Logistics Question - Strategies on using a Crock Pot?

[mrs_scarborough]

Hi all. I've been lurking for quite a while and have a question.

I've come into the possession of a slow cooker, but of the smaller, older kind, like this one. My weekly routine is to head off to work at 7 am, come home at 4:30, cook a meal and have it on the table between 7-9 pm. It's just me and my hubs, so we're flexible on dinner times. I'm

Comments

[archmage45]

I regularly cook things for around 10 hours on the low setting. Just add a little extra water/broth to it. I usually head off to work around 6:15 and get home around 4:45.

[purlewe]

I ahve had things cook for 10 hrs on low while I am at work. I do this every 2 weeks when I make soup for friends.. so the crock pot ends up being on for just over 12 hrs by the time they leave. Today I have a chicken in the crock and it will be in there for 10 hrs before I get home. I usually try to remember to turn it on warm when I get home, but often I don't and just elave it on low. I ahve never had any issues and the food has always been good.

[daf9]

I regularly cook things 9-10 hours on low as well. Since I'm also cooking for two I usually make something that freezes and reheats well. I got hooked because slow cooking makes even tough cuts of meat amazingly tender but I doubt I'd use it for all vegie meals because I like my vegies crisp.

[pyrrhicvictory]

I am a single full-time college student. My boyfriend bought me a new crock with a timer, which has made things way easier. It sets itself to "warm" when the cook time is up, so I don't have to be back to it right when it finishes.

Many recipes that can be cooked on high for 4-5 hours can just as easily be done on low for 8-10 hours, which also gives me a lot of variability in cooking time.

Lots of times I also do all the prep work beforehand and put the crockpot insert right in the fridge, so that I can just take it out and pop it in right before I run out somewhere. Maybe if you have a lunch break, you could do something like that.

[deanne]

I'm single and like to make things like chili in the crock pot. Like someone else said, cook it on low for longer. Then when you get home you can put together a salad, make some corn bread, etc and serve up dinner and you're good to go. I divide up leftovers and freeze it.