Crockpots are very helpful and undoubtedly a beautiful addition to any kitchen. The specialty of any crockpot is that it will cook the food and it’s not necessary that you have to be present near a crockpot during the cooking process.
If you explore your kitchen you will find out that your crockpot is the least expensive product in your kitchen for making food and also the most used one. A crockpot is a slow cooker that helps you to cook food very easily. They cook food at a slow temperature and perform functions like baking, frying, and boiling. A wide variety of dishes can be prepared with the help of a slow cooker.
If you ever explore the market then you will notice that there are a wide range of brands available in the market and all with different sizes, shapes, and attributes.
If you are thinking about buying a new crockpot for your kitchen and worried about the size you will require then you are not the only one that has got this question. Even I was confused at the start of deciding the right crockpot size.
What size will I need? Is the most asked question when it comes to shopping for a crockpot. Today we are going to learn a piece of detailed information about the different sizes of a crockpot and which are the best suitable ones for you.
Crockpot size mainly depends on the size of your family and the amount of food you are willing to cook. To answer your doubts very quickly just read the below-mentioned information.
Crockpots are classified according to the number of quarts they have.
- If you are single or a couple you will probably need a crockpot with 1-2 quarts which are good for single-serve recipes.
- If you want to buy for your small family then 3-4 quarts will do the work. It is also perfect for desserts.
- If you have a joint family and you cook a good amount of food regularly then you will need a crockpot with 5-6 quarts which are ideal for stews, casseroles, and desserts.
- If you want to cook for occasions and parties then 7-10 quarts will do the job pretty well. It’s very good with a whole chicken, large roasts, and other foods.
The size of the family and the amount of food you regularly prepare will help you determine the number of quarts that are perfect for you. It’s seen that 5-6 quarts slow cookers are mostly used in many places.
This is just a short answer to your question and if you want to dig in just read the whole article and you will be left with no doubts and complete knowledge of different sizes of crockpots.
Available sizes
Crock Pots come in different sizes according to different requirements. The size ranges from 1.5 quarters to 12 quarters with many other sizes in between. Crockpots with 1.5 to 3 quarts are perfectly suited for a single person or two while you’ve got a family then you’ll require more quarts.
4-quart crockpot
A 4-quart crockpot can easily cook food for around 4-6 people at once. This mainly depends on the type of food that you are cooking. 4 quarts are ideal for a regular-sized family.
6-quart crockpot
It is a good choice if you are willing to cook for larger crews and families. It can easily fit in shredded chicken and a double batch of sauces.
Does the size of the crockpot make any difference?
Yes, the size of the crockpot will make a difference while you cook. Well, this was just a short answer.
Manufacturers of the crockpots recommend filling the cooker until three-quarter way or halfway so that all the ingredients inside cook properly if you fill it full or more than required then you’ll probably get uncooked food or overcooked foods at times. It may also result in an overflow.
It is, therefore, necessary to buy the best-sized crock pot which fits according to the amount of food you want to cook. If you have a large crockpot and a small amount of food then you will face problems. The same goes for small crockpots and large amounts of food.
Along with the size, the shape also plays an important role. Many crock pots come in shapes including oval and round. Using a crockpot that will properly fit in all your meat isn’t only important.
The oval-shaped cookers are a bit more expensive than the round-shaped ones but they have more space inside them. You can easily cook a whole chicken with them. Round crock pots are best for regular slow cooker meals.
What is the most common size of a crockpot?
Crock Pots as we all know come in different sizes to fit in for different purposes. The most general and standard sizes of a crockpot are between five and six quarts. Many regular-sized families and at many households, we usually find crockpots with five and six quarts.
This size of crockpot is capable of preparing many recipes and will help you to cook a regular and sufficient amount of food for your family. You’ll be left with enough food to serve it the second time.
You can get yourself more than one crockpot so you can easily switch according to the situation.
How to know the number of quarts available in a crockpot?
The best and the simplest way to know the number of quarts your slow cooker has is to check the box.
The box might have the information regarding the quarts. In case it is not mentioned or you do not have the box or you have lost it. You can easily measure its capacity by using water.
If you are wondering how then I will tell you that four cups of water results in one quart. All you’ve to do is fill the crockpot and count the number of cups it takes to fill it. If it takes 14-16 cups this means your crockpot has 4 quarts or 3 and a half.
Having a six-quart cooker doesn’t mean you’ll be able to use all the space. You cannot fill the cooker to its fullest. You will get a space of 4.5 quarts for cooking if you are using a 6 quarts cooker. But this volume can easily prepare food for 7-8 people at a single time.
The largest crockpot size
If you have got a significantly large family or you are throwing a party or have a large crew to feed then you will probably need large cookers.
If you are guessing the largest or the biggest crockpot available in the market then let me tell you to stop guessing as I will give you the answer.
There are crock pots available that range between 8-10 quarts and these massive appliances can easily cook food for a large number of people at once. They can easily fit huge chunks of meat, whole chicken, or 10 lb turkey.
Does size determine crockpot price?
It is never necessary that the larger the size the more the price. This is just a misconception in many people’s minds. Many crock pots are large ranging from $35 to $100.
Many small crockpots are more expensive than large ones because size isn’t the only factor that determines the price, other features can be important too.
As is mentioned earlier the shape of the crockpot is also considered while the pricing of the crockpot. Oval shapes are more expensive than round ones.
Conclusion
Crockpots are classified according to size. The various sizes of the crockpot can be used to fit a different number of people.
You just have to decide upon the number of people you are cooking for and also the type of food you are willing to cook.
In this article, we explored the different types of crockpots available in different sizes and how they fit you.
