GUIDE TO SLOW COOKERS: AKA CROCKPOTS

Looking For A Slow Cooker? Everything You Wanted To Know About Them


In today's fast-paced society, home cooked meals are a rarity in many families. Moms work and don't want to be spending a lot of time cooking when they could be with their family. Kids are busy with sports, lessons and other activities, making sitting down to a home cooked meal as a family difficult to schedule. Fortunately, in our fast-paced society there are many ways to get around our busy schedule. One of them is by using a slow cooker, or crock pot, to have dinner on the table. And if someone isn't going to be there, dinner is still available when he or she returns home. A slow cooker is a countertop appliance that will slowly cook your meal for you, whether you are home or not. Put the ingredients in before you leave for work in the morning, set the temperature according to the recipe you're using, and when you return home, dinner is ready, or nearly so. This article will give you information on the different types, sizes, brands of slow cookers, and where to locate recipes to use in them.


What Size and Style Should I Choose?

Slow Cookers come in sizes ranging from 1.5 quarts on up to 11 quarts. The size you buy will depend on the size of your family or whether you entertain a lot and would cook for company using your slow cooker. If there are only one or two in your family, you might make do with the smallest cooker, unless you wanted to use it for company too. But the 1.5 quart cooker should be cheap enough that you can afford that one as well as a bigger size. Even if your family is small, we still recommend buying at least a 4 quart slow cooker to be sure you will have enough room to cook most any dish.

As for style, the most popular and useful are the ones which have a pot that lifts out from the cooking unit. This makes cleaning much easier. You can also remove the pot part of it and serve the dish straight from it. Many pots can also go right into the oven as well. Some slow cookers are programmable, so you can set the cooking time, after which the setting will revert to "warm." Especially handy if you do not get home before your food is finished cooking.

Slow Cooker Reviews

We review the most popular slow cookers here. Size, prices and features of each one will be listed. This will help you decide on the model for you. As a sidenote, you may see slow cookers referred to as "Crockpots." This term was orignally patented by Rival, the first manufacturer of slow cookers.

  • Hamilton Beach's 33141 4-quart slow cooker gets good reviews from users. Just the right size for small families, prices range in the neighborhood of $20-25. This model features 3 cooking temperatures--high, low and warm--a removable pot and see-thru glass lid which are dishwasher-safe.
  • Rival's SCR500-GF has a 5 quart capacity, 3 cook settings as well as a warming setting, and ranges in price from $25-32. This comes with a removable pot, and both pot and lid are dishwasher safe.
  • Hamilton Beach's Stay or Go 6 quart slow cooker receives top ratings on consumersearch.com. It's dishwasher safe, its oval shape is good for slow roasting chicken and other meats, and also features a locking lid. It costs about $40.
  • West Bend's Versatility 6 quart cooker costs about $60, and has other uses besides slow cooking. It has a removeable aluminum insert which can be used on the stovetop, and the bottom unit can be used on its own as a small grilling unit. The removable unit has a non-stick surface and is dishwasher-safe.

There are many more slow cookers on the market, this article cannot possibly review each and every one. Some good sources for more information include consumersearch.com, epionions.com, and howstuffworks.com

Slow Cooker Recipes

When cooking with a slow cooker, there are new rules to learn and follow. Here are some good recipe sources for your new appliance:

KraftFoods.com was our first stop online. Their web site features sections on tips and techniques, articles, and of course recipes. A couple of their tips: Don't cook pasta or rice in the slow cooker. If your recipe calls for either ingredient, you'll probably see that they suggest cooking these separately. Follow that advice, you'll be glad you did. The other notable tip is "Don't Peek."

Better Homes and Gardens offers thousands of slow cooker recipies online, and you can even sign up to receive daily recipes in your inbox.

Chefmom's recipe web site has a section devoted to Slow Cooker recipes. Lots of recipes that look promising, including "Chicken in the Crock Pot," and "Baked Chicken Breasts."

CDKitchen is also home to many slow cooker recipes. Check them out.

For slow cooker cookbooks, try "Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes" and "Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes 2" by Better Homes and Gardens; "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook," or "Fix-And-Forget-It Cookbook:Feasting With Your Slow Cooker," for starters. There are many more of course, but you can see a good listing on Amazon.com. There are often good recipes in magazines, too. You won't lack for a variety of recipes to make in your slow cooker, including main dishes, side dishes and desserts. Happy Cooking, and Happy Eating!

Resource Index

Audio-Video-and-Cameras:
Plasma TV, LCD TV, MP3 Players, TIVO, Satellite TV, Dgitial Cameras, Digital Camcorders, Bose iPod Speakers, Multimedia Projectors, GPS, Blu-ray Disc

Computer and Accessories:
Choosing a Laptop Computer, Computer Memory Upgrade, Copying a Hard Drive, Dual Monitors, Networking Computers, Microsoft Office, PDA's, Cheap Ink/Toner, Color Laser Printers, Multifunction Printers, Scanners, USB Flash Drives, Wireless Printers, Dell computers, Wireless Routers, Wireless G Routers, Wireless N Routers, Laptop Carrying Cases

Computer and Video Games:
Age of Empires III, Battlefield 2

Entertainment:
Online Gambling, Poker, Routlette, Blackjack, Craps and other Online Games, Online Casinos, Movies, Online DVD Rentals, Home Theater Systems , Home Theater Components, HDTV, HDTV Buying Tips, HD Radio, Portable DVD Players, Magazine Subscriptions

