Weird Crock Pot Happenings

The newer crock pots have a MUCH faster cook time. I have an old one from my mom that just has a warming plate and a pot (not the insert kind) and that thing takes FOREVER, but some foods are better in it than the insert one. I also have an older insert that takes the "standard" suggested times and I have a new one (past 5yrs) and that thing is on hypercook even on low. So it may just be that crock pots are not the slow cook 8hr method any longer.

Are there 2 or more heat settings? If so, use the lower one.

Also, it may be that you need to use more liquid. I say this because you say the meat is dry. Crock pot cooking requires plenty of liquid.

One of the advantages of a crock pot is that it does long time cooking which tenderizes tough cuts of meat. Perhaps you're using tender cuts which do not do well with long time cooking.

When you look at the food during cooking, the liquid should just barely be moving. If it's boiling the temperature is too hot and it's time to get a new pot. It could be that the thermostat is not working.

It's normal for the food that splashes up on the sides to brown and charred. Again, it sounds like the recipe didn't provide for enough liquid. Another idea is that the pot is too big for the recipe. That would cause there to not be enough liquid and for there to be dry sides on which food would char. What size of pot did the recipe call for and what size is your pot?

If your pot is oval you may have difficulty with smaller recipes because it provides too much surface on which the food spreads out. When the food is not concentrated in a small space it will cook faster. The oval pots are made for larger amounts.

I don't have any input on the crock pot, but I want your stroganoff recipe. Can you post it please?

Is it new? My new crock pot cooks WAY faster than my old one. I will throw chicken in at 4 and it's ready at 6.

Depending on the brand - one company (Crock Pot, I believe) started using new heating elements that are WAY WAY WAY too hot for slow cooking. I burned four or five recipes in my "new" crock pot until I looked it up online. Apparently customer service is useless, so I just threw it out.

Also, the ones with the digital count down often have their highs and lows switched.

Try putting water in and testing on low and high to see how hot the water gets.

I have THREE crockpots (technically slow cookers, right?). Two are by cuisinart and are programmable and I LOVE them. If the house were on fire, I'd rescue my family first and those cookers second.
The cookbook author Kathy Hester has something like 20 crockpots (crazy...I know!). She writes a website/blog and does reviews on her new crockpot acquisitions. She also is a great resource for figuring out 'what went wrong' with a crock pot recipe. Google her and check out her recommendations and hints.
Good luck and have fun with all of the free time your new crockpot will afford you!

I had a crock pot that had its temp control die on me. I monitored it but it became clear it could not keep the temp low. I got a new one (a Hamilton Beach) but I am careful to use it on low since it also tends to cook pretty fast on high, The high temp is 325! (meat thermometer)

Do be cautious though if yours is broken they can overheat.

I have this one and love it.

http://www.bing.com/shopping/crock-pot-scv401-tr-red-4-qt...

How old is your crock pot? I replaced an old one that I loved (but it was missing its lid) with a new one and I hate the new one. It cooks everything too quickly.

I have a Hamilton Beach with the locking lid because I carry it to church quite often. I have seen programmable ones that I would check out before I bought another one. I like to have it on high for an hour or so before switching it to low.