…… Casserole crock pots

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
So...what is the difference between a casserole crockpot and a regular one? Will it brown the top or do you still have to throw it in the oven for that?

I think it's designed more for things like tater tot casserole, lasagna, broccoli rice casserole, etc., stuff you want in a thinner layer. The gal on the show made an apple cobbler in hers.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.

That's the one they had on Hello Iowa! I like this design much better than my big oval one. OC has "events" a couple of times a year at work, having this crock pot would mean being able to send something other than soup!
 

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
Yes, I forwarded this info to a friend. She'll have several "events" coming up this summer where something like that could save her a ton of money -- no catering needed. I honestly wasn't aware that those existed. I generally use the oven for casseroles and then transfer them to buffet warmers at the site for church gatherings.

1708278543744.jpeg

It has been a long time since I've had to do that. I'm sure there's better equipment available now.
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
I think it's designed more for things like tater tot casserole, lasagna, broccoli rice casserole, etc., stuff you want in a thinner layer. The gal on the show made an apple cobbler in hers.
So the difference is basically the shape and depth of the crock. No real difference in cooking ability.

I dunno. Would have to hear some first hand reports because I know it's a struggle to get noodles/pasta to cook right in a crockpot.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Yes, I forwarded this info to a friend. She'll have several "events" coming up this summer where something like that could save her a ton of money -- no catering needed. I honestly wasn't aware that those existed. I generally use the oven for casseroles and then transfer them to buffet warmers at the site for church gatherings.

It has been a long time since I've had to do that. I'm sure there's better equipment available now.

OC said he knew about them, probably saw them at work at one of the functions. They don't have buffet warmers so if you send something that's supposed to be hot they ask that you send it in a crock pot.
 

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
So the difference is basically the shape and depth of the crock. No real difference in cooking ability.

I dunno. Would have to hear some first hand reports because I know it's a struggle to get noodles/pasta to cook right in a crockpot.

I've never been successful at getting pasta to cook right in a slow cooker. When I make noodle soup, I use the top of the stove method and add the noodles late in the simmering process.

I use a slow cooker mostly for stews, really tough meat that needs to simmer low and slow for hours.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Yeah. Firsthand reports for me, too. I would need to justify why getting one of these would warrant spending money on one when a regular crock pot will do the same thing. I already use my oval crock pot for some casseroles. Tons of recipes for crock pot casseroles on the "net".

from what I can tell it has a larger foot print than our oval crock pots, and for some casseroles this would be a good feature.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
from what I can tell it has a larger foot print than our oval crock pots, and for some casseroles this would be a good feature.

Yeah. I'm considering getting one. It might be more useful for me rather than the big oval one I now have. I want to make sure it justifies the cost, before adding another crock pot to my already crowded and very small kitchen. Can it be used for more than just casseroles?
 
Last edited:

hd5574

Veteran Member
I have a very small kitchen also... several years ago...I solved the problem of heating the kitchen in the summer by buying a convection oven....poor thing has to live on top of my dryer...since both the washing and dryer are in the kitchen....but I can cook most things in it...plus if I am using my oven for say a turkey.... I can bake a pie in it...so it gives me two ovens..
It will do a 12" pizza pan...a casserole or most anything my oven will....plus i use my regular slow cooker to do things like pulled pork or corned beef
I think I get more use out it than I would a flat slow cooker..
 
Last edited:

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I've been wanting one of those appliances that is a combination of a toaster over, a grill, and an air fryer. I told Cary that if I had one of those, plus my crock pot, I wouldn't even need my stove and oven for much of anything.

We eat very light in the summer. Mostly, it's cooked on the grill, in my crock pot, or it's just sandwiches and salads. I try not to heat up the house with a lot of cooking indoors.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Yeah. I'm considering getting one. It might be more useful for me rather than the big oval one I now have. I want to make sure it justifies the cost, before adding another crock pot to my already crowded and very small kitchen. Can it be used for more than just casseroles?

I think it'd work great as a hot pot, or fondu pot if you have more than one person enjoying the dish! This way you wouldn't have to fish around looking for that lost piece of meat nearly as long.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I've been wanting one of those appliances that is a combination of a toaster over, a grill, and an air fryer. I told Cary that if I had one of those, plus my crock pot, I wouldn't even need my stove and oven for much of anything.

