Hi folks,

Anybody have experience with the Rival VersaWare Crock Pot, which they
tout as being able to go from stovetop to oven to microwave to freezer?
It sounds great, but I'm a bit concerned about this Amazon review:

http://tinyurl.com/3zano

....which says you can't go too high during stovetop usage. Has anybody
tried browning food with one of these things?

Thanks!

Jim

Jim, Only the removable part, the crockery, can go in the oven...not
the whole crock pot. The more expensive crock pots have do the
removable crockery . The cheaper ones are all one piece,
integrated..unremoveable.

But you'll be warned about the sudden change of temperature when
handling crockery. Even a hot crockery can crack if put into a fridge,
of if hot meat is put into a cold crockery So I don't think it's as
practical as it may sound.

The CHARTER ISSUE of , "Cooks Country" magazine, reviews crock pots.

Crock Pot is the trade mark of RIVAL...with allothers it's 'Slow
Cooker'

RECOMMENDED:
Farberware Millenium

FSC600West Bend Versatility #84716

Proctor Silex #33627

Rival Recipe Smart Pot #4865

RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS

Rival Smart Pot 38601

NOT RECOMMENDED - certain models of Toastmaster,Hamilton Beach, and
West Bend

I bought the 6 quart oval shaped, (plenty for a 6+ pound roast or a
big chicken ), Farberware Millenium from Amazon for 33.73, free
shipping!

Mike

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi folks,
>
> Anybody have experience with the Rival VersaWare Crock Pot, which they
> tout as being able to go from stovetop to oven to microwave to freezer?
> It sounds great, but I'm a bit concerned about this Amazon review:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/3zano
>
> ...which says you can't go too high during stovetop usage. Has anybody
> tried browning food with one of these things?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jim
Jim,
I don't know anything about the model you're describing.. but I wanted to
let you know my experience.
The rival I had been using was recently recalled. (www.rivalrecall.com)
So.. you ought to check that website and make sure your model isn't listed
on that site. You wouldn't think they still sell those, but I've seen my old
model in stores since the recall. Scary..
lucy

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi folks,
>
> Anybody have experience with the Rival VersaWare Crock Pot, which they
> tout as being able to go from stovetop to oven to microwave to freezer?
> It sounds great, but I'm a bit concerned about this Amazon review:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/3zano
>
> ...which says you can't go too high during stovetop usage. Has anybody
> tried browning food with one of these things?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jim
Jim,
I don't know anything about the model you're describing.. but I wanted to
let you know my experience.
The rival I had been using was recently recalled. (www.rivalrecall.com)
So.. you ought to check that website and make sure your model isn't listed
on that site. You wouldn't think they still sell those, but I've seen my old
model in stores since the recall. Scary..
lucy

wrote:
> Jim, Only the removable part, the crockery, can go in the oven...not
> the whole crock pot. The more expensive crock pots have do the
> removable crockery . The cheaper ones are all one piece,
> integrated..unremoveable.
>
> But you'll be warned about the sudden change of temperature when
> handling crockery. Even a hot crockery can crack if put into a
fridge,
> of if hot meat is put into a cold crockery So I don't think it's as
> practical as it may sound.

Cool, thanks for the info! I was under the impression that this crock
pot was special though, it it's ability for the crockery to go right on
the stovetop, enabling you to brown your meat in the same vessel you'll
be slow-cooking it in. That's what the PR flacks say, but that first
Amazon review says this feature doesn't extend to searing. I'm still
curious if you can get it hot enough to brown well anyway.
Thanks again,

Jim

I doubt it...these things are SO sensitive to extreme heat or extreme
cold..susceptible to cracking. Also, would crack if sudden changes in
temps. Braizing or browning would require hi heat....get a big one
where you can probably brown in the crockery on HIGH. But then again, I
don't believe you can put it on HIGH unless there's something in the
pot.

I'm bachin' and I find the slow cooker fabulous....I can cook a 6 lb
roast and when finished eatin, I pack the rest up in portion sized
packages for future days!

Bye!
Mike
Picture Rocks, AZ

wrote:
> I doubt it...these things are SO sensitive to extreme heat or extreme
> cold..susceptible to cracking. Also, would crack if sudden changes in
> temps. Braizing or browning would require hi heat....get a big one
> where you can probably brown in the crockery on HIGH. But then again, I
> don't believe you can put it on HIGH unless there's something in the
> pot.
>
> I'm bachin' and I find the slow cooker fabulous....I can cook a 6 lb
> roast and when finished eatin, I pack the rest up in portion sized
> packages for future days!
>
> Bye!
> Mike
> Picture Rocks, AZ
>

Used to do much the same and would also wok enough for several meals.


jim

Putting any electrical applicance in the oven is asking for BIG trouble -
and why would anyone be silly enought to do that?

David

wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> Anybody have experience with the Rival VersaWare Crock Pot, which they
> tout as being able to go from stovetop to oven to microwave to freezer?
> It sounds great, but I'm a bit concerned about this Amazon review:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/3zano
>
> ...which says you can't go too high during stovetop usage. Has anybody
> tried browning food with one of these things?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jim

quietguy > wrote in
:

> Putting any electrical applicance in the oven is asking for BIG trouble -
> and why would anyone be silly enought to do that?
>
> David

Anyone who's silly enough not to remove the crock and put just the crock in
the oven. Think about it.

