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Who cooks with a crock pot?

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John F

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Who cooks with a crock pot?

by John F » Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:45 am

Maria's post about slow braised cuts and her reference to crock pots got me thinking. I was also in WIlliams Sonoma also a few weeks ago and they had a crock pot on display and I was tempted....but I was like - what would i actually do with it?

Forgive me for being politically incorrect but when I hear crock pot I think 1970s/80s era woman who has a job and is trying to mange a household too - and to save time dumps something in the crock pot in the morning because there isn't time to cook at night.

Can someone enlighten me?

Thanks
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Howie Hart » Mon Nov 03, 2008 7:21 am

I frequently use an electric roasting pan. Works like a crock pot, but bigger. I've used it for pot roast, chili, spaghetti sauce with meatballs & sausage and just yesterday I used it to make braised beef ribs. The nice thing about them is that you can set the temperature, from 150 to 450 and they are heated around the sides, not at the bottom, so there is less risk of burning.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Maria Samms » Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:58 am

John,

I use my crockpot alot. But I never just throw ingredients in and forget about it. I like it because I don't have to worry about leaving it on, like the stovetop. Also, it's cooks at lower temps.

What I make in it is stocks, bolognese, beef or lamb stew, tomato sauce, giambotta, ribs (don't make these in the crockpot since I got my kooker, but the crockpot made great ribs), corned beef, chili, pulled pork, and beef stroganoff. I also use it for BBQ's to keep foods like soups or baked beans warm during the party.

When cooking things like beef stew, I usually brown the meat in the crockpot first, then I add liquid and aromatics. Towards the last hr, I add veggies and or cream or noodles. I never just through everything in at once and let is cook until it's done. I definitely think they are worth having. Mine came free with a meat slicer I bought several yrs ago. I never thought I would use it, but I probably use it twice a week.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Cynthia Wenslow » Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:04 am

I love my slow cookers. I have a couple different sizes.

I frequently work long hours and am just exhausted when I get home. If there wasn't something delicious and hot waiting in the Crockpot when I walked in the door on those nights, I'd just skip dinner.

My 6 quart Crockpot has High, Low, Keep Warm settings. It also has a timer so that after, say 7 hours at low, it automatically switches to Keep Warm. That really prevents the food from turning to mush. I picked it up for something like $60 at Bed, Bath & Beyond a couple years ago. It replaced an older one that I loaned to someone and never got back.

The new ones seem to cook at a much higher temp than the old ones did. I suspect the Food Police/lawsuits at work here.

A great book is Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook by Hensperger and Kaufmann.

I also have a very small one that I set up on a timer for steel cut oats. It kicks on overnight and I wake up to breakfast ready made.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Maria Samms » Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:16 am

Oh good idea about the oatmeal Cynthia...I never thought of that!

I forgot that I also make rice pudding in the slow cooker...it's the recipe that Bob Ross posted...I think by Betty Crocker. It's super easy and really good...and I use leftover chinese food white rice to make it.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Larry Greenly » Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:41 am

I have two. One of them was used to make my posole yesterday--as in another thread.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Alan Wolfe » Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:48 am

A crock pot is a fine way to cook a Canada goose. You may have to cut the wings and legs off to make it fit (use the legs later for stock). Stuff the carcass in the crockpot, add whatever that you think might be good, and turn it on. The meat is all dark and a little strongly flavored, but not so gamey as venison (whitetail). We think a slightly sweet reduction with black currants works pretty well.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Dave R » Mon Nov 03, 2008 12:50 pm

The only thing I cook in a crock pot is corned beef brisket or sausages. I never got the hang of cooking anything else in it because it seemed to always turn everything into mush. Operator error I'm sure. I do however use my crockpot to keep food warm for football parties. That works very well.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Dave R » Mon Nov 03, 2008 12:51 pm

Howie Hart wrote:I frequently use an electric roasting pan. Works like a crock pot, but bigger. I've used it for pot roast, chili, spaghetti sauce with meatballs & sausage and just yesterday I used it to make braised beef ribs. The nice thing about them is that you can set the temperature, from 150 to 450 and they are heated around the sides, not at the bottom, so there is less risk of burning.


