Are Slow-Cookers Worth It?

I ((heart)) my crockpot! The only thing I have to add to the responses that I read is this: Read the Crockpot lady blog. 365 recipes in full detail. Including if the kids would eat it! The woman who writes it is very experimental with food. I've tried a lot of things from there and can say that I've yet to be disappointed.

I LOVE my crock pot! Its amazing for chicken,beef,pork,etc. soups,and stews,and so many other things, I actually leave mine on my counter top all the time! And it was so worth it. They last forever. There are many to choose from I have a large one and a smaller one for dips and such.
there are MANY websites online that have a ton of interesting recipes.
I would recommend one to EVERYONE!
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Main-Dish/Slow-Cooker/Main....

Its worth it !!!! I make spaghetti sauce in it and cook on low all day, so yummy! I make chicken soup, pot roast, bbq ribs, get a slow cooker recipe book. I am telling you its wonderful. I also use the covered baker from pampered chef, its so easy and I have dinner on the table most nights in less than 30 min. I work so it makes life so much easier for us. Lots of good brands out there.

YES! And to add to the great recipe ideas you've already received (I frequently visit the sites mentioned in other responses.)...I have another site for you.
http://family.go.com/food/recipe-631166-crock-pot-slow-co...
(If this link doesn't work...go to the main website and search for the 20 Quick Crock Pot Slow Cooker Recipes.)
I love #4...my husband loves #18. We make 18 every other week! I like this link because it's not just a bunch of stews and chilis.
Enjoy the Crock Pot...it will be your new best friend in time management.
Kim

I recently dug out my old slow cooker and use it often now. My girls love roasted chicken. I found this simple recipe to roast a chicken. Take tin foil and make (4) 3 inch balls and place them on the bottom of the crock pot. This is for keeping the chicken off the fat drippings. Then take a fryer chicken, rinse it inside and out and place it on top of the foil balls. Then sprinkle whatever seasonings you want (italian seasoning, paprika, pepper, salt, rosemary, etc... ). My girls like it plain so I just sprinkle with paprika and a little italian seasoning. Turn the crock pot on low for 8 hours (high for 3-4) and the meat just falls off the bone. I use the left overs in soup... in the crock pot. I made a mistake once and cooked it breast down - it made really juicy white meat which was a treat. Good luck! I hope you enjoy this very simple recipe.

Here are some recipes I use with my slow cooker. They are family favorites (and all can be scaled down easily). :)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Zesty-Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Ba... (We put this on big rolls instead of potatoes)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Taco-Sou... (We shred the chicken and definitely use sour cream....soooooo good!)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Luscious-Lima-Bean-Soup-II/D...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Beef-Stew-I/Deta...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cha-Chas-White-Chicken-Chili...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Its-Chili-by-George/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/BUSHS-Red-White-and-Bean-Min...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Mashed-Potatoes/...

Good luck with your new slow cooker--nothing beats walking into your house at 6 p.m. and smelling a heavenly aroma of dinner. :)

I love my Crockpot! I really does cut down on time spend in the kitchen.

Here are a couple of good recipes to help you out:)

Slow Cooker Chili

1 lb. ground beef
(2) 15oz. cans kidney beans drained and rinsed
(2) 14.5oz. cans stewed tomatoes
16oz. jar of salsa
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped green pepper
1-3 cloves minced garlic

Brown ground beef, combine all ingredients in Crockpot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
Toppings: Sliced green onions, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, corn chips, chopped tomatoes

Italian Beef Sandwiches

4 pounds Chuck Or Rump Roast -- Trimmed Of Fat (3-4 Lbs.)
1 package Dry Good Seasons Zesty Italian Salad Dressing Mix
2 cups Beef Broth
½ jar Pepperoncini Peppers (use About 8 oz. PLUS The Juice)
2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
Fresh Ground Pepper, Garlic Powder, Etc. -- Optional

Serve with:
Kaiser Rolls (or Other Sturdy Sandwich Rolls)
Favorite Cheese (cheddar, Colby/jack, Mozzarella, Provolone, Etc.)
Sauteed Onions, Green Peppers, And Mushrooms -- Optional

Preparation Instructions:

Mix ingredients together in a slow cooker or crockpot. Cook 8-10 hours on low. When meat is done, shred it and put back in its juices. Serve on warm kaiser buns (toast if desired). Top with favorite cheese–cheddar, colby/jack, mozzarella/cheddar, etc. Can also top with sauteed onions, green peppers, and mushrooms if desired.

