What to know before you purchase a Crock-Pot
Crock-Pots are the unique sluggish cookers and have been a trusted model since 1971 after they invented this time-saving digital cookware. The most recent Crock-Pots are easy to make use of and provide simple cleanup.
One of many many benefits of a Crock-Pot is its comfort. You place your substances into the crock, choose your settings and depart the pot cooking when you go about your day. A number of hours later, your meal is prepared. For a programmable mannequin, the Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Cook and Carry Slow Cooker is high of the road.
What to know before you purchase a Crock-Pot
There are three classes of Crock-Pots — handbook, programmable and multifunction — in addition to a variety of sizes.
Guide Crock-Pots
Guide Crock-Pots are the best fashions and have solely 4 settings: off, low, excessive and heat. They encompass an outer metallic shell and a detachable ceramic crock, plus a glass lid. They arrive in spherical, oval and casserole-shaped pots, that are low and large like casserole dishes. With handbook fashions, it’s important to flip the machine off when your meal is prepared and all of the settings are operated by knobs.
Programmable Crock-Pots
Programmable Crock-Pots function an computerized timer, which robotically switches the pot to the nice and cozy setting when the set cooking time is reached. You may set your cooking time between half-hour and 20 hours by means of a digital contact pad. Programmable fashions are available in oval and casserole types.
Multifunction Crock-Pots
Essentially the most progressive fashions of programmable Crock-Pots can do extra than simply sluggish cook dinner.
- Specific-cookers provide strain cooking along with sluggish cooking. In addition they provide steaming, sautéing, browning and boiling settings.
- Multicookers provide browning, baking, roasting and steaming settings in addition to sluggish cooking. They don’t provide strain cooking.
Dimension
Take into account the dimensions of your family when choosing from the assorted sizes of Crock-Pots provided.
- Mini Crock-Pots have a 1-2 quart capability and are nice in the event you dwell alone or for making facet dishes.
- 3-4 quart fashions are perfect for households of two or three folks.
- 5-6 quart pots are excellent for households of 4 or 5 folks.
- 7 quart or bigger fashions are excellent for potluck dinners or giant households.
What to search for in a high quality Crock-Pot
Along with the several types of Crock-Pots, there are additionally a wide range of particular options and specialty fashions.
iStir
This sensible function robotically stirs your cooking meals each half-hour, making it ultimate for cooking soups and stews.
Prepare dinner & Carry
This function lets you tote your Crock-Pot to picnics, potlucks and events. Fashions with this function have carrying handles and tightly locking lids.
Stovetop
Crock-Pots with a stovetop function have a crock that may be positioned on the stovetop for browning your meals earlier than being positioned within the cooker.
Raise & Serve
Crock-Pots with a hinged lid permit for serving immediately out of the pot with no need to set the lid apart. This function turns out to be useful for entertaining and potlucks.
Hook Up Connectable Entertaining System
This method lets you hook up two or extra Crock-Pots collectively for cooking or heating a number of dishes on the similar time. The fashions on this system plug into one another and solely require one energy outlet. These specialty Crock-Pots are perfect for giant gatherings.
Lunch Crock
One other specialty Crock-Pot is the Lunch Crock, which is designed to behave as a lunch tote that retains your meals heat. Whereas it doesn’t cook dinner your meals, it’s going to warmth it and is right for the office the place home equipment are restricted.
How a lot you’ll be able to count on to spend on a Crock-Pot
The most affordable handbook fashions begin at $20, whereas programmable fashions value between $50-$80. Multifunction Crock-Pots value between $80-$120.
Crock-Pot FAQ
Is it protected to eat meat that’s been cooking in a Crock-Pot for hours?
A. So long as the meat has reached the total temperature for its cooking time, it’s suitable for eating, even when the pot is switched to the nice and cozy setting. Overcooking your meat within the crock simply means softer, extra tender meat. Don’t place frozen meat in your Crock-Pot or it gained’t cook dinner evenly.
What recipes can I cook dinner in a casserole-shaped Crock-Pot?
A. Casserole fashions are nice for cooking lasagna and different pasta dishes, giant items of animal protein similar to roasts, ribs, corned beef and different casserole recipes that require a pan as a substitute of a pot.
What’s the most effective Crock-Pot to purchase?
High Crock-Pot
Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Cook and Carry Slow Cooker
What that you must know: This massive-capacity mannequin serves as much as seven folks and is transportable.
What you’ll love: The big pot options handles and a locking lid for protected transport. The crock and lid are dishwasher-safe. You may customise your cooking time wherever from half-hour to twenty hours, then the machine robotically switches to heat.
What it’s best to take into account: There are a minority of complaints amongst reviewers that the pot cooks too sizzling, too quick.
The place to purchase: Bought by Amazon
High Crock-Pot for the cash
Crock-Pot 2 1/2-Quart Mini Casserole Slow Cooker
What that you must know: This enticing little Crock-Pot is ideal for making facet dishes or cooking for one.
What you’ll love: This four-setting handbook pot is straightforward to make use of and it has a reasonably, blue-and-white design. The oval form additionally works for cooking casseroles. The handles and locking lid permit for protected transportation to gatherings. The stoneware is each oven and dishwasher protected.
What it’s best to take into account: The two 1/2-quart measurement isn’t as fashionable as larger fashions that may make giant batches of meals.
The place to purchase: Bought by Amazon
Price trying out
Crock-Pot 3 1/2-Quart Casserole Slow Cooker
What that you must know: This bigger casserole-style pot can serve three or extra folks and is available in 4 enticing colour choices.
What you’ll love: This enticing Crock-Pot is ideal for entertaining and includes a lockable lid and handles. The handbook operation is straightforward to make use of for sluggish cooking pasta dishes, roasts, entire chickens and casseroles.
What it’s best to take into account: The outer paint can peel off if the mannequin is left on excessive for lengthy intervals.
The place to purchase: Bought by Amazon
Enroll here to obtain the BestReviews weekly publication for helpful recommendation on new merchandise and noteworthy offers.
Ana Sanchez writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped tens of millions of customers simplify their buying selections, saving them money and time.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar firm. All rights reserved.