Howie,

Are you talking about something like a Nesco?
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by David M. Bueker » Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:02 pm

Chili and beef stew are my two crock pot staples. I've done some fabulous "baked" beans in it as well.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Howie Hart » Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:16 pm

Dave R wrote:Howie, Are you talking about something like a Nesco?
Not that brand, but basically the same thing. Mine is white with a porcelain interior. I think mine is a Rival.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Karen/NoCA » Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:11 pm

I have two of them, the Rival being the largest is oval shaped. Over the years I've use them a lot. Maria mentions some of the foods I have done in them. Now, I use them for making soups, pulled pork, pasta sauce, and on occasion, one pot meals. For me, they offer free time. I don't have to keep checking to see if the food is sticking and having to stir. Wonderful for those super busy days. Oh, and they are great in the winter when you want to have folks over for a soup party. A friend of mine makes two or three types of soups then parks them in the Crockpot's to keep warm.

I also use them at Thanksgiving to cook my dressing, and to reheat mashed potatoes. I take the turkey drippings at the end and drizzle it over the dressing. It turns out excellent and saves the time of dragging it out of the turkey.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Robert Reynolds » Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:28 pm

That sounds like a good way to cook dressing, except how does the top get all deliciously crusty?
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Karen/NoCA » Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:49 pm

How does the top get all crusty in the turkey?
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Howie Hart » Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:30 am

Karen/NoCA wrote:How does the top get all crusty in the turkey?

The same way it gets crispy in a roasting pan in the oven. Depends on what temperature you set. Mine came with a rack for roasting and temperature settings from 150 to 450.
EDIT - sorry - misread your post, Karen. I thought you were referring to the turkey skin. The stuffing will get crusty on the ends where it is exposed.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Bart Mart » Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:44 am

I just used mine to make apple butter.

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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by ChefJCarey » Tue Nov 04, 2008 8:29 am

It's all a crock.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Jenise » Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:41 am

Bart H wrote:I just used mine to make apple butter.

Bart



Bart, welcome! Btw, how DO you make apple butter? It's something I remember from childhood and haven't seen or thought about since. I remember it was very dark brown, something that apples aren't (or shouldn't be).
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Jenise » Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:42 am

Dave R wrote:The only thing I cook in a crock pot is corned beef brisket or sausages. I never got the hang of cooking anything else in it because it seemed to always turn everything into mush. Operator error I'm sure. I do however use my crockpot to keep food warm for football parties. That works very well.


Ditto on the corned beef. Of course, one could duplicate that success in a slow oven, but the power usage probably favors the crock pot.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Carl Eppig » Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:43 am

We use ours alot especially starting this time of year, for most of the reasons/uses mentioned. It is also excellent for pot lucks where you have to keep something warm for an extented period.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Bart Mart » Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:12 am

Jenise, this is how I make apple butter in the crock. I peel and slice the apples packing the crock pot with them. Add two/three cups of apple cider. It will cook down about half then I fill it again with apples. Cook it down again, at this point I will adjust the lid to let evaporation occur if it has to much liquid or add liquid if necessary. The process take two days to do and it will turn dark. The last couple of hours I add my spices (brown sugar, nutmeg, ground cloves). It is good without sugar if your diabetic or you can use a sugar sub.

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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Robert Reynolds » Sat Nov 08, 2008 1:01 am

Karen/NoCA wrote:How does the top get all crusty in the turkey?

I never cook dressing in the turkey, Mom was a vegetarian, and the stuffing had to be cooked so she would eat it. I just prefer it in a pan now, and it gets nice and crusty and delish that way. :D
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Cynthia Wenslow » Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:30 am

Welcome, Bart!

I've made apple butter in the crockpot, as well. I love love love it.
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Re: Who cooks with a crock pot?

by Maria Samms » Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:40 am

Welcome Bart to the forum! I have never made apple butter and will have to give it a try.
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