I actually have two slow cookers, a small one and a larger one (6 qt I think). I <3 mine as well!! It does cut out ALOT of cooking time, only have to worry about the prep time, which can be quick as well. I make mine up the night before and put in the frig and then when the kids leave in the morning before school, they just put it on for me.

Who invented the liners??? I LOVE THEM!!!! They make it soooo easy for the clean up.

I purchased this recipe book and love it. It's called "Busy People's Slow Cooker Cookbook" by Dawn Hall. Most of the recipes are 7 HEALTHY ingredients or less. Our favorite is the Chicken Enchilada Casserole. I never thought of putting tortillas in a crock pot, but they turn out kinda like pasta and the kids love it too.

Sorry for the late response, but i love mine too! i second the crockpot lady's 365 blog. she has some crazy stuff on there, but some recipes are pretty good. there's also a ton of recipe books out there for crock pots.

I thought I'd share our favorite recipe:
BBQ Ribs
1 rack of ribs
2 containers of your favorite bottled BBQ sauce
1 crock pot liner (makes for super easy clean up)

Cut ribs into slabs so they fit into the crock
pour BBQ sauce over them
Cook for 6-8 hours on low
EAT! (i like to serve with mashed potatoes and use the BBQ sauce as gravy!) YUMMO!

I LOVE my slow cooker. Everybody should have one. They are so easy. Here are some of my favorites:

Throw in a roast, a pack of Lipton onion soup, a can of cream of mushroom soup and your favorite cut up veggies. Cook on low all day. That's it! Roast & veggies for dinner.

Throw in a pork roast or chicken, cover with about a cup of your favorite bbq sauce. Cook on low all day. Pull apart and serve on rolls for sandwiches.

Brown ground beef. Add your usual chili ingredients. Cook on low all day.

And our favorite: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts plus 1 cup of your favorite salsa, 1 pkg taco seasoning and 1 can condensed cream of mushroom (or chicken) soup. Add in a can of black or white beans if you like. Cook on low all day. Eat alone or stuff into tortillas. Yummmmmmmm!

To avoid everything tasting the same.. change out your spices and the liquids that you use..

For pot roast I use Whole can tomatoes for the liquid. and salt and pepper.

For chili I use beef broth and real tomatoes with chili powder, garlic powder and cumin for spices.

For stew I use V8 vegetable juice and a clove of fresh garlic and pot spices.

For pulled pork I use water, lots of onions, shredded carrots, s/p, a tiny bit of liquid smoke and then add BBQ sauce in the end..

You will love it!
Remember to always brown the meat before you place in the crock pot..

Love my crock pots! There's a million things you can do with them -- though I haven't tried any, there's a whole slew of desserts that you can make, too, from cheesecake to gingerbread.

Use my small one for chili, mostly. I've made whole chicken in my large one (throw a chunk of onion in the cavity and part of a lemon if you like), plus root vegetables. So simple and cleanup's way better than a roasting pan, even without the liners. We've done turkey breast the same way.

We use ours most for pulled pork. You can use lean pork loin to cut down on fat content. You don't need much more than the pork and your fave BBQ sauce, though you can add onion, a little brown sugar, etc. We use Carolina gold mustard-based sauce (Bessingers -- nothing better in the universe!), added after you shred, and then let cook for another 1-2 hours. The shredding's the only pain in the neck part, but depending on the cut of meat, doesn't take very long.

