More dreaded slow cooker questions

[Jane]

I know slow cookers are over-discussed among HSing moms, but here are my questions:

1) Do any of you own two slow cookers? If so, which sizes? Here's why: I am considering a second one for side dishes and think I want to go small, but wonder if I'm just better off having two large slow cookers instead. Which leads to question #2...

2) This is for those of you with 6+ children or just hearty eaters, do you use your slow cooker much as your children get older and require more food? Or are you better off using your oven? As it is right now my 6qt pot is brimming over. I'm wondering where we'll be in five years when my younger ones are eating more.

Our slow cooker is getting quite the workout these days. It's so convenient to prepare breakfast in the evening while everyone is sleeping, and then prepare dinner early in the day while baby is sleeping. I'm definitely not ready to go w/out one.

[Canada_Mom]

I have a big 6 quart one for meals and a smaller, round one (don't know the size) that I use for either side dishes, apple sauce or as "overflow" when I need a really big meal. I can't make apple sauce in the 6 quart b/c it's too big and everything would cook too quickly and burn. I find it indispensable to have the 2 sizes.

I don't know how many are in your family but we're all big eaters in our family. My dd6 eats more than my mom when she comes to visit! :eek: A brimming full 6 quart slow cooker is barely enough to feed all of us for one supper. I've considered buying a second, but then that would be a whole lot of preparation work, wouldn't it? To me it would almost defeat the convenience of the slow cooker. Just my opinion.

I have a friend with 7 kids (who eat less than mine, mind you) and instead of using a second slow cooker, makes more bread/rolls to along with the meal instead. She says it saves them a lot of $$ on groceries.

[Tia in Wa]

I have a large roaster oven that I use all the time. It works the same only it's much bigger. There are inserts you can get to serve three seperate dishes. They do not cost much under $30 at Wal-mart.

I frequently cook for my 5 and my dh's family ( 2 brothers, 1 dad, 1 nephew) I never seem to run out of room.

[Ottakee]

i only have 3 kids but I have 2 of the bigger oval crock pots. They get quite a workout here---I use them 5+ days a week.

I would either get a 2nd large one--if you watch carefully some of the big ones come with a free little one as well, or buy one of the bigger roasters from Walmart that work like a crock pot. Might be a pain to store the big thing though.

[Jann in TX]

I almost purchased one at Christmas...but I have 2 large ones and a smaller one and a tiny one...I could not justify the purchase---because I would have kept my old ones too!

I found it at WalMart