The Crock Pot is Back in Style
It seems everyone is getting back to the basics these days. With all that going on in the economy, many people are stepping back a little and examining how they can conserve money and time without compromising their daily lifestyle too much.
Cooking for yourself or your family can save you a good bit of dough, and if done right a good bit of time.
Some see cooking to be a tiresome and time consuming task that they would rather not venture into. A slow cooker can, if used correctly, give you the time you need without the rush to find something to eat at the end of a long work day.
Getting that balance between your time and money is the real key.
So in steps the crock pot…
Or should I say the slow cooker, because the version we have today is more commonly called a slow cooker, and it is very different than what we used just a few years ago, and drastically different than your mothers old crock pot.
Many of the new slow cookers have gone digital, and have set it and forget it timers. So with just a modest amount of effort, you could have a meal setup in the morning, and ready for you when you return from work.
You wont see those paisley flowered ones your mother had anymore, but what you will see, especially at the higher end are the shiny stainless steal slow cookers, that really look nice today’s kitchens. They are not only highly functional but also have stylish look that can really brighten up your kitchen.
the types sizes and pricing can differ somewhat. They can range form $20.00 all the way up to $200. Your choice should depend on the size capacity and your budget.
The LA Times just posted a great piece about the slow cooker comeback that inspired this post, and me to go our and buy myself a slow cooker. For some reason it is one of the few kitchen appliances that I haven’t used much in the past. I’ll post my experiences on which one I bought and how I like it in a future post
According the the LA Times slow cooking article…
Today, about 83% of American households own a slow cooker, according to the NPD Group, a leading marketing research firm. Of these households, almost half used a slow cooker within the past month.
That a lot slow cookin going on. I guess I need to find a few recipes to use so that I can use me when I recive it. Although, I guess it would come with some. Hopefully!
Slow Cookers For The Active Family
Today a lot of women are working and spreading themselves pretty thin, so cooking tasty meals for their families could become a problem. With an active family, finding time for cooking becomes even more of a challenge. How can she provide her family with quality cooking when time is so limited?
In 1971 Rival slow cooker was introduced. This was our first introduction to this marvelous device that solves a huge problem for people who want quality meals for their families with limited time to invest in cooking. By maintaining a low heat temperature instead of high heat, no one has to slave over a stove.
Slow cookers are also called crock pots. This is due to the removable insert, usually make of ceramic or porcelain, and can be used as a serving dish plus the added advantage of making this cooking device easily washable. What could be easier?
Slow cooker come in a wide variety of sizes and design. Most of them have two temperature controls, both low and high, to accommodate the length of time of cooking. This can enable someone to work a full day, come home and a tasty meal is ready and waiting, or cut the time about in half if need be. This means that the family can spend a day out and still come home to a great meal.
An added bonus of a slow cooker is that you can use your cheaper meat cuts because they taste a lot better when cooked at slow temperatures. I have found that nothing tastes better than using a slow cooker to make a beef stew using inexpensive chuck meat. The same holds true for chicken dishes.
Recipes are plentiful for using this marvelous kitchen device, so you can either purchase cooking books for them or simply go on line, make a query into finding recipes specifically made for this purpose and enjoy your easily cooked meal. As long as you have a computer and can go on line, it’s the cheapest way to go.
Buying a Slow Cooker: What To Consider When
There are many different slow cookers on the market today with a wide variety of prices. The biggest difference between many of the different models comes in what they will do automatically or not. How much you want to spend and what you want for your family’s needs is the biggest factor in which one to choose.
The Cuisinart 6.5 Quart Slow Cooker is one of the most expensive on the market at around $250.00. It has a removable cooking pot inside of the warming part of the pot for easy cleaning and once a built in timer that you can set. Once the timer has gone off the pot will switch automatically to the warm setting to keep the food warm if you are stuck in traffic on your way home from work.
There are other, less expensive options out there as well. One good one is the Rival Stay or Go Slow Cooker. It is a six quart model that features a secure lid that also includes a serving spoon. There are handles for easy transport and three setting, high, low, and keep warm. While the inside is removable for easy cleanup there is no feature to automatically switch to warm. The Rival retails for around thirty dollars.
The amount that you spend on a slow cooker can vary widely so just take into account what you will be using it for most of the time. If it will serve primarily to keep food warm at the holiday you may look for different options than if you use it to cook your meal while you work.
Also, if you go to a lot of pot luck style events and use your slow cooker to transport food from one place to another then you would have different needs in a purchase of one than someone who only uses theirs at home. Take into account where you will be using your appliance before deciding on a model.
Size is another important factor. A single person may want to purchase a smaller version rather than a very large appliance that would cook more food than they would need. Check out all the options and then shop around for a good price. There are also some refurbished models to consider if you are looking at a pricey model. Using these tips can make your small appliance purchase a lasting choice.
Rival SCVI600B-SS Crock-Pot 6-Quart Premium VersaWare Slow Cooker
Finally, a crock pot for the rest of us. The Rival SCVI600B-SS Crock Pot may just be the one your looking for. From Rival’s VersaWare collection, This is a Premium family sized cooker with programmable countdown digital timer with an attractive stainless steel trim and a cool-touch knob.
Sporting 3 heat settings and the removable 4 quart crock which is also used as the serving dish. you and your family will be enjoying a satisfying meal in no time. With its compact size, the Rival SCVI600B-SS crockpot can esily be stationed in the corner of your countertop, or stowed away taking minimal space.
A Resent Rival SCVI600B review
“Its easy to very use, cooks evenly and is attractive. The one thing that I really love about it is that I can saute vegatables or brown the meat in it on my stovetop. The only reason that I didn’t give this 5-stars is because you can’t see through the lid to view its contents and the power cord isn’t very long. I’d purchase it again.”
Product Features:
- 6-quart slow cooker for sauteing, cooking, serving, and storing
- Use oval stoneware in heating base, on the stove, or in the oven
- Programmable countdown technology; digital timer; auto keep warm
- Stay-cool handles; dishwasher-safe stoneware pot and lid
- Measures 18 by 11-2/7 by 14-2/5 inches; 1-year warranty
Rival is a brand know for its quality, and when it comes to crock pots, Rival SCVI600B-SS Crock-Pot is one of the best.
Rival Crockpot Post From The Blogosphere:
Rival SCVI600B-SS Crock-Pot 6-Quart Premium VersaWare Slow Cooker
- Rival SCVI600B-SS Crock-Pot 6-Quart Premium VersaWare Slow Cooker — $59.99.
Rival Crock-Pot 6-Quart Premium VersaWare Slow Cooker
- If you are using it for slow cooking, it has a digital timer that indicates the end of the cooking process before automatically shifting to a keep-warm setting. At Rival SCVI600B-SS Crock-Pot 6-Quart Premium VersaWare Slow Cooker.
Rival SCVI600B SS Crock Pot 6 Quart Premium VersaWare Slow Cooker
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