> wrote:
>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> Anybody have experience with the Rival VersaWare Crock Pot, which they
>> tout as being able to go from stovetop to oven to microwave to freezer?
>> It sounds great, but I'm a bit concerned about this Amazon review:
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/3zano
>>
>> ...which says you can't go too high during stovetop usage. Has anybody
>> tried browning food with one of these things?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Jim
>
>



--
Wayne in Phoenix

*If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it.
*A mind is a terrible thing to lose.

quietguy > wrote in
:

> Putting any electrical applicance in the oven is asking for BIG trouble -
> and why would anyone be silly enought to do that?
>
> David

Anyone who's silly enough not to remove the crock and put just the crock in
the oven. Think about it.

> wrote:
>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> Anybody have experience with the Rival VersaWare Crock Pot, which they
>> tout as being able to go from stovetop to oven to microwave to freezer?
>> It sounds great, but I'm a bit concerned about this Amazon review:
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/3zano
>>
>> ...which says you can't go too high during stovetop usage. Has anybody
>> tried browning food with one of these things?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Jim
>
>



--
Wayne in Phoenix

*If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it.
*A mind is a terrible thing to lose.

I think you're right. I finally tracked down the actual manual for one
of those VersaWare crocks, and it was full of all kinds of warnings
like, make sure you use the heat diffuser, start it on low heat and
then increase gradually, don't let it get too hot, etc. Bah. The
whole point was to be able to do the meal in one pot, including
browning the meat, and it doesn't look like this quite lives up to the
marketing. I guess I'll stick with my current "just for slow cooking"
slow cooker and a separate pot for browning/searing. Thanks everybody!

I think you're right. I finally tracked down the actual manual for one
of those VersaWare crocks, and it was full of all kinds of warnings
like, make sure you use the heat diffuser, start it on low heat and
then increase gradually, don't let it get too hot, etc. Bah. The
whole point was to be able to do the meal in one pot, including
browning the meat, and it doesn't look like this quite lives up to the
marketing. I guess I'll stick with my current "just for slow cooking"
slow cooker and a separate pot for browning/searing. Thanks everybody!

in article ,
at wrote on 12/11/04 2:02 PM:

> I think you're right. I finally tracked down the actual manual for one
> of those VersaWare crocks, and it was full of all kinds of warnings
> like, make sure you use the heat diffuser, start it on low heat and
> then increase gradually, don't let it get too hot, etc. Bah. The
> whole point was to be able to do the meal in one pot, including
> browning the meat, and it doesn't look like this quite lives up to the
> marketing. I guess I'll stick with my current "just for slow cooking"
> slow cooker and a separate pot for browning/searing. Thanks everybody!
>

I think you're better off.
I love my slow cookers. I have two. But frankly, since I got my 3.5 quart
oval one, I rarely use the tall 5.5 quart. In fact, it was involved in the
Proctor Silex recall last summer, and I have yet to use the new one they
sent me. Funny--when I moved, the plastic base on the housing cracked,
rendering the pot useless. But the crockery remained intact. So I tossed
out the outside part (the part that houses the heating elements), but
something told me to keep the crockery liner. Well....a few weeks after I
moved, I heard about the recall. My model was one of the defective ones. I
called Proctor-Silex/Hamilton Beach, told them my story, that I had tossed
it when it broke before the recall was announced, and they were quite happy
to send me a new outside. But I had gotten a small one in between the time
the old one broke and the time I heard about the recall.

Anyway, brown in a skillet, deglaze and dump it all in the slow cooker.
Slow cookers do one thing really well---they simmer. Use the right tool for
the job and you will never be disappointed.

in article ,
at wrote on 12/11/04 2:02 PM:

> I think you're right. I finally tracked down the actual manual for one
> of those VersaWare crocks, and it was full of all kinds of warnings
> like, make sure you use the heat diffuser, start it on low heat and
> then increase gradually, don't let it get too hot, etc. Bah. The
> whole point was to be able to do the meal in one pot, including
> browning the meat, and it doesn't look like this quite lives up to the
> marketing. I guess I'll stick with my current "just for slow cooking"
> slow cooker and a separate pot for browning/searing. Thanks everybody!
>

I think you're better off.
I love my slow cookers. I have two. But frankly, since I got my 3.5 quart
oval one, I rarely use the tall 5.5 quart. In fact, it was involved in the
Proctor Silex recall last summer, and I have yet to use the new one they
sent me. Funny--when I moved, the plastic base on the housing cracked,
rendering the pot useless. But the crockery remained intact. So I tossed
out the outside part (the part that houses the heating elements), but
something told me to keep the crockery liner. Well....a few weeks after I
moved, I heard about the recall. My model was one of the defective ones. I
called Proctor-Silex/Hamilton Beach, told them my story, that I had tossed
it when it broke before the recall was announced, and they were quite happy
to send me a new outside. But I had gotten a small one in between the time
the old one broke and the time I heard about the recall.

Anyway, brown in a skillet, deglaze and dump it all in the slow cooker.
Slow cookers do one thing really well---they simmer. Use the right tool for
the job and you will never be disappointed.

Actually, I just bought one to replace my old crockpot. Mind you, I don't
have to use the diffuser because i have a gas stove, but it worked great for
me.
I did start on the stove.

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>I think you're right. I finally tracked down the actual manual for one
> of those VersaWare crocks, and it was full of all kinds of warnings
> like, make sure you use the heat diffuser, start it on low heat and
> then increase gradually, don't let it get too hot, etc. Bah. The
> whole point was to be able to do the meal in one pot, including
> browning the meat, and it doesn't look like this quite lives up to the
> marketing. I guess I'll stick with my current "just for slow cooking"
> slow cooker and a separate pot for browning/searing. Thanks everybody!
>