Crock Pot on the Road

[kamadeca]

Not sure if this has been addressed before, my apologies if it has.

We were wondering if anyone has used a crock pot to cook dinner while travelling through the day. I looked at the crock pot that we have and it draws 240 Watts. We have a 1500 Watt inverter in our trailer. So here is the plan. Put the crock pot in the sink with a towel wrapped around it for stability. Turn the inverter on, plug the crock pot in and off we go down the road.

We are presuming (rightly or wrongly?) that with the trailer connected to the tow vehicle and with solar panels connected, we shouldn't drain the batteries.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks as always.

[idroba]

The 240 watts is about a 20 amp draw at 12 volts which is a fairly substantial load. However, I bet your crock pot has two speeds, low and high, and only the high requires the full 240 watts, with low being maybe half of that. I usually run mine on low at home. I guess I would just go ahead and try it once when you know you are going to have grid power at the end of the towing day in case it does pull your batteries down too much. Then you could recharge using the converter/charger and be good for the evening and overnight.

BTW the charge line from the tow vehicle will usually only deliver 6 to 8 amps maximum on most setups. The best my Argosy will deliver is about 6 amps, the Airstream (newer) can run 10 to 11 amps in some cases.

If you have access to a Kill A Watt meter, you can measure the actual crock pot wattage on low and high. Divide that number by about 10 to find the approximate amps needed at 12 volts.

[NavyCorpsman]

If you prefer "Fast" food, how about this...

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by kamadeca

So here is the plan. Put the crock pot in the sink with a towel wrapped around it for stability. Turn the inverter on, plug the crock pot in and off we go down the road.

No towel. Fire hazard. Plus it won't make the crock pot any more stable. If you want to keep it from tipping over in the sink, use a bungee cord. Attach one end to the sink faucet, attach the other end to a drawer pull or cabinet door handle under the sink, and adjust so the cord is tight over the crock pot lid. The bungee cord running over the lid should keep the lid in place as well as keeping the pot from tipping over, with a lot less danger of putting a piece of flammable cloth next to a heating element.

An even better option may be to get a 12vDC crock pot (I have a RoadPro 1½-quart model that features a strap-down lid to keep it from spilling) and plug it directly into your tow vehicle's 12v power outlet. That way the crock pot is in the tow vehicle where you can keep an eye on it, and you're not depleting the house batteries.

[Zil]

How do you like your road pro?

[Fly at Night]

How about this instead?

http://www.amazon.ca/Manifold-Destin.../dp/1416596232

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Zil

How do you like your road pro?

It's adequate, but to me a crock pot is a crock pot is a crock pot. I don't really use the RoadPro for cooking, just for keeping things warm. I'll cook the meal in a larger 120vAC crock pot the night before, and just transfer one meal's worth to the RoadPro in the morning before heading out.

The RoadPro only has one control, on/off, and only one temperature. But one nice feature is that the on/off switch is on the power cord, not on the pot itself, so when I set the crock pot on the passenger-side footwell (it can't fall off the floor) and bungee-cord it to the front of the passenger seat to keep it in place while driving, I can still reach the control which is conveniently close to the dashboard.

Now that I have my Interstate I don't use the RoadPro as often as I used to when all of my traveling was done in a Dodge Durango SUV, but I still use it on occasion in my toad for day trips. Beats stopping for artery-hardening fast food…

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

How about this instead?

http://www.amazon.ca/Manifold-Destin.../dp/1416596232

NPR Car Talk had that topic of discussion a number of years ago. It's kind of what I was thinking when I first started reading this thread. I think I tried some canned food many years ago; not a good experience. But the reviews say it's a good read.

I'm sure any food in aluminum foil would have a distinct hot engine grease aroma. I'll stick with the microwave to reheat food I cooked before we left the last CG.

[KJRitchie]

What about a pressure cooker on the stove top. Is that a good substitute for a crock pot?

Kelvin

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

What about a pressure cooker on the stove top. Is that a good substitute for a crock pot?

Not while the Airstream is in motion! You should never cook anything on the stove unless there is a person in attendance. The consequences of a burner's flame going out while the trailer is in motion and no one is around to notice are too dire to even consider the idea.

[mimiandrews]

I've forgotten which forums member should get the credit, but you might check this link I copied from a recent post. It looks like it might be your solution. Cooks the food with residual heat retained by good insulation. Just get the food boiling well on the stove top, put it in the insulated bag, turn everything off, and go. No additional energy needed to cause a potential problem.

Home page

It's really wonderbagworld.com

[KJRitchie]

I didn't read about the crock pot running while in motion. Yes, of course you shouldn't travel with anything on the stove.

I just wondered if a pressure cooker is a good substitute for a electric crock pot. You could cook meals a lot faster than with a crock pot.

Kelvin

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

I just wondered if a pressure cooker is a good substitute for a electric crock pot.

Of course! Crock pots were originally invented as a substitute for Dutch ovens and pressure cookers.

[Jaxon]

Originally Posted by mimiandrews

I've forgotten which forums member should get the credit, but you might check this link I copied from a recent post. It looks like it might be your solution. Cooks the food with residual heat retained by good insulation. Just get the food boiling well on the stove top, put it in the insulated bag, turn everything off, and go. No additional energy needed to cause a potential problem.

Home page

It's really wonderbagworld.com

Interesting! Anybody have experience using this? ‘Tho, I sure love winter camping smelling dinner being prepared in the crockpot throughout the day...

[Fly at Night]

Originally Posted by richw46

NPR Car Talk had that topic of discussion a number of years ago. It's kind of what I was thinking when I first started reading this thread. I think I tried some canned food many years ago; not a good experience. But the reviews say it's a good read.

I'm sure any food in aluminum foil would have a distinct hot engine grease aroma. I'll stick with the microwave to reheat food I cooked before we left the last CG.

I posted that link as a joke. When I first heard of auto manifold cooking, I thought it was the wackiest thing yet.

I'm sure it created the spin-off, Hotel Room Iron, Hair Dryer, and Coffee Maker Cooking.

[Fly at Night]

.... I don't have anything against saving a bit of money, but most hotels have a bar fridge. I just head to the local grocery store and stock it with yogurt, fruit, some cooked chicken, salad fixings etc. While in LA recently, loved the take-out salad bar at Ralph's!! Greens, shrimp, salmon....wow! Wish our supermarkets carried same.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

I posted that link as a joke. When I first heard of auto manifold cooking, I thought it was the wackiest thing yet.

Not that wacky. I seem to recall hearing about soldiers who would heat MREs on Hum-Vee engine manifolds before the MREs started coming with heat packs.

[Airtandem]

Check out a " Can Cooker" I have used many times. I have the small version and serves 6-8. Takes about 30-45 minutes from heat to table. It is a glorified pressure cooker and can be used on stove, grill or camp fire. I carry a small electric hot plate I got at Aldi for $10.00 for the heat source.
I like to do a "boil" in it.

mike

[stsammy]

What about something like this? A thermal cooker...

http://www.saratogajacks.com/faqs.htm

I'm no expert on them, but I'm intrigued by the option. Would be great for boondocking, presumably, too. I can't get onboard with the idea of leaving it plugged in back there (and I'll leave it plugged in at home without worry), bouncing around. I also lobby aggressively against using a towel to stabilize in the sink, if you do it. Definite fire hazard.

[Al and Missy]

And there is always Roy's Car-B-Q invention on "Wings".