Slow cookers that can start on their own I'm looking to buy a slow cooker that can start a little later after I leave for work...like a bread machine can do. Does anyone know of such a machine? Sometimes a recipe calls for 6 hours but basically we are gone from the house for 10.5 to 11 hours...how can I fix a recipe like that without hauling it to work with me so I can keep an eye on it and shut it off? I have one that will switch to "warm", but in eccense it is still cooking. I'd rather have it start 4 hours or so after I've left and be done when I get home...not over cooked. Slow cookers that can start on their own I'm looking to buy a slow cooker that can start a little later after I leave for work...like a bread machine can do. Does anyone know of such a... » Read More Slow cookers that can start on their own I'm looking to buy a slow cooker that can start a little later after I leave for work...like a bread machine can do. Does anyone know of such a machine? Sometimes a recipe calls for 6 hours but basically we are gone from the house for 10.5 to 11 hours...how can I fix a recipe like that without hauling it to work with me so I can keep an eye on it and shut it off? I have one that will switch to "warm", but in eccense it is still cooking. I'd rather have it start 4 hours or so after I've left and be done when I get home...not over cooked. « Show Less
1287988
Perpetual motion is only a dream... even electrical appliances need to be started in some way... flip a switch... plug it in...
1287989
You can do this but I would not leave the food in the slow cooker than a max of 2 hours. You can purchase a timer to turn the slow cooker on. I wouldn't recommend this, but it can be done.
1287990
Get an outlet timer to start and stop any amount of time after you leave for work.
1287991
Seems like the meat might go bad sitting out for several hours before starting...
1664702
My Maytag stove has a glasstop induction heating sytem and this works great to cook in. I do have to check it to make sure nothing sticks (like chili or soup with meat) but if it starts to, it comes off easily. Even on a low setting though, your ingredients will get warm quickly so as far as a slow cooker, I don't know if this will work. I used my crock pot the other day with a beef roast and veggies and it cooked for 8 hours. Using this LeCreuset on a stove, it will not take 8 hours to cook anything.
1807617
I have never tried to use the cooker in the way you describe. In my opinion, the machine is not designed or intended to be used as a slow cooker for an extended length of time. For such an application, you would be better off with an appliance designed for slow cooking such as a crock pot. I would not leave the BergHoff unattended for a long period of time, especially when temperature control is important. Glen
2172465
The slow cooker will wait two hours for the food to soften and begin cooking, then will automatically stir the food for five minutes every half hour, until you turn it off. You can also manually start a one-minute stir cycle at any time.
2281450
Thanks for asking a great question. For those customers who either bought models without a timer or can't afford to buy the timer model, we recommended that you purchase an inexpensive heavy duty appliance timer (in the case of the 9 tray models you'll need heavy duty with ground plug - three prong receptacle). These can be bought on Amazon, at your local general merchandise store or hardware store for around $10 or so. What is great about this option is you plug it into the wall, set the time of day, then plug in your dehydrator and set the start and stop times. The timer will shut off power to the dehydrator at that precise time. It is a low cost option to help you in cases where you don't have a timer model, can't afford one, or want to save on the extra cost for the built in timer model. Thanks for asking, please see our offer below Harvest Essentials ---------------------------------------------------------- &#9660; &#9660; &#9660; &#9660; &#9660; &#9660; &#9660;
1198149
I see this question all the time. While this Crock-Pot will move to warm when your set cook time is done, you can not set when it will start. I don't know that any slow cooker will do that because it's a health risk. To do so would mean food is left sitting out without refrigeration or heat for a period of time, just waiting for the Crock-Pot to turn on. That's time for unappealing things to happen to your food, and perhaps to you. I just set mine to the low temp for a longer cooking time, knowing it will kick over to warm when that's done.
1832056
Hi Steven, The two hour option starts cooking right away. There is no ability to delay the start of the cooking process. Best bet is too allow for a long cooking process at low temp and then let the unit keep it "warm" until you are ready to eat. Otherwise it is a great unit....it's analog, not digital....if you know what I mean. :)
597439
I had not used the rice cooker yet so I tried it last night. I put in 2 cups rice and 3 cups water, hit the rice cook button and machine set itself for six minutes. I let it do it's thing. With the pressure cooker, timer starts once temp is reached. Rice cooker timer never started. In an hour I had 1 big solid hockey rice puck. Not recommended for rice. I love the pressure cooker. The slow cook is not near as good as a crock pot
720729
using a separate timer WILL NOT WORK. a separate timer kills power, no power no program. no program, no cooking. you have to press a button to start it so a separate timer is useless ALSO put ice in it It will keep food from spoling and make your meat juicy. this HAS NO time, but the spoiled food concept can be outsmarted with icecubes
69272
On this crockpot there is a dial. You can set it to cook in as little as 30 minutes if you really want to, or you can turn it all the way up to leave on all day.
1347470
The timer is set by default for 2 hours. That's the max time you can cook unattended. I don't think it's meant for slow cooking.
1033526
It does not. I was hoping to find a slow cooker with a delayed start feature, but that may not exist. This slow cooker is programmable, but the only option as far as a start time is to begin cooking immediately. Aside from that, I have no other complaints. It's a great product otherwise.
1585410
I have not used it as a slow cooker yet but I have read of people using it as such. The highest setting is warm so I'm not quite sure if it would get hot enough to completely cook meat (unless you let it cook in it ALL DAY but a side dish would probably be fine. I've only used it to keep things warm so far such as dips and taco meat. Sorry I cannot be of more assistance on this.
1740848
Hi, I have the Hamilton Beach 33140 oval slow cooker. It doesn't come with recipes, but it does have guidelines to use the slow cooker. If you follow the exact guidelines, your food cooks faster than stated, so check after 2 hours on high. Enjoy.
2147935
The cooker has a digital timer and you can set it for so many hours to suit yourself,, 1, 2, hours etc and then it goes to warm.It is not like the old crock pots where if you turn it on you don't have a choice of time.. When you pressure cook the timer is set in minutes. I love mine,,,use it all the time...pressure cooking and crock pot ,,,Great investment for the Real Cook.. Even bought one for my daughter for Christmas and she uses hers all the time also.
1361016
We discovered (quite by accident) that ours shuts off after 2 hours or if a pan goes dry. In order to work, the vessel being heated up requires some sort of liquid in it. Can even be a very small amount. Note: I haven't checked this feature out, but I also believe there is a timer on it so you can cook longer than two hours.
475725
My sister and I both have one, and she was sitting right next to me when your question arrived. We both agreed that this would be perfect in that situation. You can set it on slow cooker function and it will keep warm or turn off when it is done.