Used Rival 6‑Quart Crock Pot 38601

[BakerAunt]

Today, at the local thrift store, I bought an oval Rival Crock Pot (model 38601), probably 6 quarts, for $9. The apple butter that I made in my Montgomery Wards 3 1/2-qt crock pot last year has been popular with family, so I need the capacity to make more than three 8 oz. and one 4 oz. jar at a time. I would have preferred an older one, not this "programmable one," but I figure for $9, I'm not out much money if it does not work for this purpose, and the thrift store supports local charities.

If anyone has this model, I'd appreciate hearing about your experience with it. I've looked up the manual online for the basics.

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[BakerAunt]

When I bought this used crock pot, I was not worried, since this thrift store has had a record of making sure appliances work, but that may have changed. I haven't tried it yet, but I was washing the interior, and what I thought was food residue actually is where something sharp has removed finish at spots around the sides, about three inches up. I'm wondering if it is still saft to use with that damage.

Any thoughts?

[Mike Nolan]

What kind of finish is it, a non-stick coating? You could try putting something like water in it, let it cook for 24 hours, and seeing if anything is flaking off. If you take the temperature a few times, that'd give you some idea of performance, too.

I stopped buying anything with a non-stick coating on it years ago, because it always comes off over time. I prefer cast iron, stainless steel, aluminum (non-coated) or, increasingly, silicone baking pans. I haven't bought any of the ceramic frying/baking pans yet, one of these days I will. (My wife says we should be getting rid of stuff, not buying more of it.)

I have some 'ironstone' muffin pans that were great at first, I'd invert the pan and they'd all fall out, but now stuff sticks to them too often, even if I butter/grease them first.

[RiversideLen]

I would shy away from it. There's a reason why it has a finish in the first place.

Anyway, BA, you got me thinking about slow cookers. If only I had more storage space.

[BakerAunt]

I should have clarified that it is not metal but is the standard removeable crockery dish that goes into the metal slow cooker. I had not known that it was possible to scratch the interior. The scratches look like a light white film, which is why I thought it was food residue.

Mike--I now have two ceramic frying pans (Green Pan), a 10-inch and an 8-inch. They are wonderful. Both replaced non-stick coated pans, one of which had built up residue, and the other, a small Teflon skillet from my husband's parents that worried me because of new info on Teflon coatings.

I'm not big on crock pots, but that apple butter recipe is really good.

[RiversideLen]

BA, I think that might be ok but I'm not sure. I was looking at slow cookers online and saw they make disposable liners. I wonder if that might be a solution?

[BakerAunt]

Len, I don't think the liner would work, since I would use a stick blender after the apples cook down.

I also worry about what is in the plastic liners.

Sigh. I tried googling the question about scratches, but Google did not offer me any answers.

[RiversideLen]

Maybe Contact Rival about it. You can even send them pictures.

[BakerAunt]

That is a splendid idea, Len. I think the scratches may be more cosmetic, but I want to be sure.

First, however, I will test it to see if it works. According to Purdue Extension, I should put in 8 cups of water then "cook" on low for 8 hours. If the temperature then measures around 190-200, then it is working. I'll give it a try tomorrow.

https://extension.purdue.edu/foodlink/includes/pubs/Tips%20for%20Crock%20Pot%20Success.pdf

[Mike Nolan]

Is it a ceramic crock? I wonder if the scratches could be sanded out or if that would destroy what's left of the glaze?

[BakerAunt]

Yes, it is fully ceramic (that is, not a lined ceramic).

[BakerAunt]

I am testing the crockpot today.

I also went to the Rival Crockpot website and inquired about whether the scratches are an issue for cooking. I found out that Rival no longer is associated with Crockpot, which was spun off into its own brand. However, the website allows for questions, so I asked. I'll report when I hear back from the company.

[BakerAunt]

I ended up only doing a five-hour test on the crockpot because the water was boiling when I checked it at that time. I see no need to let it go for eight hours. As both Navlys and Italian Cook have noted in past postings, these new crockpots cook very hot, even on low. If I use this one for cooking, I will not trust it on timing. As its default for "low" is eight hours and ten hours, and on high, it is four or six hours, there is no adjustment for any other length of time. I think that is an issue that the latest generation of crock pots have sought to address.

If this setting is "low," I'm not sure that I would ever use the "high" setting.

[cwcdesign]

Baker Aunt, this is why I jury rigged my latest crockpot to use my chef alarm for my timer. Chicken breasts (boneless) cook in approximately 3 ½ - 4 hours on low. You can imagine the first time I used it and hammered the chicken. Mine has a manual option, so I can set the temperature where I want it with no timer. There are handles that snap in place for transporting it. I put the chef alarm in the largest chicken breasts, clamp the handles down on the cord (the lid won't seal if I don't) and set the alarm to 163. I can only use it when I'm home for the day -

[navlys]

This is probably a no no but I often leave the lid on my crockpot slightly askew so that it doesn't heat up as fast. It's very frustrating to say the least.

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