We do ribs in it, too, and they come out fantastic (we usually broil those first to get them browned). Great for the middle of winter when the grill's just not possible. :)

I read all the answers and agree. Get one!
One tip I did not see is that you can cook baked potatoes in the crock pot and they taste just like they were cooked in the oven. After washing and piecing them with a fork to release the steam, you wrap them in aluminum foil. Much better than the microwave which makes them turn out kind of mushy. Plus you don't have to heat up the kitchen to have great baked potatoes during the summer. Per the instructions on the 365 recipe blog, they cook on high for 10 hours or low for 6 or until tender.
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/01/crockpot-baked-po...

It depends if you are going to use it! I use my a few times a month, more during baseball season. I love to cook too, but sometimes you need something that you can fix it and forget it (also the name of a receipe cook book for the slow cooker). I make a great pulled pork, cuban pork, numerous chicken dishes, etc., borrow one from a friend before you commit, but with a family of 3 whose is always on the move, it works for us!

They are great, I am 32, and I have 5 crockpots of differing sizes/capabilities. I use one at least once a wekk, and sometimes up to 5 times a week!

This is my latest crock pot purchase,a nd my favorite one so far. http://www.hamiltonbeach.com/slow-cookers-3-in-one-slow-c... I have the black and silver one, and got my step sister the same for her wedding gift, and my grandparents one for Christmas - they have them at bed Bath and beyond and you can use your 20% off coupons they always send in the mail ( if you sign up for their mailing list)!!! It is great because you get 3 different sizes in one machine, and it takes up less space than having 3 separate ones for the different sizes.

I also highly reccommend the "Fix it and forget it" line of crockery cookbooks.....I have 3! Then you have lots of different home-tested and submitted recipe ideas from all different "genres" of food - chinese, mexican, good old fashioned american, desserts, soups, casseroles, roasts, BBQ, breads, breakfasts ( oatmeals, egg casseroles) fruit dishes, all veggie, etc! Just go to Amazon.com and search on "fix it and forget it":
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3...

I just got "Fix it and Forget it for Entertaining" at the Dollar General for only $8. Ialso have their diabetic book and the original cookbook. I might order the BIG book and sell the rest at my local library book sale.

Slow cookers DEFINITELY cut down on cooking time.....I usually spend maybe 20 minutes getting the ingredients ready and dumping them in after we eat breakfast - sometimes takes less, but it is good to sear or brown meats in the frying pan first, so they are "browned" and have a little bit of that extra flavor. Then they just cook the rest of the day, and scoop it out and put it over rice or noodles ( sometimes) for dinner - cut up some fruit on the side, or a salad!

Good Luck!
Jessie

I can't live without mine - it's a Hamilton Beach (sp?).

Maybe research them because I have read that some brands are more prone to leeching lead (ugh).

We do pot roasts and alot of turkey (really good on "low" for longer periods of time - makes it very tender). I want to learn how to ribs. I've even done a whole chicken.

There is a lady with a blog who did an entire year of dinners with a slow cooker (google her - something like "365 slow cooker"). If I remember correctly she had many recipes on her site.

Good luck and happy eating!

I like pot roast, and I can spend 10 minutes in the morning putting it all together, then when I get home from work it's all ready. Love it. One thing they also make now are slow cooker liners, so if you put that in, when it comes time to clean up all you do is take it out and throw it away, no scrubbing necessary. Also awesome.

I would say if your family likes roasts and stews and those sorts of things, a slow cooker is great. You can go to the library and look at slow cooker recipe books to see if there are things in there your family would like.

I know this is a late response but.......I LOVE mine also.....if you are using hamburger or ground turkey you need to brown them before you put them in the cooker so you can drain the fat.....all other meats I just put in and let it cook......with the removeable crock you can do your prep work the night before and put the crock in the fridge until the morning......there reall isn't anything you can't cook in a slow cooker.....and it really is a "set it and forget it" way of cooking......my favs are pinto beans, then when you are about ready to eat make some cornbread muffins (I use Jiffy takes 20 minutes).......pot roast (I just out everything I want in there cover with water and add onion soup packet).......enjoy yours

I use mine anytime I can, especially for chicken and dumplins,stews, soups, roast and potatoes, ribs are my fav. But I also like to do dips if u are having a party..Here is one of my fave and it is easy. Spray the inside of your crock pot with pam or anyothe non stick spay:

cube up a block of velvetta (sp)
2 cans of chili with beans ( any brand is fine)
some jalapeno's for taste ( watch how many, can make it really spicey)

keep it on low and stir evey once in a while so nothing sticks and the cheese melts. Once the cheese is melted and is warm enough to serve and if your crock pot has a warm setting on it turn it on the warm setting and enough with your favorite chips. This dip is delious!!!

