MetaChat - Ask Mecha: MockCrockPot ?

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12 October 2006

Ask Mecha: MockCrockPot ? When we left the U.S., we left our beloved crockpot behind, because, of course, it wouldn't work on 220v outlets. As it turns out, we should have kept it and used a converter, since we haven't found crockpots for sale here. →[More:]

So, I was just wondering... Do you think that the "low heat" burner on my stovetop could fill in as a sort of crockpot thingy? I have one burner with settings from 1-9, and on "one" I can keep a china teapot warm, for example. So, I'm curious if, with the right kind of pot, I might be able to use the "two" or "three" setting to work as a slow-cooker substitute? And if so, what kind of pot should I try?

post by: taz at: 09:09 | 10 comments

I think we know what to get taz for the Holidays as thanks for her MetaChattitude.

posted by sciurus 12 October | 09:21

Heh... Sweet thought, sci - but shipping would almost certainly cost a good bit more than the item, so it's really not worth it. It's also annoying that Amazon UK won't ship things like that to me - no electronic/electric items at all; I have no idea why.

posted by taz 12 October | 09:32

Shipping might be a bit (but parcel post isn't so much, if you're willing to wait a bit), and you'd have to be sure to get a UK standard power cord, but 220/240 VAC crock pots are readily available in the Far East. Far safer if they cook dry, by accident.

posted by paulsc 12 October | 09:33

Sounds like you need a Dutch Oven, which can be used to slow cook crock pot favorites like pot roast.

posted by Otis 12 October | 09:39

Yes! That's what I need... something heavy and enameled - and even if it turns out that it won't work like a crockpot, I'll still use it a lot anyway. But I don't see why it wouldn't work pretty much the same way, unless crockpots aren't just heated from the bottom? I've been looking for an excuse to splurge a bit on a nice pot, so I might check out a Calaphon (or similar) Dutch oven.

posted by taz 12 October | 09:51

(By the way... just Froogling Dutch Ovens at the moment: can you imagine a $450 Dutch oven?

posted by taz 12 October | 09:54

can you imagine a $450 Dutch oven?

I can. My mother got me that exact one (as a factory second without the lid) last christmas.

posted by StickyCarpet 12 October | 10:25

Well, crockpots have low/medium/and high heat settings, generally... so I dunno if just cooking in a regular pot on low heat's quite the same... it's a different effect somehow (the ceramic, maybe? how the heat's distributed?). Dutch oven sounds like it might be closer.

Mmmm... meat and beans. A family favorite at my mom's house... hunks of beef slow cooked with lima beans and ketchup, and whatever seasoning's on hand... yumm-y.

posted by Pips 12 October | 10:36

I think you should be ok using a pot on the stove on a low heat in the style of a crockpot if you use a heat diffuser on the burner to spread the heat evenly under the pot.

My crockpot is heated from the bottom. Basically it's just a metal shell with handles, the heating element is in the bottom and the stoneware pot sits inside. The 'crocky' nature of it comes from the slow heat, so provided the heat is very low and is spread evenly, you should be able to get the crockpot effect on a burner, using a diffuser.

posted by essexjan 12 October | 11:31

Good idea, Jan, but apparently I can't use one of those on a glass-top stove. Maybe it's already diffused enough?

I just went out to find a nice heavy Dutch oven, but the place I was counting on has evidently reduced their stock, and all they had was a smallish one with a glass top, and I don't want a glass top. Then I went to a department store that I was sure must have what I want - and they've stopped carrying kithenware. God, it's hard to spend money in this town sometimes.

posted by taz 12 October | 11:48

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