Indispensable meal time helper
Written: Dec 13 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to clean, conveniently shaped, large size
Cons: heavy to lift when full, cord rather short
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| wendy3rd's Full Review: Rival 5 qt. Removable Crock-Pot Slow Cooker |
I had a smaller crockpot for a long time but with my family it was just not big enough. I had only ever used crockpots for simple things when my children were little and not thought much about it until I started working full time.
Although we do like to go out to eat on OCCASION, my family prefers home cooked meals and so do I. When I went to work full time, that cut out the simmered meals and slow-cooked roasts, etc. for the simple fact that Mom was not home to start them and we only had a small crockpot. My mother had purchased one of the Rival 5 quart crockpots and she used it when we came to visit. It was just the perfect size! My husband and I went out and bought two of the Rival 5 quart crockpots, model 3355. Most holiday meals are at our house and these just make it easier!
We have the grape and leaf designs and when we put in our new kitchen it still matched perfectly. (I have this matching thing that my husband doesn't understand.) We looked at several brands and styles but we decided to go with this one with the removable crock. I have already taken the crock out and put it in the fridge with the lid on and then put it back on to cook the next day to reheat chili or other sauce-based dishes. Since this crockpot is round and easy to stow away, it has it's very own shelf to hide it away when not in use. The oval style would not have worked out quite so nicely.
I love the fact that I can put a meal in here in the morning and slow cook it all day and not have to worry about it sticking or boiling over...as long as I do not overfill it. Since these crockpots are so roomy, it is easy to get plenty of food in here without overflowing anything. As long as you wipe the outside up as soon as you are finished with it then it comes clean easily. If you have children like mine who 'forget' to wipe it off when they decide to get another helping of something, then it is not quite so quick to clean. I would really like it to be a little lighter, but since the crock is so sturdy in it I don't think that would be possible to get the same excellent performance out of this appliance. I would also like to see the cord about a foot longer. Often we have to rearrange things to plug them in due to the shortness of the cord.
Okay, this is my favorite part of these opinions; when I get to brag on what I fix in them. :) We are big time spaghetti eaters (my daughter said she is sure we have Italian in us somewhere) and I make an excellent spaghetti sauce that slow cooks in here all day. I have also made meatballs and sauce for hoagies in here; they are great! I have made venison chili, roast beef & noodles, baked beans, rice dishes, barbecue, chicken corn soup, beef stew, and our Dale's chicken, to name a few. Most of these dishes are then portable if you are going to a family or church get-together and you can plug them in to finish cooking or to keep them warm. In our house we often start our dinner in the morning before leaving for church in either one or both crockpots (depending on how many will be here to share dinner) or we use our Nesco roaster. Then no one worries about 'what's for dinner' because they know it is slow cooking while we enjoy our worship and fellowship. Plus Mom & Dad do not get that 'rushed' feeling to prepare dinner as soon as we get home!
It is nice having all of these handy appliances in the kitchen!! Slow cooking is just the best to me. I have noticed that a crockpot uses very little electricity and this is also a very big plus!
We have had these crockpots for about three years or more now and they are one of the best investments we have made for our kitchen. I have had people ask me if they are new; they have been well used so far! They are very easy to keep clean and they give years of reliable service.
I rate this product very highly because I have used it so often; sometimes several times per week! And almost always at holidays!
Anyone who works would enjoy this product if they enjoy home cooked, simmered meals. The size you choose would depend on how many you are cooking for. This would not be a good size for a family of two, for example, unless you plan on freezing a LOT of leftovers! But with the seven of us this is a great size! Also, these are not light weight when filled, so if you have trouble lifting heavy appliances you might want to get a smaller size or two of a smaller size to fit your needs.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
wendy3rd
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Location: Alabama
Reviews written: 42
Trusted by: 4 members
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