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Hello Kraft Community, we are very excited to share some great news with you. As loyal Kraft Community members we have heard your desire to do more fun things in the community and we are happy to announce in January 2010 we will be making some changes so you can connect and share food ideas in more ways than ever!
We want to let you know we will not be transferring the existing discussions to the new enhanced message boards so if there are discussions that you would like to save please make sure to either print them or copy and paste into a document that you can save to your personal files.
We will remind you again before the transition occurs but wanted to let you in on the exciting news!!
If you have any questions on how to do this please contact Customer Care at Contact Us
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Posts:
807
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 11, 2008 3:38 PM
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> A friend of mine fixed a recipe, set the crock pot on
> her kitchen island, then went into the basement to do
> laundry. When she came upstairs an hour later, 2
> foot high flames were shooting up from the crockpot!!
> She was so glad she hadn't left to go shopping, or
> r put the crock on the counter under a cupboard!
OMG! Did she ever figure out what happened? I have never heard of such a thing! That is scary!
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Posts:
253
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 11, 2008 11:27 AM
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> when i use my crock pot before i go to work i put it
> in the sink.That way if it would happen to boil over
> i dont have to worrie about it. JUst take it out run
> some water and let it go down the garbage disposle.
As long as you make sure there is NO water anywhere. Putting an electrical appliance in a sink sounds a little scary to me.
Of course, crock pots in general carry some risk. A friend of mine fixed a recipe, set the crock pot on her kitchen island, then went into the basement to do laundry. When she came upstairs an hour later, 2 foot high flames were shooting up from the crockpot!! She was so glad she hadn't left to go shopping, or put the crock on the counter under a cupboard!
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Posts:
1,787
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 11, 2008 10:46 AM
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LOVE the liners for soups and roasts but when making anything that needs to be stirred they tend to rip a little so be careful. I always spray mine with cooking spray and that helps with clean up. Also for the really tough messes placed hot water and dish soap in the crock and turned on to high. Let "cook" for a bit then scrub it with a long handled brush. The baked on gunk comes right off.
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Moderator_Sky
Posts:
1,521
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 11, 2008 8:54 AM
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> I have found a lot of the newer pots cook higher than
> the one I got 39 years ago for a wedding gift. I
> have three sizes of crock pots now and it is my
> favorite tool!! I would suggest a Regal crock pot and
> even though the ones with the removeble crock are
> convenient I think they cook too hot. I ALWAYS use
> Reynolds liners. They are wonderful and makes clean
> up very easy. Add your liquid last. Even if it is a
> soup and seems thick. I always start on high for
> about 10 to 15 minutes and then go to low. Never
> peek in the pot, it takes it too long to re-heat. If
> you must stir just crack the lid just a little to get
> the spoon in. When all else fails read the manual
> that came with your crock pot. It took me years to
> learn that lesson. Keep working at it. If everything
> fails. Ask for a new one for Christmas!!!! Good Luck.
I noticed that too, about them cooking hotter. I made two batches of chili for a harvest festival this year and borrowed a brand new crock pot from a friend. Both were set to low and left overnight. In the morning, the one in my crockpot was perfect and the one in the newer crockpot had to have more water added to it because it was THICK. And both started out with the same amount of ingredients (wet and dry).
I need to start getting those liners, though. Cleanup is always such a pain as I don't have a dishwasher. 
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1
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 10, 2008 9:06 AM
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I have found a lot of the newer pots cook higher than the one I got 39 years ago for a wedding gift. I have three sizes of crock pots now and it is my favorite tool!! I would suggest a Regal crock pot and even though the ones with the removeble crock are convenient I think they cook too hot. I ALWAYS use Reynolds liners. They are wonderful and makes clean up very easy. Add your liquid last. Even if it is a soup and seems thick. I always start on high for about 10 to 15 minutes and then go to low. Never peek in the pot, it takes it too long to re-heat. If you must stir just crack the lid just a little to get the spoon in. When all else fails read the manual that came with your crock pot. It took me years to learn that lesson. Keep working at it. If everything fails. Ask for a new one for Christmas!!!! Good Luck.
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1
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 9, 2008 12:38 PM
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Glenda,
I am not sure how to contact you through e-mail. Can't figure the system out. I would love it if you could post your mac and cheese recipe
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Posts:
1
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 9, 2008 12:25 PM
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> Hi- I need some help when it comes to crock pot
> cooking. It doesnt seem to matter what I try- and I
> follow recipes to the tee- the food I prepare in my
> crock pot just doesnt seem right. There is always a
> big brown (almost burnt) ring around the middle- and
> a lot of times the food seems dry. Could it be the
> crock pot or me? I have tried low, high, extra
> sauce....you name it. Thanks- I appreciate the help!
