How to control the temperature inside your crockpot

[Exchaner]

For those who have trouble controlling the precise temp inside their crockpot, there is a simple solution. I connect mine to a dimmer used for lamps and it will control the temp inside to any degree I want below 160.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DI241/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

The total cost of the dimmer plus a small crockpot from target : $25

 

[Boletus]

I like that idea. Of course I suppose someone has to discuss safety and I am curious, so I will start that by asking if the 300 watt rating for that unit is good enough for this application, or if it does not matter, since the unit will take your 110 volt power and just max the output at 300 watts. I did a tiny bit of web searching that indicates at least some full size crock pots max out at around 300 watts on the high setting and around 200 on low. A newer CP should have the power output rating on its underside, so perhaps that is worth looking at. Of course excessive heat at the power regulating device is one sign there might be issues, so do you notice any heat coming from the dimmer?

Again, I do not know whether this is really an issue or not, just asking out of curiosity.

 

[Exchaner]

My small crock-pot has a power setting of 150 watts so I am OK. But in no case should your device go above 300 watts with this particular dimmer. You might end up melting the dimmer. They have other dimmers at higher ratings. I will check my other, bigger crock pot to see it's rating. I do know my rice cooker is rated at 600.

Edit: I checked my bigger crockpot and it's rated at 225-275 watts. I won't be using it since I am only steeping a few bottles that fit into the small crockpot. It's safer anyway since I don't like to push the limits of the dimmer.

 

[Boletus]

Thanks for clarifying on that. I was unsure how dimmers work, and that answers my questions completely.

 

[stump123]

If you want exact temperatures you could use a PID temperature controller. They are 20 to 40 bucks on Amazon. You have to do a bit of wiring with them but the easiest way is to cut an extension cord in half and use it for the wires. They will keep the temps within 1 degree for the cheaper models and up to 1/10 of a degree for the better ones. As a bonus, if you are into modernist cooking, you will have also made yourself a sous vide machine.