Slow Cooker and Instant Pot questions

[Blonde Granny]

I bought a new cookbook with soup recipes while on girls trip.  Most of them call for use of a 3 qt. crockpot.  First: I have a small crockpot that I've used for years,: is there a way to find out the size of it?  I would hate to buy a new one only to find out I already had the needed size.

2nd:  Is it worth spending money on an instant pot that would be in the 3 - 5 qt. range?  I know nothing about them other than they are similar to a pressure cooker that doubles as a crock pot.

[Gardening Grandma]

A quart is 4 cups. If your cooker will hold 12 cups, then that’s 3 quarts.

‘Love my instant pot! It’s a very sophisticated pressure cooker, easy to use. Set it and forget it. After cooking, it will keep the food warm til you shut it off.
It is also a slow cooker; I got rid of my crock pot. It will cook rice, but I haven’t tried that yet.

[andi9899]

I ordered one yesterday and I can't wait for it to get here. I've heard really good things about them.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 5, 2019 9:00:03 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I bought a new cookbook with soup recipes while on girls trip.  Most of them call for use of a 3 qt. crockpot.  First: I have a small crockpot that I've used for years,: is there a way to find out the size of it?  I would hate to buy a new one only to find out I already had the needed size.

2nd:  Is it worth spending money on an instant pot that would be in the 3 - 5 qt. range?  I know nothing about them other than they are similar to a pressure cooker that doubles as a crock pot.

Maybe Google the brand and model number to find out the size?

Or does the crockpot have a removable ceramic dish which you could check the bottom of to see if the size of it is mentioned underneath the dish?

[Wisconsin Beth]

Yeah, I'd just measure water and pour it in.  Or look all over the crockpot for sizing.  It's usually on there somewhere, in a tiny font. 

My DH expressed some very mild interest in an Instant Pot a while back.  I told him he'd be taking over more cooking chores if we got one.  I have no interest in shifting from my crockpot.  But that's me.  My boss loves his IP. 

[Blonde Granny]

There was nothing on the crock pot at said the size, but looking on line its either a 2.5 qt. or 3. Since a few of these new soup recipes call for 4 to 5 qt, it looks like my best choice is an instant pot.

Off to Walmart or Target.

[andi9899]

Dec 5, 2019 10:02:57 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

There was nothing on the crock pot at said the size, but looking on line its either a 2.5 qt. or 3. Since a few of these new soup recipes call for 4 to 5 qt, it looks like my best choice is an instant pot.

Off to Walmart or Target.

I got one for cyber week yesterday and it was pretty cheap. Check the ads first.

[Blonde Granny]

OK, I found the serial #s on both crock pots I have: Rival is a 2 qt. and most of these soup recipes are 3.5 qt. My bigger one is Hamilton Beach 5 qt, and a few other recipes call for 4 and 5 qt.

So, all you cooking gurus what's my choices for all this? This cookbook has only soup recipes, I'm a widow and live alone.

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2019 10:55:53 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

OK, I found the serial #s on both crock pots I have: Rival is a 2 qt. and most of these soup recipes are 3.5 qt. My bigger one is Hamilton Beach 5 qt, and a few other recipes call for 4 and 5 qt.

So, all you cooking gurus what's my choices for all this? This cookbook has only soup recipes, I'm a widow and live alone.

Well, you can use the 5 qt. one for the recipes calling for 3.5 qt., but you knew that.  Most people only have one, anyway, because of storage.  I have 3 because I have too much of everything.

If you are asking what should you do about the recipes, you could consider halving them.  If they freeze well, freeze the leftovers.  When I do that,  I always remove the part to be frozen before I put in any pasta, etc. so that it doesn't become mushy.  I only add those ingredients for the last 30 minutes or so.  When I reheat the leftovers, I add fresh pasta., etc.

[andi9899]

You can cook all kinds of stuff in a crock pot. I do roasts sometimes. Chicken recipes that would be baked can be put in the crockpot instead too. Just either lift the chicken up with a rack or else it will be swimming in juice when you get home.

[Blonde Granny]

SS, I have plenty of storage......it's a walk in pantry. Just thinking I could buy a 3.5 qt crock pot and a use my 5 qt and skip the instant pot....I'm never in a hurry.

I always do freeze my soups and this new cook book is nothing by slow cooker soup recipes. Even includes how many serving.

SS...I forgot to add this.......I'm cheap!

[CCL]

Why buy another Crock Pot? Get an Instant Pot then you can do a wider variety of things with it.

