Crock pot cooking

[Eaglelox]

i have used the slow cooker for some time now. when ever i cook a stew or pot roast in the crock pot it has a funny taste. i tried the new slow cooker that we just got and it has the same weird taste. if i put the same recipe in the oven at 200 deg all day, it would come out different tasting. im done with these things for whole meals. does anyone know what im talking about and why does it happen.

[Half Baked]

I know exactly what you're talking about but I don't know why it happens.

I only use it for keeping soups warm. I much prefer the food from the oven.

[GB]

I have never experienced this with my crockpot. Can you explain the funny taste?

[licia]

I've never noticed a different taste either, but some things I like better cooked other ways than the crockpot and some things are VERY good that way. I like green beans cooked in a crockpot because I can stop them at just the very second of tenderness without any overcooking. I don't like the raw taste that so many places use, but I don't want them cooked past a tasty tender-crisp stage. I'd rather have ham baked or roasted in the oven, but some people really enjoy using the crockpot for that - to each his own!

[Ayrton]

Hmmm, this is disturbing! I ordered a crockpot (from the U.K.) only yesterday. Never owned one before.

Mind you, all I really want to do in it is cook beans, but still, I don't want odd-flavored beans!

Does yours have a stoneware insert (do they all?)

[GB]

I am not really sure what would cause an odd flavor other than some sort of outside influence like soap that was not completely washed out or something. A corckpot is just a vessle that you cook food in at a low temperature. There is nothing inherent in that which would cause any sort of flavor on it's own.

[thymeless]

It might be the lack of Maillard reactions as the meat isn't browned first. It's often put in frozen.

thymeless

[GB]

A lot of my crockpot recipes call for browning the meat first and then adding it to the crockpot.

I would (almost) never put frozen meat in a crockpot. The food would be in the danger zone too long for my liking.

[Half Baked]

Yes, I have the stonewear insert. Perhaps its not a funny/weird taste. It's just different enough for me to notice.

It might all be psychological!

[Katie E]

Interesting. I still have, and use, my crockpot I bought in the late '60s or so and have never detected any sort of off taste. It's one of the original earthenware-type Rival models. In fact, I have several crockpots in various sizes that I use regularly. I like to make applesauce in the crockpot. It's easy, delicious and makes the house smell yummy.

Meat loaf is good in the crockpot, too.