October 2012

  I have a large Hamilton Beach and I love it.  As PPs mentioned, food will burn in the bigger ones if you don't have enough food in it, but if you're planning for leftovers, this is the way to go.  I really like that it has a removable liner, so you can prep the night before and keep it in the fridge, and then just pop it in the crock pot in the AM....ditto for leftovers, just pull the pot/id out and stick directly in the fridge.  You also want to make sure that you get one with a timer, so it converts to a "warming" mode after it's done cooking.

  ;

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• catsinawindow member

  October 2012

  I don't think brand matters much, they seem to last forever and work fine.  Just buy what's cheap.  I would buy one with a timer that switches to warm after a set amount of time.  I use that function constantly.

  I think a 5.5 qt is the most useful size.  It can hold large roasts but also smaller loaf pans that you can use to cook side dishes or oatmeal.

  Check out this website:  https://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2007/12/alphabetical-listing-of-recipes.html

  Best of luck!  I LOVE my crockpot!

  
  

  
  

  

  BFP#2:  EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13
  

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