We love our slow cooker! A lot of times on Sunday we'll fix two meals- one on the stove and a meal in the slow cooker at the same time, clean up the kitchen, enjoy doing stuff together as a family and then eat dinner when it is done. We will start out the week with extra meals. It does take the extra hassle of cooking during the week and clean up of multiple prep times out of the equation. We were given one for our wedding without putting it on our registry so I am not sure what brands- the only thing I can say is that size is a concern. I think ours is to big but it works. I don't know if they make them any other way- but our inside comes out for easy washing.

I like the seasoning mixes that they sell in the grocery store- our kids love the stroganoff, pot roast and beef stew. We also have pulled pork in it that they enjoy. We have found a lot of great recipes off of all recipes. Hope this helps.

This is very late in coming, but I just saw your post.
I didn't read any of the others, so I don't know if someone else threw this out there......
I have yet to get this book but it looks fantastic. It's called Not your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook. You can get the paperback on Amazon for about $12.00
In case you're wondering about 'everything tasting the same' after awhile..... :)

OH YES Crockpots are SOO worth it!!! EVEN MORE SO if you go to yard sales, thrift shops, etc and get them for under $5 bucks!!

(I actually like the older ones without the timers better, they dont cook as hot and overcook your foods as much as the older more traditional ones do)

Have to add this, whatever you do, make sure you get one with a removable crock! The electric outer part cannot be immersed in water, which makes it a pain when you have a dirty crockpot to clean.

I (family of 3) have two - one a "standard" size (4 qt??) round, deeper than it is wide. And a 2nd, my most used one, which is an oval one (6 qt I believe). Both are Rival crockpots, with the standard off, low, high settings (we didn't want the one with the timer & warm settings, as we've heard not so positive things)

Every week, at least, I use my crockpot. On Sundays I put in a roast (our store often has buy one get one free sales, so I stock up.) Brown it first, then put it in the crockpot, salt & pepper it. Let it cook, better on low for 6-8 hours but if you only have 4-5 hrs, on high. My husband prefers nothing else added. By the time you're done, you have a lot of broth that you can make yummo gravy with!
Sometimes I shred (especially the leftovers since with just the 2 of us and a little kid, we have plenty!) into shredded beef for bbq sandwiches or enchiladas or ... Sometimes I cube the leftover roast into pot pies or...
Usually my husband will take a couple slices and make a RB sandwich. Or fix it with other leftovers for a hot "dinner" lunch.

My young sis in law served us this super yummy and easy meal - her husband actually fixed this one! Cook pork chops in the crockpot with spaghetti sauce over it & onion slices, then put onto plates and serve with sauce spooned over, and sliced/shredded cheese melted over the top. YUM.

I've never actually paid attention to the amount of actual prep/cooking time but whatever I can do BEFORE the late afternoon is GREAT! The hour(s) right before dinner are the most hectic with the most amount of kids being clingy/fussy/needy/clamoring for your attention, not to mention the usual needing to get homework done or other out of home errands that fall in that time window. It is SO nice to come home and have dinner ready, just make a side and put it on the table. And, I usually have meat cooked for several more meals later in the week.

Another crock recipe that is easy (really very little prep!) is put chicken breasts into crock, add can of green chilies and can of cream of mushroom (how much is up to you) and let it cook. Good served with rice.

Or this: Chicken boobs with packet of ranch dressing mix sprinkled over.

Really, there are SO MANY things you can do!

I see there are lots of responses. Get a crockpot! I just saw a recipe yesterday for pulled pork..either a shoulder or tenderloin. Put a bottle of rootbeer in it and cook 7 or 8 hours, then put in some BBQ sauce.. Shred the pork. Then you have great sandwiches!

