Seeking Slow Cooker and Food Processor Recommendations

[karuna]

Hi Everyone,

I am moving, and so I am leaving behind my housemate's lovely 6-quart Crock Pot and KitchenAid food processor. My question is, should I go ahead and replace these with the same items or do you have recommendations? I've heard great things about the Instant Pot, but I am not sure if it would be a good slow cooker replacement. As well, how many cups does one really need for a food processor? I think the one I have been using has 9, and it has been adequate, though close to overflowing at times. 

Any other kitchen gadgets you recommend? I just ordered a spiral slicer and a mandoline. 

I appreciate your input! Yay for paleo cooking! I have gotten to a place where it is actually a lot of fun, and gadgets just make it so much more fun. 

Best,

Karuna

[TamarE]

Hi Karuna,

You've probably received lots of replies to this on the FB group, but I'll answer here.

I have this slow cooker and we like it, a great size for a big bath of bone broth.

I don't personally use a food processor, can't help you with that.

However, The Paleo Mom has a page on her site that lists her favorite kitchen gadgets: www.thepaleomom.com/products-love you'll need to scroll to the bottom to see kitchen items.

[joleen]

Hi Karuna,
I bought this one (Cuisinart custom 14 cup) a couple of months ago and I am happy with it.
www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-DFP-14BCN-Processor-Brushed-Stainless/dp/B0000645TW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399132988&sr=8-1&keywords=cuisinart+dfp-14+custom+14-cup+food+processor
When I bought it, it was $155.99.  When I first looked it up today on amazon a half hour ago, it was $199.99, now it is showing $209.99!
Diane

[Erin]

I can't help much for food processors as I have an old beast. Lol! It's a Panasonic kitchen wizard handed down from my grandma. Its a workhorse though, and I love it.

As far as slow cookers, I would look for one that has a lead free crock. I have a Cuisinart (it's a few years old though). Here is a good write up on lead in slow cookers. Attached is a screen shot from this post: blog.grasslandbeef.com/bid/89368/The-Hidden-Danger-in-Your-Slow-Cooker

Attachments:

[cottagehand]

I have the cuisines stainless still one and love it. As for the slow cooker my inexpensive ones do the trick but I would certainly get one that will automatically switch to warm after a set time to prevent overcooking. This works well for me.
Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker
amzn.com/B004P2NG0K


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[paleopunzel]

This is the food processor I want: www.amazon.com/dp/B00004S9EM/

This is the crock pot I have: www.amazon.com/Crock-Pot-3735-WN-2-Quart-Cooker-White/dp/B000067DY4/

I'd like to get a bigger crock pot that's programmable, but it's not in the budget right now. The one we have is many years old, and it's made many batches of delicious bone broth.

[robinf]

I replaced my old, worn out KitchenAid food processor with the Cuisinart 14 cup model, the same machine Jolene mentioned. I also paid $155 for it new. It is durable, easy to use, fairly easy to clean, and not too loud. I'm happy with it and at that price, I felt it was a good value. In the past, I've found some products for a lower price if I skip the stainless steel finish and get plain ol' white or black, but I haven't done any research about that re: the Cuisinart food processor.

As for slow cooker, I sold my seldom-used 6-quart Hamilton Beach slow cooker (the one mentioned by others) in favor of the Instant Pot 7 in 1 combination steamer, slow cooker *and* pressure cooker (it also allows you to make yogurt, but I've never tried that). I still use my old Kuhn-Rikon pressure cooker, but absolutely love the Instant Pot. I have never had a "fail" when making bone broth using either pressure cooker. I may not eke every last mineral molecule out of the bones, but my broth always gels if the right combination of bones are used (i.e., if I be sure to include something with cartilage and collagen). The pressure cooker is much, much faster when preparing bone broth, and according to what I've heard from others, is less smelly when cooking the broth. The Instant Pot has built in safety features to deal with pressure cooking, so it's not like Granny's sizzling stove monster :-).

[EJ]

Ooh robinf, I'm thisclose to buying an InstantPot! How long does it take to make your broth? I'm so looking forward to a less stinky house (broth days always make me hungry & grumpy) and using less electricity

[gutsybynature]

I just got an InstantPot! It was an early birthday present and I haven't used it yet, but I'm excited to have an all-in-one device. And I'm with you EJ - it isn't the broth days that bother me, but the broth nights! I dream about food all night and my sleep is worse than usual.

[robinf]

Pressure cooker beef bone broth cooks for about 50 minutes after pressure is reached. It takes about 10 minutes to get to pressure using my stovetop pressure cooker on a gas stove -- I haven't checked the time using the Instant Pot. Plan on at least 15 minutes for pressure to release naturally before opening the cooker. Chicken bone broth cooks for about 20 min under pressure.

The nice thing about the Instant Pot is you don't have to hang around to adjust the burner to make sure everything stays at the right pressure level.

We have successfully used Nom Nom Paleo's pressure cooker bone broth recipe for a good while. We're very happy with the end product. nomnompaleo.com/post/16004110328/quick-pressure-cooker-bone-broth

gutsybynature, you may find that the instructions for the Instant Pot fall short -- check the website for videos, etc for more complete instructions. Especially if you've been using a pressure cooker on the stove top -- there's good info on converting some of your favorite recipes.

[EJ]

Thanks, robinf! Great help and advice