using crockpot

[tutters]

I've been using my crockpot to warm up soup lately.I put it on the warm setting and the temp. stays between 100F-110F.I haven't heard of anyone using this idea and I wondered if there was a reason why? It makes it so much nicer than having to keep checking it when its on the stove.I just want to make sure I'm not "cooking" my soup too much and to pass on the idea.Thanks:)

[Veganforlife]

I don't own any cooking appliances that's why I personally don't talk about it.

[Revvell]

Can you put your finger in it at it's hottest? If so, should be o.k.

[DebB]

That sounds like a great idea! So many of my appliances are lying in wait - I like it when I can pull one out and use it again. *Ü*

[ViolinCyndee]

Mine only says 'lo' or 'high' so I wouldn't be able to use it like that.. no temp settings.

[katchmoleen]

I had actually planned to do some experimenting with this soon, to see if the "warm" setting would be a good way to warm up some raw soup. Glad to hear it is working for you! How many cups of liquid did you put in and how long did it take to get warm?

[margoss]

great idea!!!

[Revvell]

Just put water in it; let it heat on "lo" and then stick a thermometer in instead of testing with your finger in case it gets too "high".


Mine only says 'lo' or 'high' so I wouldn't be able to use it like that.. no temp settings.

[tutters]

Every crockpot would be different so I would experiment w/ yours.I have made a large batch (2 vitamix containers) of soup and turned it to warm.It took about half an hour to get to 100F.I used a themometer to be sure it didn't get too hot.The hottest mind ever got was 110F.I have also soften some veggies in water in the crockpot.Its so nice to not have to worry about the temp.I could never seem to get it right on the stove-it would either be too low or too high.Now I don't have to worry and I can make yummy warm soup for winter.:)

[anniez]

What a GREAT idea! Never thought of it. Here's what I will do: I will put a crock full of water on low. I will use my "instant read" meat thermometer after an hour, after two hours, and after three hours and see what I get. I have a pretty old one, so I bet it will work! Thanks for the suggestion!

Annie

[raweater]

Are you sure you are not mixing celsius and farenheit? A crock pot is made specifically to cook.

A crock pot is 100 (low) or 150 (high) Celsius, not Fahrenheit, so it's 200-300 Fahrenheit which is 100-200 degrees past what's still raw.

[katchmoleen]

We are totally ignorant of celsius in the states, you know that! Some crockpots have a "warm" setting, in addition to high and low, and that is what she was referring to. I tried it yesterday with some corn soup I made and it worked GREAT! So nice to have some warm soup. Besides, if it was heated up to 100 degrees celsius it would be BOILING and I think she would have realized that! :p

[Random]

You can also time it. I have a huge crockpot with a warm setting, but there's no way my individual serving of soup would even cover the bottom! I also have a tiny crockpot with no settings at all (just one or off) that's for heating up dessert sauces or cheese dips. I put water in it and tested the water periodically. If the water heats for under an hour, it's a beautifully warm 100 degrees F, so I'm planning on using that this winter!

[Beth]

Hi, I hope it is OK to post this question on this thread. If not I apologize. I was going to ask a similar type question about the Nu Wave Pro oven I have. Of course I won't cook with it but I thought I remembered the booklet saying you could use it to dehydrate by putting in on a low setting and setting the timer for 10 hours for example. I just checked the booklet and it says you can dehydrate foods in it. I'm not sure how to figure out the temperature though. Does anyone know if this is OK to use? If not I will try to maybe sell it or donate it. Thanks.

[anniez]

I did my crockpot experiment that I mentioned earlier. After one hour on Low the water was simmering, so obviously my crockpot can't do this. But, it is probably a first generation Rivel (no separate crock, even) and the newer ones with a Warm setting might work. So, I'll keep warming things in my dehyd!

Annie

[RawBella]

What a great idea of using a crockpot. Mine comes with a temp probe that could also probably be used to regulate the temp.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Hi, I hope it is OK to post this question on this thread. If not I apologize. I was going to ask a similar type question about the Nu Wave Pro oven I have. Of course I won't cook with it but I thought I remembered the booklet saying you could use it to dehydrate by putting in on a low setting and setting the timer for 10 hours for example. I just checked the booklet and it says you can dehydrate foods in it. I'm not sure how to figure out the temperature though. Does anyone know if this is OK to use? If not I will try to maybe sell it or donate it. Thanks.

You would need to find out what temp it is dehydrating at. Anything over 110 degrees wouldn't be good.

[RawTruth]

Hi, I hope it is OK to post this question on this thread. If not I apologize. I was going to ask a similar type question about the Nu Wave Pro oven I have. Of course I won't cook with it but I thought I remembered the booklet saying you could use it to dehydrate by putting in on a low setting and setting the timer for 10 hours for example. I just checked the booklet and it says you can dehydrate foods in it. I'm not sure how to figure out the temperature though. Does anyone know if this is OK to use? If not I will try to maybe sell it or donate it. Thanks.

Beth, keep in mind that dehydrate to the rest of the world means something different than to us raw fooders. Beef jerky and fruit are what most people use their dehydrators for and they dry the food at high temperatures. We, of course, don't want the temp to go over 118 maximum. I know that newer, high-end ovens can dehydrate at low temps and have controls for it, so if you've just installed a new oven, you may be in luck. Otherwise, I'd stay away from it or get an oven thermometer to check. Have fun!

[Beth]

Thank you so much for these explanations, Aleesha and Raw Truth. I am looking at the booklet that came with it and the lowest temperature setting is 195 degrees F. So that answers my question. I will save up for the Excalibur.:)

[RawTruth]

Beth, I got my first Excalibur from eBay. It'd been used once and the people decided it was too much trouble -- I think they were beef jerky fans -- and I got it for something like $120, I think. My second one was from a local raw food listserve and the woman no longer dehydrated and was moving and wanted less clutter. That one was $90 and had one tray missing. I've also had students find them on craigslist. There are bargains out there! My advice (not that you've asked for it!) is to be sure to hold out for an Excalibur; don't give into the temptation to spend less and get one of those round ones. Oh, and be sure to get the nine tray. You'll use them all.

[Beth]

...be sure to hold out for an Excalibur; don't give into the temptation to spend less and get one of those round ones. Oh, and be sure to get the nine tray. You'll use them all.

I will. Thanks for these tips! I will check them out. I was wondering about the 9 tray so that is good to know. I was leaning that way.

[Mindy Sue]

I have a small potpourri pot that I use. I have never checked the temperature but I check on my soup often to make sure it doesn't get too warm.