I got a new toy -- a roaster oven

I used to really love my crockpot though I really hate the new ones since you can't cook things all day.

I bought one of these:



Amazon Link to Electric Roaster Oven

I am hoping that I like using it as a roaster and a slow cooker.

I found some suggestions for things to try here:

https://www.hamiltonbeach.com/6-surprising-ways-to-use-your-roaster-oven

Does anyone have any suggestion on what to cook in this?  Any tips?

Is there a difference between a roaster oven and a crock pot? Does the roaster oven have the same ceramic insert to cook in?

What is the major difference between the old and new one? Anyways, the picture you shared looks so nice.

I have only used one of these once, at a crazy 4th of July party I catered in Wisconsin, in which bazillions of brats were made.
I understand that your model has a ceramic insert and isn`t enameled metal, right. For me the best way to use these things (and my ceramic slow cooker) is the "labeled use" - low and slow roasting a chicken or a rack of ribs without heating up your oven is the bomb diggety. Also, roasting bones for broth..... roasting large amounts of beets so they get caramelized....

Tereza Okava wrote:I have only used one of these once, at a crazy 4th of July party I catered in Wisconsin, in which bazillions of brats were made.
I understand that your model has a ceramic insert and isn`t enameled metal, right. For me the best way to use these things (and my ceramic slow cooker) is the "labeled use" - low and slow roasting a chicken or a rack of ribs without heating up your oven is the bomb diggety. Also, roasting bones for broth..... roasting large amounts of beets so they get caramelized....

Tereza, I remember the big roasters at my grandparent's home at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I would rather have had the "enameled" insert.  I am not real happy with this "toy".  The ceramic is a thin coating on the metal pan.  Probably making it cheaper.

James Freyr wrote:Is there a difference between a roaster oven and a crock pot? Does the roaster oven have the same ceramic insert to cook in?

James dear hubby wanted this because the temperature is adjustable where the crockpot is High, Low, Keep warm.

Stephan job wrote:What is the major difference between the old and new one? Anyways, the picture you shared looks so nice.

The difference is the ceramic pan. And mine is a smaller version as it is the same size as my crockpot.

I still like using the crockpot for foods cooked in a liquid.

The roaster is good for roasts, steaks and it does really good baked potatoes!

The only other thing I have cooked in it is beans.  I don't see much difference for beans than cooking with the crockpot.

I agree, the crock pots with electronics are silly and limiting.

I like the roaster oven idea for the higher temperature options.

But it's just a shell with an electric element and thermostat. Maybe it's possible to use the original pan as a water bath, and put anything else you want inside it; even an oval dish from a thrift shop crockpot. Or a oval cast iron casserole dish could be placed in directly with a small rack or metal spacers. It's still way more efficient than a full-size electric oven.

I found my moms roaster in the trunk of her 1970 Buick Le Sabre...really

I use it every Thanksgiving for turkey and it rocks.  It has a removable rack. Absolutely amazing