We eat very light in the summer. Mostly, it's cooked on the grill, in my crock pot, or it's just sandwiches and salads. I try not to heat up the house with a lot of cooking indoors.

They reviewed one of those on Americas Test Kitchen and they thought that while it worked really really well the price was too high at just under $400. My thought was if it takes up less counter and storage space then it's worth every penny!
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
They reviewed one of those on Americas Test Kitchen and they thought that while it worked really really well the price was too high at just under $400. My thought was if it takes up less counter and storage space then it's worth every penny!

I have a very old microwave. Once it quits, I'm not replacing it. I want the combination appliance, instead. It will go where the microwave is now, so it won't need any extra room. The only thing I use my microwave for is to reheat stuff and to make microwave popcorn. It's not really needed compared to the use I'll get out of the combo appliance.
 

hd5574

Veteran Member
If I am cooking something in my crockpot pot that requires water...like pulled pork..or soup....I always put water in my tea kettle and bring it to a boil...and add boiling water to the crockpot ...saves cooking time and electricity
I am retired so no longer dumb stuff in and leave for the day....so the quicker the better....
 

hd5574

Veteran Member
I've been wanting one of those appliances that is a combination of a toaster over, a grill, and an air fryer. I told Cary that if I had one of those, plus my crock pot, I wouldn't even need my stove and oven for much of anything.

We eat very light in the summer. Mostly, it's cooked on the grill, in my crock pot, or it's just sandwiches and salads. I try not to heat up the house with a lot of cooking indoors.
Mine is not one of those with the air fryer...it has a rotisserie to do chicken...it acts like a toaster oven...it bakes and broils...like an a regular oven about the only thing I really fry is chicken in my old cast iron chicken fryer... breakfast food in a skillet usually as a dinner..
Mine was only about $200...
We use it all the time....we do have microwave up it hangs over the stove under a cabinet so uses no counter space....DH uses it more than I do he heats leftovers in it all the time...
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Mine is not one of those with the air fryer...it has a rotisserie to do chicken...it acts like a toaster oven...it bakes and broils...like an a regular oven about the only thing I really fry is chicken in my old cast iron chicken fryer... breakfast food in a skillet usually as a dinner..
Mine was only about $200...
We use it all the time....we do have microwave up it hangs over the stove under a cabinet so uses no counter space....DH uses it more than I do he heats leftovers in it all the time...

Now that you mentioned it, the one I want also has a rotisserie. The last one we looked at like I want was almost $400. We have no funds for it right now.
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
what are cowboy beans?
I think some people call them Calico Beans? This (below) recipe is the general combo I use. They are easy, "enhanced" baked beans. Stick to your ribs with all the meat - they disappear fast. Burger, bacon, a can of Bush's baked beans, tomato sauce, onion, brown sugar, a few drips of vinegar (for that sweet and sour thing), ketchup, molasses, mustard, kidney beans (light and dark). Sometimes I throw in a can of butter beans, too.

 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I think some people call them Calico Beans? This (below) recipe is the general combo I use. They are easy, "enhanced" baked beans. Stick to your ribs with all the meat - they disappear fast. Burger, bacon, a can of Bush's baked beans, tomato sauce, onion, brown sugar, a few drips of vinegar (for that sweet and sour thing), ketchup, molasses, mustard, kidney beans (light and dark). Sometimes I throw in a can of butter beans, too.


yum, I used to make something like this when I was single, didn't know what they were called.
 

feralferret

Veteran Member
We have an air fryer/convection oven/toaster/dehydrator. It is much better than the toaster oven it replaced. Not sure if it also grills. Same footprint as the toaster oven it replaced. Got it from Amazon for $125 back in December of 2022.

Gourmia GTF7600 16-in-1 Multi-function, Digital Stainless Steel Air Fryer Oven - 17 Cooking Presets

Item shows "not currently available" so it may be a discontinued model being over a year ago that I bought it. Still leaning more about it, but it works well for what I have tried.
 

Orion Commander

Veteran Member
OC said he knew about them, probably saw them at work at one of the functions. They don't have buffet warmers so if you send something that's supposed to be hot they ask that you send it in a crock pot.
The one at work who was very concerned about keeping hot foods hot was a retired Army food service person. She was also concerned about an expire date on stick cinnamon.
 
Top