more crock pot vs UC .... my experience

[wllmc]

so yesterday i messed around and gave the crock pot vs UC a full test. I must say really impressed with the result. I have a recipe I know inside and out. I dont even know how much of this mix Ive made but its alot. I used to use the ultra sonic all the time. 15 mins on 15 mins off for a total of 4 hrs then let it rest for 24 hrs. Ill add real quick that I have also had alot just naturally steep because i make so much of it. when i used the ultra sonic there was always more of a TH with it even after a 24 hr rest than a natural steep but not enough to swear off the UC . now fast forward to yesterday. i made my mix and had already had my CP at 150 degrees for at least an hr making sure i could keep a constant temp. dropped the bottles in and went about my day. 2 hrs later. opened it up, it had a pressurized burp , capped it shook it kinda and back in the water. 2 hrs later took it out again. opened it up, no pressure built up this time shook it up and in the cabinet it went. this morning threw a fresh wick in and filled my tank up. the TH I experience with the UC is gone and there is this smoothness and creaminess Ive not tasted before. sooooooo good. from what i can tell the crock pot is hate to say it better in my opinion. the creaminess im tasting is awesome. lets let my noob shine through a bit and even say I think it might even be better than a natural steep. like I said I know this recipe like i know walking around my house in the dark. there is no need for 6 bottles of various testing this against that etc. maybe the UC shakes it to much or something. Ive messed with heating over the past few weeks but first time Ive tried it on this recipe just because like I said Ive got some much hanging around Ive never really needed to speed steep it anymore. so anyways wanted to throw in my 2 cents into the crockpot vs UC vs natural steep and my results. CP-1 UC -0 lol.... its so much faster. 24 hrs and its ready and very very tasty.

edit. also tested the temp of the liquid in the bottle. at 150 degress water temp in the crock pot at 2 hrs the liquid inside the glass was only 139 degrees.. at the 4 hr mark water temp was 150 liquid in glass bottle was again 139 degrees. made 20 ml. not sure if the temp would go up or down with more or less liquid inside.... something to test next I guess.​

 

[dannyv45]

Great report and very interesting results. I've resorted to the 150F steep with MY heated UC and found similure results. I also agree that the added heat is the trick in all this.

 

[downInTn]

You gotta love not having to maintain and listen to the UC also. As has been stated before, you'll notice juices will continue to change with some natural steeping/rest. I've noticed some juices after ~48 hours the creaminess will really kick in.

 

[doots]

I guess I will try this.. Use my heated UC and not have to hear it whine for hours.

 

[dannyv45]

You gotta love not having to maintain and listen to the UC also. As has been stated before, you'll notice juices will continue to change with some natural steeping/rest. I've noticed some juices after ~48 hours the creaminess will really kick in.

THis is very true

 

[Blueser]

Funny how one post from buffaloguy turned this debate on it's head...plus a few more findings he has that run contrary to popular copy and paste advice

 

[we2rcool]

Funny how one post from buffaloguy turned this debate on it's head...plus a few more findings he has that run contrary to popular copy and paste advice

And that's what'll happen (every time) when people actually "test before talking" rather than just repeating what other people have repeated that other people repeated that someone repeated because they read it somewhere, and then copy/pasted it into their brains.

 

[Blueser]

And that's what'll happen (every time) when people actually "test before talking" rather than just repeating what other people have repeated that other people repeated that someone repeated because they read it somewhere, and then copy/pasted it into their brains.

Yep...and this is the very reason I refrain from giving out hearsay advice...it's easy to spot and so very obvious...see sig...

 

[mxrdrver]

Aren't crock pots big and heavy? Every time I mix, I bring everything out and set on my kitchen island. Then when I'm done, I have to put it all away. The idea of moving around a crock pot doesn't sound fun.


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[we2rcool]

Aren't crock pots big and heavy? Every time I mix, I bring everything out and set on my kitchen island. Then when I'm done, I have to put it all away. The idea of moving around a crock pot doesn't sound fun.


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We use our food dehydrator (it has adjustable temp settings). It's much bigger than a crockpot, but it's a "permanent" in our kitchen.

A crockpot isn't essential. You can use anything that will heat to a stable 150F.

 

[we2rcool]

Yep...and this is the very reason I refrain from giving out hearsay advice...it's easy to spot and so very obvious...see sig...

'Love your signature!

pre·ten·tious
[pri-ten-shuhs]
adjective
1.
characterized by assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved
2.
making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.

