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You don't need a programmable crockpot. My sister cooks with a crockpot all the time and her regular one works just fine without needing anything added on. These are what most people use: http://www.crock-pot.com/Products.aspx?cid=113&scid=70&sort=0&page=-1
Personally, I like the Rival Crock Pot's better then the Hamilton Beach ones I think they seem to last a little longer and are a tad more reliable then the Hamilton Beach ones. Rival Smart Pot is a good one since it's programmable like you want and it switches over to the "warm" setting once your done. I have a nesting crock pot that has the 3 bowls and then you can adjust it from 2-4-6 qt depending on what size you need, I like that but if you only plan on serving bigger meals then the 6qt is the way to go. You can also, if you need to, cook on "low" instead of "high" for about twice as long. For example: 4 hrs on "high" is about the same as 6-8hrs on "low". Just something to think about.
I've been cooking for years with my Rival nonprogrammable crock. I've never wished I had a programmable one, but the one thing I *do* wish I had was one that's got the different bowls. I hate having to make cheese dip in my big one, but I also am way too cheap to buy a smaller one since I only need it a few times a year.
I also prefer the Rival Crock Pot. It seems to cook better and faster. I have a programable one and I love it. It switches to warm after the programmed cooking time clicks off. You may not think so now, but you will probabley want a bigger one once you start using one. The smaller ones are too small for roasts and company meals. Also if you cook spagetti sauce or chili and want to freeze some for future meals, you may want to get a bigger one. You can make larger meals and then freeze the leftovers in meal size portions, so on nights you don't feel like cooking, you can just pull it out of the freezer and have a ready cooked meal that you can just heat up.
Interesting that there's this thread since I just went to add a new one to our registry!
I just saw this one on Amazon... I thought the different sizes was a great feature. Has anyone used this? Or are there any others out there with the different sizes?
I think I prefer this version of it...
If you know you will use it often, then you may as well opt for the nicer crockpot. If you won't use it that often, I'd recommend the basic Rival Crockpot. I put my stuff on Low and it works fine. Also, if you did find one you love, then don't worry about it going to warm afterwards. The food stays warmish for hours after (like 4-5) and it's easy to heat it in the micronuker for like 60 seconds if it's still too lukewarm for you.
I also have the Rival programmable CrockPot. It sounds like my needs are the same as yours - I always leave it for several hours either cooking while I'm asleep or at work then at the gym.
It's possible that it'd still be fine if I left it on that whole time, but it gives me a peace of mind that it switches to warm.
Mine cost about $60 from SuperStore (it's a Canadian discount grocery store). They'd probably have it for a similar price at Walmart or something like that.
I use my crockpots (yes I own multiple, for when I am doing different kinds of meat for get togethers) ALL the time. Mine are not programable, but I've never had any problems. Epsecially is youare cooking meat, as long as there is enough liquid in the crock pot it just gets more tender and juicy as it cooks!
Thanks for all the advice! Sorry my links didn't work the first time around. The two that I'm debating between are the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1
http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-33134-Cooker-6-Quart/dp/B000R8BT0A
and the Hamilton Beach Stay and Go in pink
Luckyou, I completely agree, I love the interchangable bowl size, but the cute one with the colored bowls is no longer available and even getting the white bowls seems sketchy, the sellers aren't well known and when I went directly to one of their sites, the crock pot looked different with an unattractive grape pattern! I think I may register for this one anyway, and if someone buys it and sends it to me, I can always return it, right?
According to what I'm hearing I'm feeling better about non-programmable but if any of ya'll have a favorite model of crock pot I'd still love to hear it!
I don't have a programmable crockpot. HOnestly, I don't use one that often.
In fact, I have my MOM'S crockpot from the 1980's. It's SO old school. It has a "low" a "high" and an "off" position on the dials.
I agree, I think Rival is the creme de le creme of crock pots! Heheh. And it's not like they are super expensive. We have a oval one that has stainless steel exterior and programmable. Once the time is done it automatically jumps to a warm setting. Nice to have for those meals you throw on in the am before work.
I love my crockpot and it's not programmable. Like some other posters have said, I just put it on low for 8+ hours.
@Mthdgirl: I think I'm sold on the multiple bowl sizes in the stainless version.
We have this old one that my fiancé's mom gave us (he actually got a little upset when I said I wanted to get a new one!) and it has 4 temps - 1,2,3,4 - not even an off. I definitely think it's time for an upgrade!
My fiance has gotten upset about the registry too. :) He has many definite opinions about everything from water glasses to sheets, but luckily I'm in charge of the crock pot. He even said I should get a pink one, but they're hard to come by!
I have a regular crockpot. Many recipes say you need to cook for 8 hours and by the tim eI get home from work I have been gone 9 or 10, so what my boy did was buy a timer switch for cheap from the hardware stor and we just programme that to turn, starting approx 8 hours before we want to eat, that way it is ready to go nice and hot when we want to eat. All I do in the morning is throw everything in and when I want dinner I have yummy hot food!
I still have an avocado green Rival crockpot from the 70's that I got as a wedding gift. I have gone through other brands and have a progammable Rival now- but I don't like the oval shape for cooking as much as the round, straight up and down. The old heavy glass lids were better for not leaking steam. The beauty of crock cooking is that it really eliminates the need for precise shut off- and I never use the program features on the newer pot. I just got it for the finish- matches the other appliances. But when it's just me and hubby, I drag out the relic. Cooks better.
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OK, this is crazy but making my registry seems so hard! I can't seem to find what I want, even though my requirements seem fairly modest. My latest object: a good crock-pot. What I'd really like is a programmable model, which can cook for several hours and then go to a warm setting, which doesn't cost more than $100 and is attractive. I found this super cute Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-33134-Cooker-6-Quart/dp/B000R8BT0A) but it goes straight to off when it is done cooking and since I never work less than 8 hours, that's not very helpful. It also isn't in stock with the colored bowls. I found this cute pink one: (http://www.target.com/Hamilton-Beach-Stay-6-qt-Cooker/dp/B001ARSXL0/ref=br_1_20?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&searchView=grid5&searchNodeID=1041766&node=1041766&searchRank=pmrank&searchPage=1&searchSize=30&id=Hamilton%20Beach%20Stay%206-qt%20Cooker) but it isn't programmable. Although the fiance did say I should get a pink crock pot which I think is very sweet. All the programmable ones are enormous and stainless steel which isn't my favorite.
Can someone please tell me if I really need programmable and if I don't need programmable, which one I should go with?