I have a very nice one and I do NOT use it often. The most I use it is when we have a party or something and it is used to keep food warm at the party.

However, I know many people swear by them. I LOVE my kitchen and LOVE to be in it prepping and cooking from scratch.

I am sure it would save you time..... I just don't utilize it.

GOod luck!

i just bought a new one with kohls cash. i didn't want/need anything else and my slow cooker was on the smaller size. i use it at least once a week. usually mondays are slow cooker meals for us as i hate mondays. i spend about 30 min in the morning preparing the stuff. i usually throw in whatever or use foodnetwork.com for something specific.
does everything taste the same? well no. depends on what you're making. i make all three meals from scratch. and i have found that the cooking part of the day is what exhausts me the most and yet i cannot bring myself to feed my family out of the box.
brands? well i just got a crockpot brand. the thing i was looking for was low/high heat and preferably a timer although i use low heat for 8-10 hrs meals. my old one was i think 5 qt pot, for us 4 it was borderline small. i just got a 6 qt slow cooker. that should make a difference.
so yeah definitely get a slow cooker. you don't have to leave it out during the days you don't use it.
btw, this winter, there were weeks when i used it 3 times a week.
good luck

I use mine alot more than you could imagine. roast, stew, bbq chicken, ribs ribs ribs,beans, chicken for chicken and dumplings that just falls apart. bbq beef I can go on and on. it and my pressure cooker are used the most. You can make your roast the night before put all ingrediants in it put in fridge turn on low before you go to work and you have the night off from cooking.

If you know you will have a hectic day the next day set everything up for cooking the night before turn on low at 8 am eat when convient. Chili is awesome in it too. and the best part you can get it ready when the kids are in bed. No kids to disturb you it takes you 5 minutes or so to throw all ingrediants together. Oh and you must try sweet potatoes and apples in the crock they are the bomb. Don't get smaller than a 5 qt. YOu will love it.

I love mine. Also there are bags that you can use so clean up is a breeze. We even put our meat in frozen and it comes out perfect. We make many different dishes, our family fav is Beef strogonoff. We have one with a timer it cooks it for x time and then keeps it warm. The best thing is that dinner is basically done when you get home.

I love my slow cooker. I have made spaghetti sauce, stew, ribs, and a few other things and think its the best thing ever. Plus, you can do it in the morning before the kids get up and that way you don't have to worry about cooking around kids. I will say that I've never met anyone who doesn't love their slow cooker. I definitely recommend it.

I use mine almost once a week! My girls have gymnastics on thursday afternoons and we get home just after 6 and dinner is ready in the crock pot!
Tonight we are having beef stew! I made enough so I pull half of it out and freeze it for later...I have a really big one!!

I LOVE my crock pot. I can't imagine my life with out one lol! It really does cut down on time. You can find some great recipes on line too.

If you like your slow cooker, you might also like it's opposite, a pressure cooker!! I LOVE mine. You can cook a whole chicken (not cut into pieces) in 15 minutes, cook ribs to falling-off-the-bone tender in 35 minutes and cook a pot of brown rice in 6 minutes. It is great for those times when dinner is ready, but you forgot to make the brown rice!! (and of course you want the brown rice instead of white rice for the extra fiber and nutrients!)

Sorry for the late response.

I ADORE my slow cooker. I use it daily. There are so many fantastic recipes you can do, it's really amazing. There are tons of recipes all free online for use in the slow cooker.

Get one, you won't regret it.

http://www.thewritersnotion.com

I LOVE my 2 crockpots and used to use them frequently, UNTIL I discovered pressure cookers. We live off-grid, so we have to monitor the amount of electricity we use, and the pressure cooker works super-fast on the stove-top. I still use the CP for roasts and pulled pork, preferable for chilis and stews, too, but if you're looking for something quick and easy, I'd recommend a pressure cooker. I use the PC for cooking beans for the chilis and stews, cooks fast and easy.

