Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Oh no! That's just sadness (and good thing that you didn't risk it...spewing from both ends is just not how anyone wants to spend Valentine's day).

Lisa,

Never occurred to me that there is one (and only one) benefit to a digital crock-pot: you know it's plugged in.

That is an excellent point. Even an indicator light would have been helpful.

I only have one small prep counter so there usually isn't anything on it. I had a friend in town so we bought a bunch of tropical fruit that she can't get anywhere else and we have been having smoothies to use it up. So I got out the crockpot, pulled the pre-filled crock out of the fridge, turned it on and plugged in the blender, not the crockpot (they were sitting right next to each other). <sigh>

--Lisa

Lisa, sorry to hear that. I've had a similar situation, so now I double check the crockpot before walking away. If it's working, you can feel it begin to warm in just a few seconds. I always check not only because I forget to plug it in, but because sometimes (rarely) they just plain quit working.

Lisa, I am so sorry about your dinner. I thought of you as I plugged in the Vitamix instead of the Nespresso. I have now rearranged so they both can stay plugged in. Of course it also helps if you use the on and off button I've learned. My crockpot is the kind with a flat griddle (it can be used as such) and a SS pot on top. Can tell immediately if it is on.

On a similar note, I went to turn off the stove (electric) and hit high instead of off. Luckily I smelled caramelized onions before they were ruined (for Ottolenghi's Chicken with Caramelized Onions and Cardamon Rice.)

Lisa,

I'm not as risk adverse. I would have cooked it.

Amy

Amy,

After 10 hours? Really? Wow. I don't have that much nerve!

--Lisa

Yup. But, that's me. I bet if you'd taken the temp of the meat it would have been just out of the danger zone, despite the ambient air temp.

Amy

I would have risked it at 4 hours but not 10 hours, especially not with homemade beef broth in my 85 degree kitchen.

Now I am curious.

--Lisa

Yeah, if it didn't stink, I'd have cooked it. Granted, my crockpot cooks at 212, and I'd be cooking it for hours. I can't think of anything that would survive that.