10 Tips to Choosing the Best Crock Pot for Your Best Crock Pot Recipe
A part of being frugal and saving money is making wise purchases, we all know that. So, why have ten different items in your kitchen when you really only use a couple? With just a few questions you can find out what size of crockpot is the best one for you to make your best crock pot recipe at home. Here are my top ten tips to consider when looking for the best crock pot for you and your family (and your budget!)
#1. What Kind of Meals Do You Make?
When deciding if a crock pot is a good buy for you, you’ll want to consider what you tend to make in your kitchen. If you make one roast a year and not many soups.. .you may not want a crock pot taking up a large spot in your kitchen. But, say your into freezer meal cooking, then, by all means, let’s get you a 6-quart crockpot. 🙂
#2. Round or Oval?
Deciding on the shape of your crockpot is important. Do you make a pork loin in the crockpot often? Then oval is for you. Do you only make soups? Circle will do. Or, do you plan on making lasagna or casseroles in your slow cooker? If so, one like this is great and has nice reviews, too.
#3. How Many People Do You Frequently Serve?
A good rule of thumb to follow is this: A four quart crock pot will feed four people or feed two people and have a couple leftover lunches leftover. A 3 1/2 quart crockpot is pretty close to a 4 quart but is ideal for a 2 to 3 person household. And a five quart slow cooker is good for a family of 4 to 6. If you have a family of six or more or if you enjoy making freezer meals, a six quart slowcooker is great for your family.
#4. Can You Share?
Before investing in three or four sizes of crockpots, ask around. For example, my mom has the HUGE {dare I say antique} crockpot that’s big enough to fit a couple gallons of milk, so I know I can borrow that anytime. However, she doesn’t have a 2 quart crockpot, so she knows that she can ask to use that anytime. It works for us, we both save money and space, too.
#5. Will You Be MultiPurposing Your Crock Pot?
If you think that you’ll be making breads in your slowcooker, you’ll want to consider an oval crock. Consider the size of roasts, cuts of meat and more that you make, too.
#6. Do you prefer a Manual or Programmable?
While manual slow cookers are more economical, programmable crockpots automatically switch to warm after the time you specify. If you have an unpredictable schedule, you may decide that a programmable slowcooker is for you. Or, an appliance timer like this one will work on your manual if you already have a manual crockpot.
Something else to consider… when using a programmable crockpot, if the power goes out – even for only a second, the settings will reset and the slow cooker will be off even when the power comes back on. If you are using a cooker with a manual control and the power goes out, it will come back on and continue cooking when power is restored. A unique way to look at things…
#7. Have You Considered Other Options?
There are now cookers that will cook yogurt, rice, pressure cookers and more. This Instapot for example will make yogurt as well as rice, eliminating two larger small appliances.
#8. Price, Price, Price
We know this is important, right. Choose on price, and you’re in the right spot as I see and post Crock pot deals all the time.
#9. Lids and Handles Can Be Different
Make sure to choose the best lid for you as well as the insert. Some crock pots come with a plastic lid versus a glass lid. Erring on the side of caution, I think a glass slowcooker lid is the way to go. And, another thing to think about is that you can see through glass, whereas not so much through plastic.
You’ll also want to be sure to look at the handles on your slow cooker carefully when making your purchase. Making sure that your slow cooker is easy to move around is kind of a big deal. So choose a sturdy, well rated one. You’ll find the best sellers here.
#10. Inserts Are Important
Most slow cookers that you and I will use have a removable stoneware insert making clean-up easier. You can also serve the food in the removable crock, so you have one less dish to wash. Win, right?!
The insert will also have a wide rim that slopes inward just a mbit, maybe even an unnoticable amount, slightly allowing the liquid that accumulates there from the steam of cooking to drip back into the crock pot.
You may still see an aluminum or nonstick insert, but unlike stoneware crocks, these can be used on the stove top. I have a bit of hesitancy when thinking about cooking in aluminum due to health risks, but if you’re looking for a slow cooker and stovetop safe combo cooker, you can see the best-sellers here. And, another plus of stoneware, it is considered superior material because of its ability to keep an even and constant temperature.
But, you can see Slow Cookers with Aluminum inserts below:
All in all, I have my favorites. I find that I use my 2 quart crock post the most, and it’s stoneware. We love appetizers around here so if I’m making my buffalo wing dip, teriyaki wings, candied little smokies, this size is perfect.
I would say that a close runner up is my 4 quart crock pot. I use this most for soups. And, for roasts, I use
one that’s a little larger.
Now, for you… which Crock Pot do you find that you use the most often? And, why is it your favorite? Did you get an awesome price on it? Does it fit just perfectly into a spot in your kitchen? Or maybe it’s a hand-me-down from someone who was important to you? Let us hear it!
Check out my Best Crock Pot Recipes.
