Guest guest Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 I rely on the older nodels made by Rival. They are always at garage sales and trhrift shops. The newer ones cook way too slow for me. Maybe it's just me, am I stuck in a time warp? Hip , Mike Christie <mike wrote: > > I'm sure this has been discussed in the past, but I'm looking for > recommendations on a slow cooker. > > I have a Hamilton Beach Crock Watcher which I've had for years. It > has three settings: Low, High, and Auto-Shift. The Auto-Shift is > supposed to switch the crock pot from High to Low when everything is > cooked. But last night it was merrily bubbling away well after my > ingredients were cooked. (And anyway, a slow cooker shouldn't bubble > even on High, should it?) My lentils, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, and > squash were a bit mushier than I would have liked. So I think the > thermostat has given out. > > Any recommendations for a slow cooker currently available on the market? > > Thanks, > > Mike > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 Hello everyone i was told to put my lentils in the slow cooker and let then take there time cooking ok. i put my beans on around seven in the morning came home around 5p. they where not soft so i left them on at 11p they where a little soft what should i have done left them on for 2/3 days...i'm hungry. any way i through them out is there a better way??? Family Research: Ross;Wilson;McQueen;Randolph;Cobbin (all-sp); Pitt ________________________________ Hip <hippie_papa Friday, February 13, 2009 6:12:33 PM Re: slow cooker recommendations? I rely on the older nodels made by Rival. They are always at garage sales and trhrift shops. The newer ones cook way too slow for me. Maybe it's just me, am I stuck in a time warp? Hip , Mike Christie <mike wrote: > > I'm sure this has been discussed in the past, but I'm looking for > recommendations on a slow cooker. > > I have a Hamilton Beach Crock Watcher which I've had for years. It > has three settings: Low, High, and Auto-Shift. The Auto-Shift is > supposed to switch the crock pot from High to Low when everything is > cooked. But last night it was merrily bubbling away well after my > ingredients were cooked. (And anyway, a slow cooker shouldn't bubble > even on High, should it?) My lentils, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, and > squash were a bit mushier than I would have liked. So I think the > thermostat has given out. > > Any recommendations for a slow cooker currently available on the market? > > Thanks, > > Mike > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 --- Mike Christie <mike wrote: > > I'm sure this has been discussed in the past, > but I'm looking for recommendations on a slow > cooker. Hi Mike, You are going to find with any new slow cooker that almost all of them cook to hot. Having said that, I would recommend the Hamilton Beach 3 in 1 cooker. It has 2, 4 and 6 quart pots, and one cooker. I love it. Mine cooks a little hotter than the old fashioned cookers, but it doesn't burn things to a crip. I just love mine. Hope this helps, Linda ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 I am also looking fo a new slow cooker. Most people in the US think that lead in cookware was totally banned by the FDA. It was not. I am concerned about the amount of lead that is allowed by the FDA in newly manufactured slow cookers. (Aso the the nonstick materials that coat most now - usually present in the glaze.) Many clay cookers have lead naturally. There is more info on this at Debra Dadds' site - she has a newsletter but I don't know if you have to sign up to read the posts. There are a few nonlead cookers listed but I haven't found them locally. Robin P.S. , Mike Christie <mike wrote: > > I'm sure this has been discussed in the past, but I'm looking for > recommendations on a slow cooker. > > I have a Hamilton Beach Crock Watcher which I've had for years. It > has three settings: Low, High, and Auto-Shift. The Auto-Shift is > supposed to switch the crock pot from High to Low when everything is > cooked. But last night it was merrily bubbling away well after my > ingredients were cooked. (And anyway, a slow cooker shouldn't bubble > even on High, should it?) My lentils, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, and > squash were a bit mushier than I would have liked. So I think the > thermostat has given out. > > Any recommendations for a slow cooker currently available on the market? > > Thanks, > > Mike > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 