 

[LoveVanilla]

Hmmm...

Per Crock Pot Customer Service:

Thank you for contacting Crock-Pot, a brand of Jarden Consumer Solutions. Both the Low & High settings cook at 215 degrees F., but they cycle differently. Therefore, the High setting will still cook the food in a shorter period of time than the Low setting will. Please remember that these are all approximate temperatures and they can vary depending on what you are cooking. It can also boil on High and Low. We do recommend that you always fill your slow cooker at least 1/2 - 3/4 of the way full with liquid or sauce, and you may also have to adjust your cook times accordingly. This will prevent the food from drying out and burning.

Also:
The warm setting is around 165°

My coffee cup warmer holds 120F, but appears that won't do the job. Has anyone found a small crock pot i.e. <2qt with temperature settings (or at least warm, low and high) and shutoff timer? If so, please share.

Seems like >6qt models have timers and warm features (much less a temperature control).

 

[we2rcool]

Hmmm...



My coffee cup warmer holds 120F, but appears that won't do the job. Has anyone found a small crock pot i.e. <2qt with temperature settings (or at least warm, low and high) and shutoff timer? If so, please share.

Seems like >6qt models have timers and warm features (much less a temperature control).

The thread below is where everyone is testing the "150F for 4 hours" method, and if I'm remembering correctly everyone agreed the crockpot was too hot (even on the lowest setting), but if one uses the low setting and cracks the lid, it maintains 150F beautifully.

But don't take 'my memory' for that - it's in the last 2-3 pages here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/268760-diy-master-techniques-flavor-add-ons-em-vw-bw-mts-acv-ect-17.html

 

[AmandaD]

I also have a tiny crock pot - looks like it's for sauces. It has no temp settings, but I tried it out, and (just like the big pot) it stayed at 150 with the lid cracked! It's much smaller, though, so you can only put a very small bottle in it with the lid on.

 

[dannyv45]

I would suggest along with buying a crock pot also purchase a turkey (Oven) thermometer.

 

[dannyv45]

Just a though has anyone tried this crock pot procedure at a temperature range lets say from 150 - 170f? That may eliminate some of these concerns about the differences in temperature between crock pots. I myself have been doing my steeping in a UC with heat on mostly and mine ranged from 135 - 160F depending on if I did one cycle after another as well as how much rest time I gave it or if I only let the heat run on some cycles and not others. I found over all my results were still consistant at a range from 140f to 160F.

 

[Huckleberried]

I used a candy thermometer to check water temp. I'd definitely go Amanda's route and simply crack the lid. I didn't. It went to 170. BUT, I tested the nic and there was no difference in mg after 2.5 hours. Regardless, next time I'm crackin' the lid.

I used "low", am gonna test the temp for "warm". Mine has a timer, but when set on low, it automatically goes to warm for up to 14 hours. Mainly, because it thinks it's cooking my dinner, rather than steeping my nic.

 

[LoveVanilla]

Okay, here's what I did.

Proctor Silex 1.5 Qt. Slow Cooker $14.88
Arrives by Thu., Apr 17

Taylor Digital Cooking Thermometer with Probe and Timer $14.97
Arrives by Thu., Apr 16

Hoping cooker has space for 4-5 30ml bottles and "keep warm" is between 150-160F. No auto-shutoff for crockpot though; may end up with lamp timer, etc. Temp probe has 23 hour alarm/timer. Rather not give business to Walmart but couldn't find at Target.

I'll report back after Apr 17.

 

[dannyv45]

Okay, here's what I did.

Proctor Silex 1.5 Qt. Slow Cooker $14.88
Arrives by Thu., Apr 17

Taylor Digital Cooking Thermometer with Probe and Timer $14.97
Arrives by Thu., Apr 16

Hoping cooker has space for 4-5 30ml bottles and "keep warm" is between 150-160F. No auto-shutoff for crockpot though; may end up with lamp timer, etc. Temp probe has 23 hour alarm/timer. Rather not give business to Walmart but couldn't find at Target.

I'll report back after Apr 17.

I think you'll be good with that 150 - 160F range and a timer sounds like a good idea. I like the digital thurmomter may get that one myself.

 

[cough]

i have question, if temp range will below 150F and higher it can damage liquid, if for example bootle stay in water on temperature 130F or 170F can damage juice even if cap are on bottle? or this 150F it best speed steep time.