I kept hearing all the raves about crockpots too, but after using mine for a while I have come to the conclusion that it doesn't really save much time. What it does is allow you to do your prep work earlier in the day or the day before and you don't have to watch a pot cooking on the stove. This is great when you don't get home until 6 o'clock from activities and lessons and everyone is starved. I see that you are in Hawaii though. I mostly use mine in our Michigan winter for soups, stews, pot roasts, etc. In the summer I don't like to eat so much hot food. Hope this helps you!

I haven't read all the responses, but wanted to add that slow cookers are a very healthy option of cooking/eating too! They trap all the nutrients usually lost in regular cooking and it's important to drink the broth, juice, etc in the dish you are serving if you want all the nutrition. It's a great way to get kids to eat veggies too!

I absolutely love my slow cookers. I think I have 12 of them now. Some of them I bought more for decoration at parties. I have them in various shapes, sizes and designs. It depends on what I am fixing and for how many. I had a party where we had bite size meats and sauces that were all done in crockpots. My friends love me at graduation time, they come borrow them.

I had read through all the responses and the great ideas for crock pot recipes. There was one that I didn't notice. I change it up, but basically it is either boneless skinless chicken breast or boneless pork chops. I just pour an oily type dressing over it and leave it on low all day. I have used Italian or raspberry vinagrette dressings. My family and friends love them.

I use my slow cooker when I know that it's going to be long day with sports. I put everything in in the morning and dinner is great. Although it smells really good and tends to drift down to my gym and clients have commented on how good it smells. :-) I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

My crockpots include ones in shapes of footballs, football stadium, basketball, ovals with Jeff Gordan and Kevin Harvick on them, larger ones in red (a friend found out I loved red and she helped me out), one that has 3 sizes, one that has 2 inserts - one open and one that is divided in two. I have one that is great for traveling as it has clamps that seal it down and even a place to put your spoon. One set I got had a small one that stores in the larger one. So, there are many options.

Helpful article/ratings when buying a slow cooker:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/kitchen-app...

Enjoy =-)

Buy one...Buy two. I have one for big meal cooking and one for smaller appetizer-type serving. Best ( and cheapest) investment ever. Just search this site for slow cooker (crock pot) recipes as this question comes up pretty often.

Nice! I am going to print out your answers - and use some of the ideas! I have a slow cooker and love it. I just also like a lot of the ideas. And I plan on a monthly calendar the main dish for the day. Then I try to shop for the week. Check what meat to get out at night to defrost or in the morning.

Sorry for the late response, but I just found this and I highly recommend you get one to start with and then add a few more. Also I recommend a roaster. I got one of those last Christmas and I can cook just about anything in there. It makes it nice when I want to make a huge pork loin, lots of chicken, or roast that will not fit into a crock pot. That is the only complaint I have with my crock pot, it just doesn't seem to be big enough for everything. I haven't ventured into a pressure cooker but I have heard good things about those as well. We do have a rice steamer that we got 2 years ago that we use for rice and veggies. We also love that.

I would definately recommend a slow cooker. I have a family of 6 that I cook mostly from scratch everyday as well. I know the time can be a pain. Ah the things we do to make sure our families have the best food. I have a large oval slow cooker. For a family my size a would recommend that size, the circle ones are just too small. You can't fit a decent roast and fixings in there at the same time. I would also recommend a heavy or glass lid. I had a slow cooker with a plastic lid for many years that I used and it worked fine but when I got my oval one with the glass lid I did notice a difference in how well things cooked. I have lots of recipes that I can share if you want to contact me. Good luck.

I just now saw your question. This might be a stupid response, or not make sense for your situation, but what helped me tremendously was meal planning (I printed out a meal planner calendar online). I then decided that I will basically cook every other night during the week, but make enough for 2 nights. That way, I cook Monday night's dinner, and we eat it on Tuesday also. Then I cook again on Wed for Wed/Th. Fridays we do a homemade pizza, where my son helps. Saturdays we usually order in or go out. And then Sundays are always fish on the grill with a side. Meal prep, planning, etc. became so much easier once I had that all organized. Just some thoughts. Good luck!