My current crock pot is a (I think) Rival " smart pot). It has slow, medium and high settings and a timer that goes up to around 12 hours). It is oval, with a removable crock and fits one cat comfortably or two if they want to share the room. (No cats have been hurt by sleeping in the crock pot. It is big enough to do several pounds of beans or make a large thing of spaghetti sauce. It was great for making pear butter and strawberry fig preserves, without the heat getting so high that the butter or preserves burned. I like the clear glass lid that fits quite snugly on top as my wiley cats have not yet figured out how to get it off, as they did with another brand of slow cooker. The only thing I don't like about it is the digital timer, since those go out a lot faster than the old manual timer and it is cheaper to throw it away rather than repair. Carl and I are very frugal and would far rather repair something rather than buy another one. ARGH! Hope this helps. I still use the little crockette I've had for a decade plus, since it is just large enough to do a half pound of beans for our dinner. Jeanne in GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Robin, Thank you so much for mentioning the possibility of lead in new slow cooker. I would never have imagined that it could still be a problem. ~ irene > I am also looking fo a new slow cooker. Most people in the US think > that lead in cookware was totally banned by the FDA. It was not. I am > concerned about the amount of lead that is allowed by the FDA in > newly manufactured slow cookers. (Aso the the nonstick materials > that coat most now - usually present in the glaze.) Many clay > cookers have lead naturally. There is more info on this at Debra > Dadds' site - she has a newsletter but I don't know if you have to > sign up to read the posts. There are a few nonlead cookers listed but > I haven't found them locally. > > Robin > > P.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 I just found this at a site after googling leadfree slow cooker - I have just received your email and would like to thank you for writing. The glaze that we use on our products does not contain lead. It is made of silica flour, clay, feldspar, frit, and a few non-toxic minerals. These are ground up mixed, in specific quantities, with water. The resulting is slurry sprayed onto the pot and it is fired in the kiln at or around 1200-1600 degrees. If you need more information please contact us at 1(800)777-5452, 6am-3pm, MST, Monday through Friday. Thank you, Grace Jarden Consumer Solutions --- On Sun, 2/15/09, irene <irene wrote: > irene <irene > Re: slow cooker recommendations? > > Sunday, February 15, 2009, 10:56 PM > Robin, > > Thank you so much for mentioning the possibility of lead in > new slow > cooker. I would never have imagined that it could still be > a problem. > > ~ irene > > > > I am also looking fo a new slow cooker. Most people in > the US think > > that lead in cookware was totally banned by the FDA. > It was not. I am > > concerned about the amount of lead that is allowed by > the FDA in > > newly manufactured slow cookers. (Aso the the > nonstick materials > > that coat most now - usually present in the glaze.) > Many clay > > cookers have lead naturally. There is more info on > this at Debra > > Dadds' site - she has a newsletter but I don't > know if you have to > > sign up to read the posts. There are a few nonlead > cookers listed but > > I haven't found them locally. > > > > Robin > > > > P.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Elaine, Which slow cooker does this refer to? Thanks, Mike At 12:36 PM 2/16/2009, Elaine wrote: I just found this at a site after googling leadfree slow cooker - I have just received your email and would like to thank you for writing. The glaze that we use on our products does not contain lead. It is made of silica flour, clay, feldspar, frit, and a few non-toxic minerals. These are ground up mixed, in specific quantities, with water. The resulting is slurry sprayed onto the pot and it is fired in the kiln at or around 1200-1600 degrees. If you need more information please contact us at 1(800)777-5452, 6am-3pm, MST, Monday through Friday. Thank you, Grace Jarden Consumer Solutions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Sorry Mike, I didn't realize it wasn't in the email. It was Rival. Good for me since I have a Rival and love it. Cheers, Elaine --- On Mon, 2/16/09, Mike Christie <mike wrote: > Mike Christie <mike > Re: Re: slow cooker recommendations? > > Monday, February 16, 2009, 1:02 PM > Elaine, > > Which slow cooker does this refer to? > > Thanks, > > Mike > > At 12:36 PM 2/16/2009, Elaine wrote: > I just found this at a site after googling leadfree slow > cooker - > > I have just received your email and would like to thank you > for > writing. The glaze that we use on our products does not > contain lead. > It is made of silica flour, clay, feldspar, frit, and a few > non-toxic > minerals. These are ground up mixed, in specific > quantities, with > water. The resulting is slurry sprayed onto the pot and it > is fired > in the kiln at or around 1200-1600 degrees. If you need > more > information please contact us at 1(800)777-5452, 6am-3pm, > MST, Monday > through Friday. > > Thank you, > > Grace > Jarden Consumer Solutions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 An easy-to-use lead-check device is available at paint stores (I got mine at Home Depot). It is a white cylinder that looks like a cigarette, containing two ampules of chemicals. You crush the ampules by squeezing the tube, and then rub the chemicals on the item to be checked. If the tip of the tube turns certain colors, you know you have a problem. Each tube can be used twice (if you are organized and reasonably dextrous). After hearing about the lead problem on the slow_cooker group, I looked into it and decided to check all my glazed cookware, dishes, etc. Hope that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 This is good to know but I would still test any crock I purchased from Rival. In 2008, their own email replies said that the posts DID contain lead, but less than the FDA standard. Many manufacturer's will reply that they do not ADD lead but most clays and glazes have naturally occuring lead, thus the FDA allowable amount. Hamilton Beach says based upon testing performed by an independent laboratory, the lead content of their earthenware crocks is 1 micron of lead per liter whcih is less than 10% of the FDA approved limit. Rival and Hamilton Beach both have poor safety records according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (cpsc.gov)- they burst into flames. I would imagine this problem has been rectified but is the reason I never leave my slow cooker on while I am out of the house. Zisha clay is supposed to be naturally lead free and VitaClay makes crock pots made from it. I don't have any info confirming the lead content in their pots. You can test the crock once you get it home. But remember, the pot leaches most when it is hot. You should test something you know has lead as a control, maybe a magnet. Then test the cold crock. I don't know if you can use a lead swab on a hot pot but that would be the best test. It seems to be a hit and miss situation. Many posters on other websites have the same model crockpots but different test results. Certainly the older pots will test positive more but some of the newer ones do also - even when the manufacturer claims no. Rival and Hamilton Beach as well as other brands can all test positive. I am not telling you not to purchase another crockpot. I just wanted you to be informed. I am looking for a new pot and have not tested the one I have out of fear (but I have quit using it more than 2 - 4 times a year as it is from the 1980's). If you purchase a new pot and test it, please let me know. Robin , Elaine Gallagher <elainejoyce2 wrote: > > > > Sorry Mike, I didn't realize it wasn't in the email. It was Rival. Good for me since I have a Rival and love it. > > Cheers, > > Elaine > > > --- On Mon, 2/16/09, Mike Christie <mike wrote: > > > Mike Christie <mike > > Re: Re: slow cooker recommendations? > > > > Monday, February 16, 2009, 1:02 PM > > Elaine, > > > > Which slow cooker does this refer to? > > > > Thanks, > > > > Mike > > > > At 12:36 PM 2/16/2009, Elaine wrote: > > I just found this at a site after googling leadfree slow > > cooker - > > > > I have just received your email and would like to thank you > > for > > writing. The glaze that we use on our products does not > > contain lead. > > It is made of silica flour, clay, feldspar, frit, and a few > > non-toxic > > minerals. These are ground up mixed, in specific > > quantities, with > > water. The resulting is slurry sprayed onto the pot and it > > is fired > > in the kiln at or around 1200-1600 degrees. If you need > > more > > information please contact us at 1(800)777-5452, 6am-3pm, > > MST, Monday > > through Friday. > > > > Thank you, > > > > Grace > > Jarden Consumer Solutions > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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