s/o Slow Cookers

[Pilsy]

Does anyone else have one without a built-in timer?

Ours was a gift, and I hate to spend the $ to upgrade if it's really not necessary, as it's a good size and works well. I just don't know if I can ever get the most of out of it, as I'm afraid to leave it when we're gone all day. (I've always used it on a Sunday so I can be nearby. I'm not working right now, so I can use it a little more, but as soon as I go back to work, it goes back to weekend-only hours.)

Is it safe to leave it on for a full workday when nobody's home? And how is the food going to taste? I'd love to hear your tips. Thanks!

[keweenawlove]

I leave my work the full workday all the time (generally ~9 hours). I try to find the recipes that say to cook them for 7-8 hours. I also try to get the pot as full as I can. I've never had an issue with anything.

[mbcdefg]

I bought a $20 model from Target when I first moved out of my parents' house, and it didn't have a timer. The food tasted fine. However, one day I put something inside before I left for work and turned it on, then I was unexpectedly invited out to dinner with friends right after work and forgot all about it. I remembered in the middle of dinner, after the crockpot had been on for maybe 13 hours.

Nothing bad happened, thank goodness, but the food was way overcooked and I was just a nervous wreck until I got home (especially since I had my cat in the apartment). And even if I didn't forget I'd turned it on, there were days when I got stuck in a ton of traffic coming home or I had to run errands after work or something, so you never know what might delay you.

I would personally get a model with a timer if you plan to use it while you're not home. Just for peace of mind. You can still keep the non-timer model if you want to cook something while you're at home while it's on.

[rosiedozie]

Ours doesn't have a timer and we leave it on low when we're out of the house.

[drloretta]

You can still use it. Like the pp said, find recipes that want you to put it on low for 8-ish hours.

That said, i love our one with a timer. It saved me the other night when I forgot about the leftover soup in there. It stayed on warm the whole time until I got to it.

[Pilsy]

Sept 10, 2012 8:16:12 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

I was just a nervous wreck until I got home

This is how I picture myself feeling!

Thanks, everyone, for the feedback. I was hoping someone had some magical answer, but I think it comes down to personality. I've contemplated putting it on one of those outlet timers people use for lights or Christmas trees, but spending $ on that is probably not all that different than just springing for a new slow cooker, right? And a timer on the outlet won't switch it to the warm setting, it'll just turn off.

When I go back to work, my first gift to myself will probably be a new model, compete with timer.

[ssmjlm]

I find the timer is also good for recipes requiring a couple steps. For example I made crockpot mac n cheese for work and a lot of the comments said after 1 hour, stir and then stir every 30 mins. It was so nice to just have my crockpot beep to remind me to stir.

[Deleted]

I use ours without a timer for things that need to be cooked for a longer amount of time. If I leave it on during the day it will be on for 9.5-10 hours. I usually put it on low. I've found it works better with large pieces of meat. When I use smaller pieces of meat that cook faster, like chicken pieces or something, they overcook and get really dry. I made a honey garlic chicken dish that tasted horrible not too long ago. The chicken got so dry and it all tasted kind of burnt, we couldn't even eat it.

[geneg]

Mine is the one with just a click dial in the front (high, low, warm, off). I prefer it to the digital one (lasts longer). But everything I cook is either all day or I am at home to manually turn it to warm/off.

To be fair, ANY plugged in slow cooker can be a fire hazard.

[cindilu1]

You can get a regular timer and use it. Like the ones that turn on your lights when you are on vacation.

[sporky]

Mine doesn't have a timer either, but I love it. Slow cookers use very little power so their fire hazard potential is small. Sure, they could start a fire, but so could any of the appliances that are plugged in around your house. I'll assume you don't unplug the cable box or the computer or all your lamps when you leave tho. ;-)

[Pilsy]

Sept 10, 2012 8:51:00 GMT -5 geneg said:

Mine is the one with just a click dial in the front (high, low, warm, off). I prefer it to the digital one (lasts longer). But everything I cook is either all day or I am at home to manually turn it to warm/off.

To be fair, ANY plugged in slow cooker can be a fire hazard.

Good points re: lasting longer and the fire hazard of any appliance.

Someone else mentioned chicken being overdone, too, though. I have encountered that, even when I've been home with the meal! Ugh. I am not a good cook. Long way to go.

I think I'll keep experimenting with it while I'm home and maybe give some real thought to how much we really like slow cooker meals before I go investing in a digital one, too. I can probably get plenty of use out of it on weekends alone once I'm back at work. I should make better use of the option to make extra and freeze.

Thanks, all!

[mbcdefg]

A second one could be useful if you frequently host house parties, where you just set food out and everyone helps themselves. You can keep two dishes warm at once.

I'll also add that I personally wouldn't mind having a second one on hand for the times when I want to cook the meat and the potatoes/vegetables separately.

So if you have the money to spare (and we're probably talking $50 max if you're on a budget) and the space to store it, I don't think you need to use it every day to justify a second crockpot.

[Deleted]

I have a no-frills smaller one and a really fancy big one (with meat thermometer so it switches based on that rather than time). I use both when we're out of the house. I don't feel that it's a real fire hazard, but I'm not one that worries about things much. The fancy one does make better meat, I think, as I'm often gone for 9 or 10 hours.

Having the cooker at least half full is key either way - if you're cooking smaller amounts, put it in a smaller container in the slow cooker. I use my little rice cooker insert inside the slow cooker to make small recipes (like chicken breasts).

[MamaMaui24]

Food safety/temperature wise, the timers oog me out. But I'm ok with cooking on low all day (which I realize is just slightly different!)

[augustblue]

I bought two light timers for when I went on vacation for a week for $10 a piece at Target. Now that I don't need one of them-I'm planning on experimenting one day (when I am home first) and have it turn off after a certain number of hours. I'll probably have it turn back on for right before we get home (food safety says food should be refridgerated within 2hrs) I'm gone about 10 hrs a day and I've tried 8hr recipes before it almost always cooks faster than that.

[Pilsy]

Ojo, that is what I imagined! Only I didn't know it existed. I was thinking of repurposing some other kind of timer.

Why am I late to the party on this halfway full bit? I had no idea. Thanks, tokenhoser and keweenawlove. What's the little rice cooker you mentioned, token?

[Deleted]

www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-RC3406-Cooked-Cooker/dp/B000UWD9OW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1347297674&sr=8-2&keywords=black+and+decker+rice+cooker

I think I've got that one. You could also use a little casserole dish if it fits in the slow cooker insert. You CAN with a slow cooker less full, but it's more prone to overcooking and burning.

The rice cooker is handy if you're rice challenged and only cooking for 2 or 3 people - I had a big one and it never worked well to cook the amount of rice we needed. I suck at stovetop rice.

[Pilsy]

Coincidentally, I am especially challenged when it comes to rice. I need this!

And the overcooking/burning when less full bit makes perfect sense. I feel like a moron for not having thought about it, but just never did. Oops. Thanks again!