Crockpot -- just a boil? (cooker, vegetables, stove, cheap)

[joyeaux]

Does cooking in a crockpot simply amount to a slow boil?

[mainebrokerman]

I feel much better cooking in an crock pot all day when im at work ...than having a pot simmer...or slow boil on the stove..

[tnff]

Sometimes. But since you can also do foods that really don't take much water, (like pot roast with potatoes, carrots, etc) it more of a low heat cooking than simply boiling, kind of like a self heating Dutch Oven. But yes, it seems bit safer on a low, slow, heat than having the stove or oven on all day when you're not home.

[tickyul]

Boiling-food in a crockpot happen, I try to avoid that situation.

[greatblueheron]

Originally Posted by tickyul

Boiling-food in a crockpot happen, I try to avoid that situation.

Yes, it's a SLOW COOKER
at least most of them are...that's why we like them...

slow cooking of many foods produces the desired level of tenderness, doneness (is that a word?) etc.
with no boiling or "fast" cooking.

[Hedgehog_Mom]

It used to be the best way to cook a cheap cut of meat, because the low, slow cooking melts the connective tissue and makes the meat tender.

Now that I'm used to the pressure cooker, everything in the crock pot seems to come out grossly mushy and colorless.

[greatblueheron]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

It used to be the best way to cook a cheap cut of meat, because the low, slow cooking melts the connective tissue and makes the meat tender.

Now that I'm used to the pressure cooker, everything in the crock pot seems to come out grossly mushy and colorless.

I hate that vegetables lose their color....and make sure that they are added near the end. So you like pc better??

[Hedgehog_Mom]

Originally Posted by greatblueheron

I hate that vegetables lose their color....and make sure that they are added near the end. So you like pc better??

I do like it better. It does in an hour or less what would take the crock pot 12 hours, which means I don't have to smell food cooking for as long, and it's better at preserving texture and flavor. It is possible to destroy veggies in it, but once you get past the learning curve, it's pretty good.

[tickyul]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

I do like it better. It does in an hour or less what would take the crock pot 12 hours, which means I don't have to smell food cooking for as long, and it's better at preserving texture and flavor. It is possible to destroy veggies in it, but once you get past the learning curve, it's pretty good.

I love the smell of food cooking in a crockpot!

[reneeh63]

Originally Posted by greatblueheron

Yes, it's a SLOW COOKER
at least most of them are...that's why we like them...

slow cooking of many foods produces the desired level of tenderness, doneness (is that a word?) etc.
with no boiling or "fast" cooking.

I agree that it is not really a boil - that's why there's a concern about cooking dry kidney beans in them because they need to be boiled for at least 10 minutes to get rid of a certain toxin. Of course using a pressure cooker is fine. Not that you care about kidney beans per se, but that's how I'm aware that slow cookers don't keep foods hot enough to consistently boil.