[thyme4change]

Dec 5, 2019 10:02:57 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

There was nothing on the crock pot at said the size, but looking on line its either a 2.5 qt. or 3. Since a few of these new soup recipes call for 4 to 5 qt, it looks like my best choice is an instant pot.

Off to Walmart or Target.

You could cut the recipe in half. 4 quarts of soup seems like a lot.

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2019 11:34:06 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

SS, I have plenty of storage......it's a walk in pantry. Just thinking I could buy a 3.5 qt crock pot and a use my 5 qt and skip the instant pot....I'm never in a hurry.

I always do freeze my soups and this new cook book is nothing by slow cooker soup recipes. Even includes how many serving.

SS...I forgot to add this.......I'm cheap!

I don't get why you would want 3 crock pots when you already have a 2.5 and 5 qt.

I have 3, but it is not my fault.  I had a 3 qt, which wasn't big enough if I wanted to make stuff for the whole family (which isn't often).  So I bought a programmable one (forget the size but plenty big) on BF at Costco and it came with a very small one for gravy or cheese dip or something like that.  

If you are really cheap, then use what you have! 

[Blonde Granny]

Walmart didn't have much to choose from, so I came home. My 2qt. is perfect for stew made with 1/2# meat. Have made soup with 5 qt, usually enough for 6-8 1 C bowls in the freezer.

SS...you had to go and make a lot of sense, didn't you?

on edit: most of the soup recipes call for using 3.5qt.  A few are 4qt and a few are 5qt.  Decided I'm keeping my 2 qt. as it's really a good size for me, and keeping the 5 qt as that will make do for the 3.5 to 5qt.

Thanks SS.

[NoNamePerson]

If you get a new one make it a programmable one. Otherwise why waste money when you have two different sizes already. But I also keep toying with the idea of insta pot but I let the moment pass since I don't do a ton of cooking and what I have pretty much serves me. But I do use the slow cooker liners for easy clean up (ceramic liner is really heavy and a pain to clean sometimes)  And mine has a Lock and Carry feature but that wasn't a selling feature to me since I'm rarely asked to bring stuff.

And I know where the best takeout is anyway

[thyme4change]

Dec 6, 2019 7:23:46 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

If you get a new one make it a programmable one. Otherwise why waste money when you have two different sizes already. But I also keep toying with the idea of insta pot but I let the moment pass since I don't do a ton of cooking and what I have pretty much serves me. But I do use the slow cooker liners for easy clean up (ceramic liner is really heavy and a pain to clean sometimes)  And mine has a Lock and Carry feature but that wasn't a selling feature to me since I'm rarely asked to bring stuff.

And I know where the best takeout is anyway

Those slow cook liners are gold!

I feel the same way about the instant pot. I'm pretty sure I would use it for like 3 recipes, and then have a big thing in my kitchen for 20 more years.

[Gardening Grandma]

One big difference I've noticed is that with a slow cooker, I need to wait to add seasonings.  Otherwise, they just get cooked out leaving the results bland.  With the instant pot, the seasonings are cooked in right then and the results are much better.

A few things lend themselves to the slow cooker - most often when I know I'll be gone all day and too tired to cook.  But most of the time I use my IP.  It's also great for thawing frozen chicken - it comes out moist.

[buystoys]

I got the Rival version of Instant Pot early this year.  I've used it more than a dozen times already.  The corned beef recipe I got with it is excellent!  I'll never do corned beef any other way if at all possible.

Now I have a 6 quart and 8 quart crock pot to get rid of.

[countrygirl2]

I LOVE my instant pot, best thing I bought. I had one last year and went out to empty something out and thumped it on the ground, the liner and bent it, we couldn't get it back in shape.  I didn't even think to look for a replacement. Just bought a new one, by the way the ground was frozen.  I use the thing all the time.

[thyme4change]

So, question about the Instant Pot. I have googled some recipes and I would say 30% of them were chili, 50% were soup and stews and other mushy meals. 10% shredded meats. And then 10% looked like food that you could actually chew.

How do you use yours? If I'm just going to buy another giant appliance that makes mush, it probably isn't worth the money to me.

[Gardening Grandma]

Dec 8, 2019 10:55:48 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

So, question about the Instant Pot. I have googled some recipes and I would say 30% of them were chili, 50% were soup and stews and other mushy meals. 10% shredded meats. And then 10% looked like food that you could actually chew.

How do you use yours? If I'm just going to buy another giant appliance that makes mush, it probably isn't worth the money to me.

I thaw and cook frozen chicken in it in 8 minutes. The chicken comes out tender and jucy, ready to shred or cut for  whatever I’m making. 

