We have two weber kettle grills (one LARGE and one small/average), the SnS and the Weber Smokey Mountain 18" smoker. We use both natural lump charcoal and KNB for smoking and measure our temps with a Maverick 733, thermopen and MK4. Favorite beer depends on what is cooking (alt answer is yes).
Our crock pot broke this morning (fell, no repairs), so we need a new one....ASAP
Does anyone have a favorite, and if so, why?
TIA
PS: I looked to see if there was an appropriate forum for this question, but couldn't find one - Mods, sorry if I missed it, trying to put my posts in more correct forums.
I have gone through a bunch of slow cookers in my day. I can tell you about the Rival Crock-Pot (I think that is trademarked) that made chili cement on a camping trip, and how its replacement failed. Of all the brands I have owned, the only one I would ever buy again is the All-Clad slow cooker. Expensive, but I doubt I will ever have to replace it. Works perfectly and it has lasted years so far.
We have the basic 5-ish quart large Rival and it works fine for us--no complaints. I can't see any advantage to more expensive units. Off to Costco for the Rival---LOL.
We have the 6qt Rival programmable. Three teenagers in the house, so the programmable feature helps them get dinner started when they get home from school and when it's done it flips over to 'keep warm'. Ours is probably 5-ish years old, works great and gets used about once a week.
We have two Cuisinarts -- an 8 quart and a 4 quart -- and they are fine. We had an 8 quart Cuisinart non-digital before, and we had to replace it because the handle broke and we couldn't get a replacement part, so you were always guesstimating when you set it.
My favorite used to be the West Bend model that used a rectangular metal pot on a hot plate style warmer. I loved that the pot was non-stick, light weight and fit easily in the fridge. Then I moved to the All-Clad with the aluminum inset. Loved that until the non-stick coating failed after a few months, then (after replacement) the electronics failed twice, ruining two meals. I traded for the Cuisinart multi-cooker and it's been fine. Careful though, there are two models with the same name. One is a rice cooker, the other is what you want. I got mine from WS.
These days I might have opted for an Instant Pot that can do slow cooking, sautéing and pressure cooking.
+1 for the InstaPot here. A very versatile tool. Not sure how old yours is Dr ROK but mine is <1 year old and has 2 temps for slow cooking. You have to use the adjust button and the high/low pressure lights are your indicator.
Well, this is a little embarrassing. mgaretz , I think I have the one you deceived somewhere. But it is too small, but I agree with you, a pretty good little item.
Just a quick note on crockpot temps compared to low and slow. You can use it as a guide when converting crockpot cooking to you grill or smoker. A crockpot on low is 200 and on high is 300.
We have two weber kettle grills (one LARGE and one small/average), the SnS and the Weber Smokey Mountain 18" smoker. We use both natural lump charcoal and KNB for smoking and measure our temps with a Maverick 733, thermopen and MK4. Favorite beer depends on what is cooking (alt answer is yes).
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan- near Clare. (dead center of lower peninsula)
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
I'm starting to hate crock pots. Not because they're not useful, but because someone in my family (who shall remain nameless, and who bless her heart prepares meals for me to take to work) thinks HIGH is the proper setting for a pork loin when she's gone for several hours. The positive note is that the crock pot does save me from eating too much pizza, and also I know exactly what a pork-flavored slightly soft pine board tastes like.
I bought a programmable Rival Crock Pot several years ago and I love the way it cooks. Its only problem is that the plastic hardware (handles and lid hinge) are of extremely poor quality and are now mostly broken.
Beware that some models, such as those from Hamilton Beach, won't stay in a warming mode forever. After 12 or maybe 14 hours they switch off completely. If you're late getting home from work or trying to cook something overnight that could be a real problem. That "feature" was a dealbreaker for me when I was shopping for a slow cooker.
Also know that the programmable models will forget everything you've told them if there is a power interruption. One time I was trying to cook chili on a stormy night and had to reset the cooker several times. Had I not been home it would have just sat there waiting for me to come home to cold, ruined food. The old fashioned ones with a knob start cooking again as soon as the power comes back.
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan- near Clare. (dead center of lower peninsula)
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
The old fashioned ones with a knob start cooking again as soon as the power comes back.
There's something to be said for dumb ol' knobs. My car has the old fashioned twist knobs for the heat/AC/vents. Simple and it works. My wife's van has digital everything. I hate it. I feel like I'm mixing a hip-hop album to set my side cooler than hers, what with all the sliders and screens and numbers and pictures.
I completely agree Huskee, and I'll hate giving up my climate control knobs when the day comes to buy a new car. In fact, I may keep driving my current rides just to avoid the switch to one of these hideous new computer controlled systems.
1st generation masterbuilt 40 inch smoker
1stgeneration masterbuilt 30 inch smoker
Brinkmann gourmet electric smoker
36 inch Blackstone grill-griddle
Kenmore 5 burner gas grill, webber smokey joe
Maine grilling woods
chigger creek grilling woods
lots of cast iron
Tanqueray gin
Michelob ultra
Maverick`733
Saving money for a stumps classic gravity fed charcoal smoker
cant wait!
Hamilton beach, stay or go , has a lid with latches so you can take it with you and not worry about spillage, also has a warm button ,serving spoon with drip tray and an attachable lid holder, I love mine I highly recommend it!
My parents have one of those, and I love the latching lid with a gasket. I was about to buy one myself when I realized they turn off after 14 hours. When in the warming mode there's no excuse for the machine not to keep running almost indefinitely.
1st generation masterbuilt 40 inch smoker
1stgeneration masterbuilt 30 inch smoker
Brinkmann gourmet electric smoker
36 inch Blackstone grill-griddle
Kenmore 5 burner gas grill, webber smokey joe
Maine grilling woods
chigger creek grilling woods
lots of cast iron
Tanqueray gin
Michelob ultra
Maverick`733
Saving money for a stumps classic gravity fed charcoal smoker
cant wait!
Comment