slow cooker... convince me

i've had a slow cooker in my kitchen since i started cooking in earnest. at one point, i had a few of different sizes.

i love them for keeping things warm for pot lucks.

but...

i don't like cooking in them. it just never tastes right. whenever i cook a meat, i find that the part of the meat that is touching the bottom of the pot has a "burned" area. i decided to elevate the meat. i started to sacrifice a potato. i put potato pieces down first and then the meat on top.

yesterday, i made a pork shoulder. SO was complaining that every time i cook in the crock pot (which is not very often) it upsets his stomach. i can make the same dish in the oven and it does not upset his stomach.

what am i doing wrong?
how can i begin to use my crockpot with better results?

Message edited 11/1/2018 5:20:47 PM.

Re: slow cooker... convince me

I don't know, i feel the same.
I feel like everything I make in there tastes the same. All mushed together, the meat too soft and falling apart.

I like it for making shredded chicken when I need that for a recipe or casserole. Because it does just that- makes the chicken soft and it falls apart.

And it's ok for soups too.

But other than that- I'm turned off to crock pot meals.

slow cooker... convince me

I prefer the instant pot because you can brown the meat beforehand.

I agree you can really only use it for certain things like soups, chili, pulled pork/chicken. I like doing meatballs in the instant pot because I can brown them up and then cook quickly.

slow cooker... convince me

ok. so it's not just me!!

i was starting to doubt my kitchen skills lol

i'll just keep using it the way i have in the past... to keep things warm and an occasional soup/stew.

Re: slow cooker... convince me

I ONLY like my Crock Pot for spiral ham, pulled chicken/pork, soups, stews and sauces. That's it. I much prefer cooking on my stovetop or in my oven where I have more control over the process.

Re: slow cooker... convince me

I like my crock pot, but I really use it more out of convenience than because I think it's so awesome. It's good for a busy night when I have sports and that type of thing.

I think it's really about choosing the right recipes and the right cut of meat. Mine has an automatic "switch to warm" setting when the timer goes off so it won't overcook things.

It's really good for larger cuts of tougher meat that respond to low and slow cooking (braised meat/pot roast, pulled pork) and things like soups and stews.

But I agree that when time allows, I prefer to use the stovetop in a Dutch oven pot, or use the oven.

I do think some recipes come out very well in the crock pot though. I have a good "moo shu" pork recipe, I like to make pulled pork, chicken soup. I have a good recipe for butternut squash/pearl barley risotto. Things like a big batch of oatmeal or homemade applesauce are nice to do in the crock pot, too.

I find that things give off a lot of liquid, so I've never really have had the issue of burning at the bottom.

Message edited 11/1/2018 4:18:49 PM.

Re: slow cooker... convince me

I only like it for sauces, curries, dips and soups.

I’m vegetarian so my crock pot usage is limited but yeah, some things just don’t turn out well in it. I should throw mine out, I rarely use the damn thing.

Re: slow cooker... convince me

Re: slow cooker... convince me

I also have a crock pot that is collecting dust.
It's been relegated it to the attic to free up kitchen space. It's huge, too big for just DH and me,he wanted it but never cooks. Go figure.

I would never leave the house with it plugged in, so there goes the idea of cooking something while at work.
DH loves pot roast, but I would rather make it in my dutch oven. Made it once or twice in the crock pot and felt that it came out better in the dutch oven. I think because I open the lid periodically to flip the meat and to adjust the seasonings.

I also have an InstantPot and I rarely use it. It's still in my kitchen, so there is still hope for it. The only thing I don't like is how the silicone ring absorbs odors easily.
I guess I'll try my chili recipe in there, on the slow cooker setting.
I have yet to make chicken soup, I'll give it a go in the pressure cooker to see if it comes out different than when I simmer it on the stove top.

Re: slow cooker... convince me

Re: slow cooker... convince me

Re: slow cooker... convince me

slow cooker... convince me

I use it on occasion for a select few recipes. Pulled pork, chicken and wild rice soup, chicken tikka masala. That's all I can think of off hand other than occasionally trying new recipes that I usually don't love enough to repeat. The more I think about it the more I think I should just get rid of it. I may throw it in the attic and if I don't miss it before winter's over I'll donate it.

Re: slow cooker... convince me

I don’t use it too often, but that’s because I’ve been a bit lazy and I have a lot going on at the moment, so I’ve just been making quick meals from Hello Fresh.

When I am in that mode I make:

My own stock from bones that I have collected from roasts.

Short ribs

Pulled pork and chicken

Wild boar stew (I know, I know)

Chicken chipotle thighs for tacos.

Chili

Soups

If I am really busy that week, then I’ll make extra for the whole week and for SO’s lunch.

Re: slow cooker... convince me

Re: slow cooker... convince me

Instant pot is the way to go. I got rid of my crock pot and the IP gets used multiple times a week

Re: slow cooker... convince me

I would never do a Pernil in the crock pot. LOL. Slow cook it in the oven. My stepsons mom made Pernil in the IP and it was ok.

Pork takes forever, maybe it's not cooking all the way through. How long did you have it in there for? I cook it for 7 hours in the oven, so I feel like it would have to be in the crockpot for a long time.

I love my crockpot, best $20 bucks I ever spent. It saves me when I work because dinner is ready for DH & DS.

I make Chilis, Steak, Tikka Marsala, Pulled pork, Chicken. The meat is so tender and everything should taste different if you season it right. Don't be afraid of salt, pepper and adobo girl.

Re: slow cooker... convince me

Posted by Sash

I would never do a Pernil in the crock pot. LOL. Slow cook it in the oven. My stepsons mom made Pernil in the IP and it was ok.

Pork takes forever, maybe it's not cooking all the way through. How long did you have it in there for? I cook it for 7 hours in the oven, so I feel like it would have to be in the crockpot for a long time.

I love my crockpot, best $20 bucks I ever spent. It saves me when I work because dinner is ready for DH & DS.

I make Chilis, Steak, Tikka Marsala, Pulled pork, Chicken. The meat is so tender and everything should taste different if you season it right. Don't be afraid of salt, pepper and adobo girl.

Re: slow cooker... convince me

Posted by MarathonKnitter

Posted by Sash

I would never do a Pernil in the crock pot. LOL. Slow cook it in the oven. My stepsons mom made Pernil in the IP and it was ok.

Pork takes forever, maybe it's not cooking all the way through. How long did you have it in there for? I cook it for 7 hours in the oven, so I feel like it would have to be in the crockpot for a long time.

I love my crockpot, best $20 bucks I ever spent. It saves me when I work because dinner is ready for DH & DS.

I make Chilis, Steak, Tikka Marsala, Pulled pork, Chicken. The meat is so tender and everything should taste different if you season it right. Don't be afraid of salt, pepper and adobo girl.

it was a really small pork shoulder and i put it in for 10 hours. it was cooked through. i didn't have that problem. i just find that it wasn't "right."

i do use it for pulled pork, shredded salsa chicken, simple soups.

i loved a good pernil IN THE OVEN... and it takes all day!
now, i'm hungry!!

pernil and eggs are the only thing i missed when i was vegan lol you can't deny who/what you are. a cuban girl without pernil or white rice with a fried egg is an unhappy girl lol

Re: slow cooker... convince me