Have you ever seen the automatic stirrer crock pot feature and wondered if it is worth it? We have tested it out for months and have some insight for you.
Cris here.
Mikey (the hubs) always tells people that my crock pot collection is like Iron Man’s workshop– I have slow cookers of all shapes and sizes and features. We have tried crock pots that stir themselves, brown meat ahead of time, have oven friendly crocks, promise not to burn food, cook on your stove top and more!
Given that we run a site about slow cooking (and my obsession with new features) — when I see a new feature on a crock pot, I have to try it. So, naturally when I saw that there were crock pots out there that could automatically stir themselves, I was sooo going to try that and try it I did! I have stirred up everything from our popular Crock Pot Taco Soup to the most ah-mazing hot chocolate ever.
Automatic Stirrer Crock Pot Feature: Is it Worth It?
Do I like the feature?
Yes.
- I love being able to set my soups up with this slow cooker and let it go on auto-pilot.
- I love that it comes with two different paddles– depending on what you need to stir.
- I love that you can remove the stirring unit completely if you don’t want it to stir.
- I love that you can stir anytime without removing the lid by the push of a button– and that it automatically stirs every 2 hours.
- I love that the plug lets you plug the stirring unit into the same plug so you only use one place on your outlet.
- I love that it is a programmable slow cooker. (NOTE: Depending on model, some are completely programmable, while others just let you choose heat setting with fixed time)
Is there anything I didn’t like?
Yes.
- I’m not in love with how the stirring lid fits on the top of the unit. My unit may have had a defective lid but the clips pop off all the time. This does not affect the ability to stir at all– nor does it affect any cooking performance, mainly it just bugs me. If there are clips, they should stay closed when they have been closed.
- The stirring action does not scrape the sides. This isn’t a real huge issue, but I think it is something folks need to know before purchasing. It is great at stirring up flavors in most any recipe, but it will not be a solution for stubborn recipes that tend to burn on the sides if not tended to on a regular basis.
- I don’t like that the time and heat settings are not independently programmable on some of the models. (This one IS independently programmable, if that is important to you.)
So, is it worth purchasing a new slow cooker?
Depends.
- I would recommend the automatic stirrer crock pot feature to folks who need a new slow cooker and enjoy cooking a lot of soups or serving hot beverages for a crowd. If soups are your thing, this slow cooker was designed for you.
- I do feel this slow cooker really enhances flavor combinations while slow cooking. So if you have a recipe that you’d love to be able to stir more throughout the day, THIS is the slow cooker for you.
- Because this slow cooker also lets you remove stirring unit, it is a good option as a general programmable slow cooker as well.
- I am not sure I would make this my primary slow cooker (because I have so many favorites), however, as a part of a collection it is definitely a nice option to have on the shelf.
Enter to Win
Would you like to win an Automatic Stirring Crock Pot and Gooseberry Patch’s Super Fast Slow Cooking Cookbook?
We are pairing this awesome slow cooker with an awesome cookbook thanks to our friends at Gooseberry Patch who sent us an extra copy for one of you!
If you win, Super Fast Slow Cooking will keep your new crock pot cRockin’ all day long!
TO ENTER: Just comment below and tell me what soup you would like to try in the crock pot should you win it?
BONUS ENTRY: Share this post with a friend or on social media and comment below that you shared it.
Daily entries (and bonus entries) are allowed and all entries are on the honor system.
Color and model is not guaranteed. Contest ends at midnight on 9/20/2015. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond. Winning crock pot and book will be shipped to continental U. S. addresses only. Must be 18 to enter. GOODe Luck!
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Sarah Johnson says
I would make my husband;s all time favorite, Hamburger Soup, first, then Old Fashioned Vegetable Soup made with short ribs, and then Split Pea with Ham and the Chili and Taco Soup.
I shared this with my best friend by e=mail and then on FB also.
Randal says
I would make the meat lovers chili
Heather says
I would love to make chicken chili.
Renee says
Cheeseburger Soup, and Cheesy potato soup
Carolyn says
Homemade Lasagna
Kari Mackey says
Chicken Enchilada Soup – just found a great recipe on Pinterest I’d love to try!
Frances says
I would make beef stew!
Sally says
French Onion Soup. Using the slow-cooker to caramelize the onions!
I’m putting this on Facebook.
Christopher D. Sanders says
Crock Pot Bean Bacon Soup
mindyb says
beef stew!
Cindy Kowalski says
I cook in my crockpot all winter long. I would love to make a hearty beef barley vegetable soup in this one! Hope I win!
D Blanton says
I would make baked potato soup.
Susan says
I would like to try taco soup or potato soup…
Linda Duty says
I would make alot of recipes in this crockpot. For my first try, I think I would make Chicken Noodle Soup Thank You
patricia says
I would make a cream of broccoli soup
Sharpemikey@aol.com.com says
I would like to try corn chowder or creamed corn in it
Christy Black says
Vegetable Beef Soup!!!
JoAnn says
Cheesy Potato Soup and I would love to try Macaroni and Cheese in this pot.
Teresa says
I want to make a hearty beef stew. Fall is upon us!
Jane says
Please pick me for the new Stirring crock pot. I have a recipe for Three Bean And A Pea soup. It is so good. I’m a senior citizen on Social Security and I could not afford to buy one of these crock pots. Mine is old and really needs replacing. And I would love to have the cookbook so I could try more crock pot recipes! Thank you, Jane
Stuart says
Tortilla soup
Peggy Sue says
I would like to try Chicken Bowtie Pasta (new recipe) and Ham and potato soup (great way to use up leftover ham). Sorry of listing two, the Fall season arrives next week and that is definitely SOUP SEASON!
bob morrissette says
corn cheese pasta soup
Katherine says
Taco soup!
Barbara Louk says
I would love to use this crockpot for the Chicken Tortilla Soup!! it’s one of my family’s favorites but I just don’t have the time lately to make it very often. This would help me make it more frequently and satisfy my hungry boys!