Follow-up question ---Crock pot recommendations

I'm thinking of jumping on the crock pot bandwagon. Can you please recommend your crock pot and tell me the pros and cons?

Thanks!

ETA: For those of you who have the crock-pot brand, do you know which one you bought? I've seen some really mixed and negative reviews about the 6 quart ones. thanks!

Message edited 10/4/2013 8:04:00 AM.

Re: Crock pot recommendations

I have a Crock Pot brand slow cooker (I believe it's a 6 quart size)... got it as a gift a few years ago, otherwise I might not have jumped on the slow cooker band wagon.

HOWEVER - I do love it and use it probably once a week. I also frequently use it when entertaining.

It is programmable, so I can set the time (in half hour increments) and the heat level (low, high, or "keep warm"). Once the programmed time is up, mine automatically switches to the "keep warm" setting, which is great if me or DH is working late. So I definitely recommend one that can be programmed for time and has a keep warm function.

Mine has a dishwasher safe insert, and it cleans up really easily (even if you were to wash it by hand).

The only potential "con" to mine is that it tends to cook kind of "hot." So that if a recipe calls for 8 hours on low, for example, it might be done in my slow cooker in 7 hours. For me, it's not a huge deal because I don't leave my house super early. I can often put the slow cooker on a little later in the morning or early afternoon so it's ready for dinner between 7-8 pm, when we usually eat.

But all in all, I recommend getting one. I love how I can get a meal going, doing all of the prep and clean up early in the day rather than at night, when we are all usually tired and rushed!

Re: Crock pot recommendations

Thanks so much for your input. I leave the house by 5:30 am every day and there's just not enough time when I get home to prep for dinner before the kids have to be in bed. I used to cook in bulk on the weekends, but I'm finding it increasingly more difficult to do that with everything else that needs to get done then. Thanks again!

Re: Crock pot recommendations

I use the same crock pot as the OP.. I love it!

Crock pot recommendations

I too use the crock pot brand and love mine. In the winter I tend to use the crock pot once a week.

Re: Crock pot recommendations

All Clad slow cooker with cast aluminum insert. You can use the insert of the stove as well. This slow cooker is expensive, but we use it a lot. Probably once a week or so. So ti was worth it.

eta; If you get any slow cooker with an aluminum insert, do 1 or 2 fake meals in it before using it for real. This will get the aluminum taste out of it. I just threw in some scraps of meat we had leftover with a few veggies I had that were leftover and then threw in some salad dressing and random condiments. Looked gross but got the flavor out. We made the mistake of not doing this before making our first meal and it tasted so off. We ended up tossing it out. It was a waste of good meat.

Another ETA: Also, as mentioned above, make sure you get a programmable one if you plan to have it on when your not home. its great having it cook all day and switch over to the warm setting so dinner is ready when i get home from work.

Message edited 10/2/2013 3:15:48 PM.

Re: Crock pot recommendations

I have the Hamilton Beach Set-N-Forget 6qt. I absolutely love it. You can program setting, time, and then it keeps the food warm. Easy to clean up. No issues at all.

Re: Crock pot recommendations

Thanks all!!

Re: Crock pot recommendations

Re: Crock pot recommendations