Quart Crock

28 Jun, 2007 in art pottery by admin

Quart Crock

Important Facts to Consider When Purchasing a Slow Cooker

A slow cooker or a crock pot is an appliance that offers convenient preparation of meals. There are things that should be considered when finding the perfect slow cooker for your kitchen.

Slow cookers are great for cooking side dishes, entrees, stews and soups. They are versatile enough, especially in preparing specialty foods, cakes and other desserts. It can simplify preparation of everyday meals.

Slow cookers have built-in heating elements, along with an insulated shell and an inner cooking chamber. It is usually made of glass or stoneware which operates through heat transfer. A crock pot is not only convenient. It also has the ability to prepare affordable dishes, saving you valuable time.

One of the things to consider when purchasing a slow cooker is the number of people you need to feed. Crock pots come in many different sizes from 1 pint to 7 quart capacities. Small sizes can feed 1 to 2 persons only, measured only in ounces. A large 4 to 6 quart slow cooker is much better for a crowd or big families.

Slow cookers come in oval or round shapes. A 4-quart cooker requires 12 inches wide by 9 inches high size. Large ones occupy from 14 to 19 inches. The smallest unit is best when making hot dips. The large sizes can prepare a batch of family sized beef stews. The crock pot size should fit in your needs to avoid inefficient cooking.

New product innovations have included multiple interchangeable liners. These replicate a slow barbeque roaster that can cook two different foods at the same time.

Crock pots have traditional and programmable settings. These include plug-ins, low and high warming selections, and to programmable features. High-tech settings include start and end timers, keep-warm, automatic shut-off and temperature controls. Programmable crock pots can lessen instances of overcooking or undercooking food.

Units with digital display screens let you see the elapsed cooking time with a touch of a button. There are certain models that enable changing temperature settings of the unit about half-way through the cooking process. Digital displays cost much higher as compared to ordinary models.
Slow cookers with temperature gauges are used for checking cooking progress. It is more useful in cooking larger meat cuts. It uses an internal temperature or probe inserted to the meat. The unit switches to warm when the meat reaches the ideal temperature.

Some of the non-digital units come in keep-warm settings to retain the ideal serving temperature of the food.

Most slow cookers come in a particular design, from the simple floral trim to the classy theme designs on the base. The traditional white and green style is the most popular. It adds a visual appeal to the appliance.
Slow cookers have thick metal exteriors, a glass lid and a stoneware liner. A stainless steel model costs more. Crock pots should have a heating element on its sides, not only at the bottom. Most manufacturers add up an insulator or a plastic layer in order to minimize heat and scalding.

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Buying A Slow Cooker
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Easy crock pot recipes...?

I would like some EASY crock pot recipes. I don't remember what quart mine is or what the hours are for the hi & low settings (I do not have a warm setting). My daughter is 9 1/2 months old so I'd like some easy, quick recipes that would be ok for her especially. No citrus or strawberries or nuts or peanut butter.

She loves sweet potatoes, squash, & a whole variety of other things. She likes avocado as well.

Any ideas or links?

Thank you

I love using my crock pot. It is so easy to prepare and after a long day, you have your dinner waiting for you rather than slaving over a hot stove.

I have a recipe book called 365 Easy Chicken Recipes. We are not red meat eaters so this book is great, and it really is easy! I'll give you a few of my favorites

Brocolli-Rice Chicken
1 1/4 cups rice
2 pounds, boneless, skinles chicken halves
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 (1.8 ounce) packet cream of brocolli soup mix
1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth

-Place rice in lightly sprayed slow cooker. Cut chicken into slices and put over rice. Sprinkle with parsley.

-In saucepan, combine soup mix, chicken broth, and 1 cup (240 mL) water. Heat just enough to mix well. Pour over chicken and rice.

-Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.

Veggie-Chicken for Supper

5-6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
6 carrots, cut in (1 inch) lengths
1 (15 ounce) can cut green beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can whole new potatoes, drained
2 (10 ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
Shredded cheddar cheese

-Wash, dry chicken breasts with paper towels and place in botom of sprayed slow cooker.

-In saucepan, combine,carrots, green beans, potatoes and mushroom soup, heat just enough to mix well and and pour over chicken in cooker.

-Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours. When ready to serve, sprinkle cheese on top.

This book isn't just chicken recipes, they use turkey as well

Rival 6-Quart Smart-Set Premium Crock Pot