Fun-Hobbies:
Tropical Fish, Aquariums, Scrapbooking, Rubber Stamping, Geneology, Geocaching, Soap Making, Candle Making

Legal:
Criminal Defense Attorneys, Tax Attorneys, Lemon Law Protection, Structured Settlements, Investment Fraud, Bankruptcy Attorneys, Personal Injury Attorneys, Family Law

CellPhones-and-Communication
Cell Phones, Cell Phone Carriers, Prepaid Cell Phone Plans, Cell Phone Ringtones, Headsets, VOIP, Cheap Long Distance, iPhone, Blackberry, Bluetooth Technology, SmartPhones

Jobs-Schooling
Online College Degrees, Business Degrees, Home Schooling, Drivers Education, Job Resumes, Online Job Search
Internet:
Cybercrime Prosecution, IE Security, Affordable Web Hosting, Web Hosting, Domain Name Registration, Search Engines, Web Site Design, Internet Mailing Lists, Blogging, Internet Serive Providers, Free Email, Clip Art

Finance and Insurance:
Auto Insurance, Car Insurance Quotes, RV Insurance, General Insurance, Travel Insurance, Business Insurance, Basic Guide to Consolidating Student Loans, Cash Advance Loans, Federal Student Loan Consolidation, Debt Consolidation, Debt Management, Credit Card Debt Consolidation, Free Credit Reports, Home Mortgages, Home Equity Loans, Mortgage Refinancing, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Companies, Second Mortgages, Mortgage Brokers, Health Insurance, Insurance Quotes, Term life Insurance, Mortgage note buyer, Renter's Insurance, Household Budgeting

Home:
Home improvement, Outdoor Lighting, Kitchen Remodeling, Kitchen Countertops, Espresso Makers, Food Processors, Coffee Makers, Coffee Grinders, Slow Cookers, Popcorn makers, Blenders, Cutting Boards, Refrigerators, Freezers, Washers & Dryers, Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen & Bathroom Faucets, Bathtubs, House Windows, Closet Organizers, Window Treatments, Hardwood Floors, Carpeting, Home Security, Water Heaters, Water Filters, Carbon Monoxide Detectors, Bamboo Flooring, Portable Air Conditioners, Dehumidifiers, Siding, House Cleaning Services, Home Organization, Vacuum Cleaners, Cannister Vacuum Cleaners, Handcheld Vacuum Cleaners, Upright Vacuum Cleaners, Stick Vacuum Cleaners, Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaners, Furnaces, Fireplace Inserts, Electric Space Heaters, Pellet Stoves, Wood Stoves, Heat Pumps, Buying a used car



Business-Office-Supplies:
Discount Office Supplies, Home Office, Office Furniture, Copiers, Home Business, Business Cards, Business Brochures, Mailing List Companies, Affiliates, Franchises, Business Telephone Systems, Employment Agencies, Call Centers, Fax Machines
Health and Wellness:
Fioricet for Migraine Relief, Online Pharmacies, Phentermine for dieting, Tramadol for Chronic Pain Relief, Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Lawyers, Acne Treatment, Contact Lenses, Drug Rehabilitation, Cerebral Palsy, Hair Loss, Hair Loss Products, Human Growth Hormones , Diet Pills, Treadmills, Fragrances, Reducing Cholesterol, Diabetes, Obesity, Arthritis, High Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, Acid reflux, Cialis, Understanding Depression, Unraveling Diet Plans, Erectile dysfunction, Lipitor, Sleep Loss, Viagra, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Living With Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder

Gifts:
Gift Ideas, Corporate Gifts, Gift Cards, Wristwatches, Replica Watches, Sunglasses, Wholesale Jewelry, Jewelry Boxes, Wedding Gifts, Food Gifts, Books, Music, Flowers, Gift Baskets, Candles & Candleholders, Chocolate & Candy

Sports:
Health Clubs, Home Gyms, Treadmills, Golf, Golf Vacations, Golf Schools, Golf Clubs, Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Basketball

Travel:
Railroad Train Travel, Greyhound Bus Travel, Moving Guide, Rental Cars, Luxury Cruises, Maui Vacation, Spain Travel, Panama Cruise, Mexico Travel, Europe Travel, Disneyland Vacation, Disney World Vacation, Airline Tickets, Las Vegas Vacations, Las Vegas Sights, Las Vegas Entertainment, Las Vegas Dining, Lake Tahoe, Reno Vacations, Grand Canyon Vacation, Alaska Vacation, San Juan Island Vacation, Seattle Vacation, San Francisco Vacation, San Diego Vacation, SeaWorld Vacation, Yellowstone Park Vacation, Los Angeles Vacation, Bed & Breakfasts, Las Cruces New Mexico Vacation, Texas Hill Country Vacation, Columbia River Gorge Vacation, Albuquerque Vacation, New Mexico Vacation, Utah Vacation, Denver Vacation, Carlsbad Caverns, Branson, Missouri, Arizona Vacations, Jackson Wyoming, Skiing Wyoming, Skiing Oregon, Skiing Utah, Skiing Colorado, Skiing California, Skiing Washington State, Skiing Idaho

Yard-and-Garden:
Lawn Care, Patio Furniture, Hot Tubs & Spas, Gazebos, Fences, Decks, Barbeque Grills, Greenhouses, Patios, Sprinkler Systems, Landscape Design, Backyard Ponds, Bird Baths, Hedge Trimmers, String Trimmers, Wheelbarrows and Gardencarts, Lawn Mowers, Lawn Mowers, Lawn Care Tools, Lawn Edgers, Leaf Blowers, Now Blowers, Rakes