Well, we use our roaster/ovens a lot. Elery just did a pork loin with some cabbage in the small one for supper.

The big one doesn't get as much use, but I can do a ham in one end and a small turkey or large chicken in the other end, simultaneously. We have large family gatherings and I've used the roasters to make baked beans, sloppy joes, au gratin and scalloped potatoes. Remember, the sides heat, rather than the bottom, so although ground meat cooks, it doesn't brown well. It's good for sloppy joes, not so much for burgers. Well, unless we're having a big family BBQ and need something to keep the burgers and hot dogs warm, then we use the big Nesco for that too. A rack on top of the meat keeps the buns warm simultaneously until ready to serve.

It's an oven, so you can use it like an oven. It doesn't brown bread so well, or pies, when you take off the lid you lose too much heat quickly and it's too moist. It's great, though, for roasting a batch of beef bones, then putting the rest of the ingredients in and making a big batch of beef vegetable soup. We have some for supper and some gets canned or frozen.

I bake potatoes in the small one and make apple butter for canning in the big one. I've simmered and held big batches of chili for the hunters in the family, and made pulled pork for 25 using only one "pan". I roast the pork, then "pull" it, then add the sauce and turn the Nesco down to warm. It's good for a couple of hours that way, same with the chili.

I love mine, but the big one stays in the basement until I need it and the 6 quart has a place in the kitchen cabinet because it gets used a couple of times a week. It's far more energy efficient to use my Nesco than it is to use the gas oven for something like roast chicken or baked potatoes or a small casserole

Things like bread or big trays of roasted vegetables still get the oven.

Annie

"$39 this week... I always wanted one... I've always wanted one."

'Nuff said!

FOAS - agreed!

Alexa

In theory I agree, if it's $39 and you've always wanted one, that should be a reason to get it.

In practice, however, I've been in a financial situation where I absolutely could not spend $39 on something just because I wanted it, it would have to be at least useful, if not a necessity, for me to justify that expenditure. Now the situation isn't so much financial as it is space. We have so many things having combined two kitchens. If it does more than one thing that something else can't do, or it does something so much better, AND I can find space for it, then I'd consider the purchase. If it's going to be stuck away where it's inaccessible and doesn't get used, then it's a waste of the $39.00, unless you know that situation will change in the future.

So, since she has always wanted one, if she has a place to put it and will use it, at least occasionally, then I'm definitely of the camp that she should get one. I'm just trying to help her justify the purchase. (grin) And I can say that using the Nesco is a lot cheaper than using the gas oven, even natural gas. If it were propane, it would be even more efficient as propane is very expensive here.

Annie

I bought an electric roasting pan many years ago as my oven was not big enough to do a turkey and all the trimmings and casseroles. It makes a very nice moist turkey but it is impossible to brown the skin. We just did a kitchen renovation with a double oven so I have room for the turkey in one and the trimmings in the other. I just did a final guest count. It came to seventeen so I will still use my electric roaster to make a small ham as a twenty two pound turkey may not be enough.

Well, I never made it to Menards to get the roaster. Had to make a trip for meds for my husband that the VA wasn't providing and the script was sent to the WalMart in Columbus, IN. While in there, I checked to see if WalMart had a Nesco and the price on it. They didn't, but they had an 18 qt. Oster for $29. It has everything the Nesco offered so I bought it. Don't know if it will be as good as the Nesco, but I think it will work for me. I already have the 20 lb. turkey for five of us here at home at Thanksgiving and will probably do a small turkey and a small ham in the RV when we're down at my niece's outside Ocala, Fl at Christmas. Her husband died in September so it won't be a full blown Christmas celebration like usual, but there will be five of us for that meal, possibly seven if my fellow female vet and her boyfriend that live in St. Augustine join us. Haven't been making my own stock in a long time, but I think I'll just have to start doing that as well. Thanks everyone for your input.

Holly, I agree that the skin doesn't get as brown and crispy as it does in an oven, but it does get good enough for my family. I carve in the kitchen, so appearance isn't as crucial, and I don't like the skin, nor does anyone else in the family. Well, Mother says she doesn't like it, but I do catch her pulling the crunchy pieces off the sides of the roaster, LOL. I know we've discussed that "problem" here before, it was a similar issue with the cooking bags, which also deliver a moist and juicy but not so browned or crispy bird.

Good for you, Madonna, I'm glad you found one, and I hope it lives up to your expectations. I think the Oster will work fine for you, Elery's is a Betty Crocker and I didn't even know they made a roaster, and Amanda's is a GE, I think. We've used them all multiple times with success.

You may like it very much for use in the RV, especially if you're going to do a holiday meal in Florida.

Happy (Holiday) Cooking....

Annie

This post was edited by annie1992 on Fri, Nov 15, 13 at 1:11

Thanks, Annie. I feel comfortable with the Oster roaster and can't wait to fix our turkey in it for Thanksgiving. It will be great for doing apple butter in the fall, too. I found the Nesco site very helpful for recipes.

It will be very useful in the RV, and really helpful for making things for pitch ins. Wish I had bought one a long time ago.

As you mentioned in one of your posts, when you have to watch your $$ a good sale price can make a difference. With all my DH's health problems, I do try to watch what I spend and what I spend it on.

Madonna