One of my favorite recipes is Beef Barbacoa (https://www.tasteandtellblog.com/instant-pot-barbacoa-beef/)

Another is Cilantro Lime Chicken swirlsofflavor.com/instant-pot-cilantro-lime-chicken/

Santa Fe Chicken. Either slow cooker or IP. But if you havent planned ahead then the IP is the way togo
www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-santa-fe-chicken-425-pts/ IP directions are included

All if the above freeze nicely. They make about 6 servings so 3 meals fir the two of us. All are good over rice or in taco, burritos, or over lettuce in a tortilla shell (I air fry those for a crispy shell)

[countrygirl2]

I boil eggs, add eggs and couple inches of water, 3 minutes, release steam, put in cold water, peels beautifully everytime.

I do fix some soups and thaw a lot. It will steam veggies and cook rice.  Need to adjust the time a couple of times to get it right or your veggies will over cook, just a minute or two will do it.  I also cook steel cut oats in it. I will cook tough meats then transfer to a skillet or stew pot.  Yep make barbecue.  It's a pretty neat little gadget.

[Gardening Grandma]

Dec 8, 2019 15:40:50 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

I boil eggs, add eggs and couple inches of water, 3 minutes, release steam, put in cold water, peels beautifully everytime.

I do fix some soups and thaw a lot. It will steam veggies and cook rice.  Need to adjust the time a couple of times to get it right or your veggies will over cook, just a minute or two will do it.  I also cook steel cut oats in it. I will cook tough meats then transfer to a skillet or stew pot.  Yep make barbecue.  It's a pretty neat little gadget.

 And when I want a slow cooker, it is that too.  So I don't need two appliances.  Still need to try cooking rice in it.  Love my rice cooker, but if the IP does as good a job, that would be one more appliance I can chuck.

[countrygirl2]

I haven't tried it as a slow cooker yet, will one day. But I like it.

[chiver78]

Dec 8, 2019 10:55:48 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

So, question about the Instant Pot. I have googled some recipes and I would say 30% of them were chili, 50% were soup and stews and other mushy meals. 10% shredded meats. And then 10% looked like food that you could actually chew.

How do you use yours? If I'm just going to buy another giant appliance that makes mush, it probably isn't worth the money to me.

most of the time, I am cooking fresh split chicken breasts to shred for the pups. I've been known to filch a little of the meat for myself for a meal here and there as well. but then I found this recipe and love it. I make it probably every other week, and it's on tap for tonight. I'll try to make this a link when I'm not on my phone.
lifemadeketo.com/instant-pot-lemon-garlic-chicken/?fbclid=IwAR2rXwZ7OsFIuwLBJp6IJOmeu0pawQHG7WegWvOfGlhbCZyUzrF237SgBVQ

as far as using the IP for a slow cooker, just don't bother. I did once, and as I thought about why I didn't love the result, it made sense - there is only the one cooking element at the bottom of the liner pot. it just doesn't have the same thermal effect as a crock pot that heats overall and cooks that way.

[wvugurl26]

I love doing shredded chicken in the instant pot. Much quicker than a crock pot. It also makes great pulled pork.

I do lasagna and a veggie packed spaghetti regularly. DH wants to make broccoli cheese soup again.

I made a garlic parmesan chicken last week. It was not mushy.

I also do sweet potatoes with it. Much quicker than roasting in the oven and I don't heat up my house with the oven.

[oped]

Dec 5, 2019 11:19:38 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

Dec 5, 2019 10:55:53 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

OK, I found the serial #s on both crock pots I have: Rival is a 2 qt. and most of these soup recipes are 3.5 qt. My bigger one is Hamilton Beach 5 qt, and a few other recipes call for 4 and 5 qt.

So, all you cooking gurus what's my choices for all this? This cookbook has only soup recipes, I'm a widow and live alone.

Well, you can use the 5 qt. one for the recipes calling for 3.5 qt., but you knew that.  Most people only have one, anyway, because of storage.  I have 3 because I have too much of everything.

I think I have at least 5... 

[andi9899]

Glad this thread got bumped. Now I can try the recipes on it. Yay!

[andi9899]

Dec 25, 2019 8:41:46 GMT -5 oped said:

Dec 5, 2019 11:19:38 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

Well, you can use the 5 qt. one for the recipes calling for 3.5 qt., but you knew that.  Most people only have one, anyway, because of storage.  I have 3 because I have too much of everything.

I think I have at least 5... 

I only have one of each and would like to have at least one more of each.