Crock Pot Buying Guide

Size
Lid
Liner
Crock
Cooking Unit
Heating Controls
Used vs. New
Brand

This Crock Pot buying guide is designed to help you to make the right decision when shopping for slow cooker.

It doesn't take long for the most people to discover that after they buy a crock pot it quickly starts playing important role in their kitchen. It becomes as important as fridge, stove and dish washer. The first buy is usually is inexpensive, small size model - just to try and see. It's a good approach because you'll gain necessary experience to buy the second slow cooker based on your practical usage of the first one. Your practical experience is the best crock pot buying guide.

Choosing a crock pot isn't difficult. They don't have as much features as some other modern kitchen appliances. Experts recommend to pay attentions to the following details:

Size

If have a small family or if you are single or have no more than two people in your household, the 3 to 4 qt. size works wonderfully. Most slow cooker recipes are designed for this size, and you will usually have enough leftovers for 1 or 2 meals. If you have bigger family or more than 2 people in your household, consider getting the 6 qt. model instead. In this case recipes double easily to fill it.

Lid

The best slow cooker lid is a once-piece glass lid with a high dome shape. Lids that have plastic handles and/or metal rims will not withstand wear and tear as well, and can build up "food gunk" along their seams, which is almost impossible to clean. The higher dome allows more room for cooking tall foods like rump roasts and whole chicken.

The lid should also have an inner lip that fits down inside the rim of the crock. This forces collected steam to run back into the pot without pooling on the rim of the crock.

Liner

When purchasing a crock pot , look for one with a removable liner. They are much easier to clean. If you have a non-removable liner, however, all is not lost! Line your crock pot with a cooking bag and you'll have no cleanup at all. Spray the inside of the liner with cooking spray before you fill it to make cleanup easier.

Crock

A removable crock is a must! It is far easier to clean, and allows for much easier refrigeration of foods before and after cooking. And the heavier the crock is, the better it will withstand bumps and bungles during washing and storage.

The design of the crock is very important. It should have rounded edges, since square edges and crevices are harder to clean. A rounded rectangular shape allows more space for wide roasts and turkeys than an oval. And, most critical of all, be sure to inspect the outer rim. It should be at least approximately 1 inch wide, and slant inward. This will allow a little emergency room for pooling of juices before forcing them back into the crock. Narrow and/or flat rims can allow juices to spill over into the cooking unit or onto your countertop.

Cooking Unit

Be sure to look for a base that feels sturdy and will allow air flow underneath to dissipate heat. Solid handles are much sturdier than the open or "loop-shaped" handles. Heavy crocks and full pots can put stress on the delicate open handles, causing them to crack and break soon after purchase.

Heating Controls

Lots of new "features" are now available, such as programmable delayed cooking timers and "Keep Warm" settings. These really aren't necessary, and can add to the cost of your crock pot. As long as the unit has a "Low" setting and a "High" setting, that's really all you need. Food cooks so slowly on the "Low" setting that you can usually start a recipe early and/or keep it warm without overcooking.

Used vs. New

It's up to you if you want to buy used or new crock pot. Just be careful when buying a used crock pot, though. Unless it was owned by someone you know, you can't be sure of its performance. If you are thinking of saving some money buying used crock pot, then you should probably look at online auctions. You most likely will find a good slow cooker there for the price of used.

Most new crock pots come with a guarantee from the manufacturer, which will allow you to get a refund or replacement if yours is defective. And slow cookers can often be found at a good price near the holidays, at graduation time, and during the spring/summer wedding season. Because they make great gifts, many stores will advertise crock pots at sale prices in order to lure shoppers during these times.

Brand

The brand isn't necessarily important, but buying a crock pot of good brand like Rival for example is a good idea. A little extra money can make your positive experience with great utensil like Crock Pot even better.

If you have any comments or suggestions about our Crock Pot Buying Guide, you can email them to CrockPotBuyingGuide@cookwarevendors.com.