Response:
I love my crockpot also and I noticed you received many replies so I'll just add a few notes. I also have the Fix it and Forget it Cookbook and it's great. I tend to always be rushed so I don't always do well with planning and cookbooks. One of the recipes I love in the crockpot is roast. It's so simple. You put a roast in the crockpot (chuck or even tri-tip) and season with salt and pepper around 7 or 8 am. Add 1/4 cup of water. If you are home add the baby carrots, potatoes and celery around noon. If you are not home during the day, then you can put them in when you put the roast in but the veggies do end up a little well done. My family doesn't complain. They love it.
I once experimented with lasagna and it turned out great. Since crock pots are typically round, the noodles have to be trimmed to fit. I just put all lasagna ingredients layered in the crock pot (I just used cooked ground beef leftover from a recipe the day before).
Finally, when I'm in a pinch, I throw in Costco frozen chicken breasts with salt and pepper and a 1/4 cup of water. Add 1-2 cups BBQ sauce and salt and pepper. Cook on low all day or if you are starting at noon cook on medium or high and watch it. One half hour before dinner shred the chicken and mix the sauce. Add your favorite bread, buns or rolls and you have amazing BBQ chicken sandwiches.
Anyway, I hope that's helpful. Maybe my family isn't picky but I do have 3 kids and they typically don't complain when I use the crockpot.
Good luck!
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1
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 8, 2008 11:56 AM
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when i use my crock pot before i go to work i put it in the sink.That way if it would happen to boil over i dont have to worrie about it. JUst take it out run some water and let it go down the garbage disposle.
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Posts:
1
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 7, 2008 3:02 PM
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To make clean up a breeze when using a crockpot, I purchase Reynolds slow cooker liners. They fit 3 to 6.5 round and oval slow cookers and are the greatest invention ever. I am NEVER without a box of these liners. I keep them right inside of my crockpot so I remember to line the crockpot before I do anything else. Try them, you'll love them.
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Moderator_Jane
Posts:
1,656
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 7, 2008 5:48 AM
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> I don't have a new enough crockpot to have the "take
> and go" transport case so I've always just wrapped it
> my crockpot in a large towel. It holds the lid on
> and keeps it insulated.
That's what I do. It's always worked fine for me. (Knock on wood) 
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Posts:
44
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 6, 2008 10:14 PM
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> > I think she was referring to transporting the
> crock
> > pot. Many times I have my crock pot simmering
> at
> > home, but then need to take it to a potluck
> party. I
> > always worry that the top will slide off during
> the
> > drive!
>
> A bungee cord would have been a great idea last
> weekend - I wish I would have thought of it. We were
> taking two pots of chili to a harvest festival and
> one tipped over on a turn.
>
>
oh no!! That is awful, the one I have now has the locks and wow is it nice! I had another one with the zippered bag to transport and had barbeque beef in it, by time we got there it had got all over the inside of the bag and a big mess all over the crock pot
so if you see the hamilton beach one that has the lock on lid, I highly recommend that one! Never have had any messes in trasport with that one! Use it frequently!
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 6, 2008 8:32 PM
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Fix and forget it Cookbook can be found at WalMart.
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 6, 2008 10:20 AM
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where can I get that Fix and Forget It cookbook?
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Re: Any crock pot experts out there?
Posted:
Nov 5, 2008 7:48 PM
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I have a Rival crock pot that is the greatest! It comes with the regular size insert as well as a double insert. This has been such a life saver - you can do your meat in one side, and a dessert or side dish on the other side. Definitely update your crock pot if it is an older model.
The best cookbook I have found is called "Fix It and Forget It". I have never had a recipe from this book not turn out correctly. They also have a Fix It and Forget It for Entertaining that is great.
As to the frozen meat advice: roasts of any kind can be put in totally frozen and cooked for the 8-10 hours and will be cooked thoroughly. Ground meat needs to be browned first. As a general rule: chicken or pork chops with bone in needs to be browned first. Boneless chicken breasts and boneless pork chops will depend on the type of recipe and how long it is to be cooked to determine if you need to brown them first. As a beginner, start with the soups and roasts and you can't go wrong.
Hope this helps!!
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