Crock Pot

just made rice pudding in mine!  oh so yummy!

One of the things I love about a slo cooker is coming home to an empty house after a hard day at work, opening the door and smelling yummy hot food ready and waiting to eat.

One of the things I love about a slo cooker is coming home to an empty house after a hard day at work, opening the door and smelling yummy hot food ready and waiting to eat.

And best of all, not having to do anything more than serve it!

And best of all, not having to do anything more than serve it!

and next to no washing up as well. 

how long can you leave it cooking? On a good day I'll be leaving my house around 7:15 and not getting back until about 6 or 6:30. Is that too long to keep something cooking?

It's just me and DB and I got a 5qt. slow cooker for Christmas. I love the size. It's the perfect size for making big batches of soup or sauce, and I can fit a chicken in there to make stock.

I read somewhere that you can use one of those timer things that you set the time and it turns on and off the appliance to set the crock pot if it doesn't have a timer. I just bought one at Walmart yesterday and haven't had a chance to use it yet, but it sounds like a good plan!

how long can you leave it cooking? On a good day I'll be leaving my house around 7:15 and not getting back until about 6 or 6:30. Is that too long to keep something cooking?

no, that'll be ok.
I wouldnt want to leave it much more than 12 hours, though... not that it's dangerous or anything, but you run the risk of overcooking your food.   I have cooked meat for 10-12 hours, and it was fine.

no, that'll be ok.
I wouldnt want to leave it much more than 12 hours, though... not that it's dangerous or anything, but you run the risk of overcooking your food.   I have cooked meat for 10-12 hours, and it was fine.

Thanks for that I've been wondering the same thing!

Today i'm making corned (salt) beef & cabbage and potatoes in mine

just made rice pudding in mine!  oh so yummy!

how did you do that without it burning?  I tried steel cut oats in mine and they burned

It's just me and DB and I got a 5qt. slow cooker for Christmas. I love the size. It's the perfect size for making big batches of soup or sauce, and I can fit a chicken in there to make stock.

I read somewhere that you can use one of those timer things that you set the time and it turns on and off the appliance to set the crock pot if it doesn't have a timer. I just bought one at Walmart yesterday and haven't had a chance to use it yet, but it sounds like a good plan!

The problem with making big batches of soup here is that we have pretty much zero freezer space. Otherwise, that would be excellent.

I saw the ones with the timer, but they're a bit more expensive. I'm thinking I'll probably leave this with my housemate when I move, so I didn't want to get one that was too expensive. When I'm more settled in a year or so, I'll probably get a nicer one with the timer.

Thanks for that I've been wondering the same thing!

Today i'm making corned (salt) beef & cabbage and potatoes in mine

Yum! Do you buy an already prepared piece of corned beef for this?

I'm doing a chicken soup in mine right now. I'm using boneless breasts this time. Last time I put in a whole chicken and felt it was too fatty and after cooking it for 8 hours I didn't want to take the time to let it cool and skim it before we ate it. I know I'll lose some flavor with just the breasts, but I added extra seasoning and a bunch of dill.

I saw the ones with the timer, but they're a bit more expensive. I'm thinking I'll probably leave this with my housemate when I move, so I didn't want to get one that was too expensive. When I'm more settled in a year or so, I'll probably get a nicer one with the timer.

That's how I felt about the ones with the timer too, but here's what I meant about buying a separate timer. My dad always used these for the Christmas tree and outside Christmas lights. I've heard of people using them for a crock pot too. You plug the timer into the wall, and then plug the crock pot into the timer. You set it to turn on at a specific time and you can also set it to turn off at a different time.

That's how I felt about the ones with the timer too, but here's what I meant about buying a separate timer. My dad always used these for the Christmas tree and outside Christmas lights. I've heard of people using them for a crock pot too. You plug the timer into the wall, and then plug the crock pot into the timer. You set it to turn on at a specific time and you can also set it to turn off at a different time.

That's a very clever solution!! 

That's a very clever solution!! 

That's what I thought when I first heard it! I'm going to plan something in the crock pot for this week's dinner and see how it works. People I've heard of who have crockpots without the timer swear by this trick. 

That's how I felt about the ones with the timer too, but here's what I meant about buying a separate timer. My dad always used these for the Christmas tree and outside Christmas lights. I've heard of people using them for a crock pot too. You plug the timer into the wall, and then plug the crock pot into the timer. You set it to turn on at a specific time and you can also set it to turn off at a different time.

Ooohhhh!!! That is clever! Thanks for the tip!