Crockpots

[sidrah]

So, wo really leaves theirs on and goes out?? I am home now for the summer, so I think I might be more willing to leave something plugged in knowing that I wil be back less than 12 hours later.


I have meat from sales stocked up in the freezer. I am a great cook, but feel weird about leaving crock pots on when I am not around, so I do not use them unless I am around to watch them.

ANy good or new ideas you've been making lately. I have tons of recipes, but I thought maybe someone tried something new...

[penelope]

i do it all the time. never had a problem. works wonderfully and dinner is ready when you get home! :yes

[earlychildhoodeducator]

ditto, infact I have had mine on since 8:00pm last night. I cooked a corned beef brisket I got on sale back in March. Didn't even add water. I took the meat out this morning and covered with spicy mustard and put it in a baking dish and in the fridge to heat up later for dinner. I added veggies to the broth and it's still simering. It's gonna be goooood!

I have left beans on a hundred times while I when to work.

[cruiser gal]

I use my crockpot all the time, its easy, no fussing, and I'm not even home when it cooks. I buy roasts when they are on sale, stick them in the crockpot, add Atkins BBQ sauce, some vegies(onions, celery), and use some spices on the meat. After 8-10 hours,,,,a wonderful home cooked meal. Never had any problems yet with leaving it cook on its own!

[sidrah]

I'm thinking of putting in some meat tonight. I think I should defrost first and go ahead with it. Thanks, everyone. I hope I get the place cleaned up and then start with the cooking for the weekend :nod

[Curveegrrl]

My crockpot has been a lifesaver this year. So many days I just feel too tired to cook when I get home. But I can always throw in some chicken in the morning and it's waiting for me when I get home.

And it really helps me prepare my lunches. I do up a weeks worth of ...whatever on Sundays and freeze it in individual portions. Then I just pull out a bag each night to defrost in the fridge. It really cuts down my prep time in the morning.

It's nice in the summer too, as it doesn't heat the house up too much.

And it's way easier to clean than my grill is. (I don't have a microwave, or oven...just a two range stove, a small grill and the Crock Pot)

All in all, it's a winner. And if *I* don't burn the house down leaving it on all day, chances are you won't either. hee

[ladyhairg]

I use mine ALL the time and I've never had any problems. One note of food safety: If you are cooking meat and a veggie in the crock pot, it's safest to put the meat on the bottom, nearest to the heat source. If the meat sits on top, it may not get warm enough fast enough and that would leave a very SLIGHT risk of food poisoning.

[Miss Phode]

I have a crockpot, but the only thing I've ever made in it is baby back ribs. Of course the sauce I used was the best BBQ sauce I've ever tasted, but its NOT Atkins friendly, so needless to say, I don't make them anymore. Now my crockpot sits on the shelf collecting dust. My husband and I don't like roast, so I don't have a clue what to do with the dumb thing.

[MotherOfGizmo]

I love my crockpot so much that I have 3 of them! :nod I leave them on all the time. Chunk everything in in the morning and when I come home from work dinner is ready! It is so nice not to have to mess with cooking after working 8 hours. I've never had a problem leaving it plugged in all day!

[Miss Phode]

OK...so what do you guys make in the crock pot that is Atkins legal AND tastes good??

[MotherOfGizmo]

I just posted one of my favorite recipes in a link in the cooking forum

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/viewtopic.php?t=74350

[MotherOfGizmo]

Oh, another really easy one that's wonderful if you like sauerkraut is

Pork roast (I like porkloin but use what you like)
Salt and Pepper
Whole Pepper Corns
2 cans of sauerkraut

Salt and pepper heavily the fat side of the roast and place it in the slow cooker fat side up. Put the 2 cans of sauerkraut around the roast and throw in some whole peppercorns (to your taste) Add water to fill it to about the top of the sauerkraut, plug it in turn it on low and cook all day. The pork roast will be so tender it will fall apart!

[Empress Honeybee]

I use my crockpot often. It is a 6 quart oval one that will hold up to 2 fair sized roasts or 2 good sized chickens....even 1 small turkey.

I have left it running while I went out with no issues and a great meal waiting when I got back.

[sidrah]

I use mine all the time in school when we do projects with no trouble. I have 2 of them and would love to sit down and come up with some good ideas dn have meals cooked for the week on a day or so. Then, I can just bother with the cucumbers and peppers and the rest is set for dinners.

Usually I would make soups in it and leave them on so they are ready when I get back to the room. I think I will make some chicken vegetable soup. I got boxes and boxes of chicken broth for 47 cents or something when tehy were on clearance at Target since I make so many soups.

[ExoticIsle]

If you like hot and spicy try this: Place three or four (rinsed) boneless chicken breasts in the crockpot. Pour a 12-16 ounce jar of hot peppers - jalapenos, scotch bonnets, cherry peppers (not drained - use the juice, too) right on top of the chicken breasts and get 'er going. Come back home after work and your hot and spicy chicken breasts are ready to eat! Yum!

I use my crockpot lots and always leave it cooking on my counter while I'm gone (9 - 10 hours a day). Have never had a problem (and I have two VERY curious cats). The only suggestion I would make is to be certain that the crockpot is far enough out on your counter that any steam generated does not pool under the cupboards above. Might not be so good for the wood over a long period of time.