Nesco Even has recipes for what you are looking for.

I'm sure I remember Annie mentioning baking in her large 18 quart roaster.

Nesco Recipes

Here is a sample recipe:

Peach Maple Tart - 12 or 18 Qt.

1 (8") Pie Crust, unbaked
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1/3 cup All-purpose Flour
1/2 tsp. Lemon Peel, grated
1 Cup plug 2 Tbsp. Heavy Cream
2 Tbsp. Maple Syrup
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
4 Peaches, skinned, cut into quarters

Preheat Nesco� Roaster Oven to 400�F.

Arrange pie crust in 8" round baking dish. Place dish on rack. Set rack in preheated cookwell. Cover; bake 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, with your Nesco� Hand Blender beat eggs in medium mixing bowl until light and frothy. Gradually beat in sugar, flour and lemon peel. Pour in cream, maple syrup and vanilla.

Remove rack with partially baked crust from cookwell and set on heatproof surface. Arrange peach sections on pastry. Pour cream mixture over peaches. Set rack in cookwell. Cover; bake 55 to 60 minutes or until set.

Makes 8 pieces.

I'm not Annie - haven't even played one on television, but I've made quick breads and yeast breads in my Nescos. A bread pan fits nicely. It's an oven. If you can make something in an oven, you can do it in the electric roaster as long as it fits. I make meatloaf, turkey breast, pot roast, ribs, sloppy joes, shredded beef/pork, pork chops, chili, etc. They do a great job on baking potatoes especially with the Roast Air option (gives a nice crispy skin). Equally fine job on scalloped, au gratin, roasted potatoes, etc. Hash browns will work, but they'll be more baked rather than fried but if you like the hashbrown casserole or the like, you're all set. Most any hotdish or casserole type dish works fine in there. Can't think of any offhand that don't.

Chuck the crock pot and get an electric roaster. You'll be better off. I did have a Chef's Pot at one time and I did like it. It was a functional slow cooker (with an adjustable temp control) but so dang hard to clean that I quit using it. Used the Nesco the first time and the Chef's pot went into the garbage.

FWIW, I know several campers that take their 18 qt units with them. Larger oven to make a lasagna and a couple pies for the family.

One comment though, for things like brownies, remember you're going to have a size limitation. It won't handle a 9x13 pan but a small one will go in there and you can rig a rack to have a couple levels I suppose if you wanted to go that route. It's *not* going to do everything for a cook. But it'll do FAR more than a slow cooker.

Thanks Ann & Cynic. That answers most of my question. I forgot to ask if it will work like a slow cooker also, as we tend to get up in the morning, throw something in the crockpot and leave for the day, that is, IF I am smart enough to get something out for dinner the night before! LOL! Most likely, DH will say what's for dinner on the way back, and neither one of us will have remembered to get something out of the freezer!

As to taking an 18 qt. There just isn't room. I wish! We have one of DH's mom's OLD electric roasters. I don't use it much, cause I don't know what to do with it, much. I've used it for cabbage rolls, potatoes, pulled pork (re-heated), stuff like that for grad parties, but nothing else. I have a 5 qt. crockpot that I take in the RV. That's about all the room I would have. Unless we eventually get a sleep number mattress for the bed. In which case I will have under the bed storage. As it is now, I can't lift the bed to utalize what is there.

Tami

I have an 18 quart Nesco. I am not fond of the heat from the sides only baking. Perhaps for a loaf pan it's fine (haven't tried) but in an 8x8 square I found that the middle of the bottom was less done than all the edges. Roasting a turkey was great (no brown skin was not an issue, though the caramelizing makes for better flavor overall), for heating a ham through it worked well. Baking bacon was a success. I have not tried it as a slow cooker. Just my two cents. I still believe it has a purpose in my kitchen.

Eileen

Absolutely it will work like a slow cooker. Better actually, since if it starts boiling too much you can turn it down a little to get the simmer you want. Just set the temp to whatever you want pop your stuff in and you're set. It'll depend on what you're cooking and how long you're going to cook it of course.

A reminder that the Nesco does a wonderful roast chicken, or two if you get the larger roaster. I have a 6 qt. Nesco and fix the delicious Sticky Chicken in mine often:

Roast Sticky Chicken

3 pounds whole chicken
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 large onion -- quartered

Combine all spices together in a small bowl. Rub mixture into chicken WELL, inside & out, patting into the skin & try to make it evenly distributed. Put in a large bag & refrigerate overnight. If you don't have time for this step it will still be delicious!
Just before roasting, stuff the cavity w/ onions.
Roast uncovered at 250F for 5 hours. Baste often w/ pan juices until they caramelize in the pan. Chicken will turn golden brown.

These freeze great and you can make several of them at one time since your oven is on for so long. This chicken is to die for and falls off the bone. For Heating: You can bring these straight from the freezer if you want. From the freezer: put in the microwave on a plate covered w/ paper towels & heat on high 5-7 minutes. Then, place in a 350* oven 15-20 minutes or until hot throughout. Or, you can thaw in the refrigerator overnight, wrap in foil and heat in a low oven for 20-30 minutes.

Thanks for all the replies. Now, where can I get one!

Tami

Tami, I got mine on Amazon, but sometimes you can get a great buy on eBay too.

I've baked brownies in my 6 quart and in my 18 quart roasters and they came out fine both times. I've done small loaves of quick bread in the 6 quart as well as pinto beans and soup, apple butter and roast chicken.

It does a great job of slow cooking, although I did find that I had to turn it down lower than the "slow cook" setting. It's a matter of experimentation, you just have to do it a couple of times to get the heat right.

Oh, and it's great for reheating bread and pizza and that roast chicken! I put the bread and leftover pizza slices on the rack, Elery likes it better than in the microwave. The chicken I wrap in foil or put into a small casserole and warm it up on the rack.

I even bought a couple of small casseroles with lids that fit in the 6 quart, just right for mac and cheese for The princess or a pot pie for me.

I think you'll love it and it would be very handy in the RV, plus you could use it at home.

Say hello to the hubby and the bunnies for us!

Annie

The best price I found when I was looking for the 6 qt roaster was on walmart.com. They will ship to the store free.

Sounds like I will be looking for one! Thanks everyone. Now, you do realize, don't you, that once it gets here, I will be back asking more questions?!

Tami...who will do most anything to get out of cooking most of the time!

Am also interested in the Nesco roaster. Can you tell me whether you have the porcelain or non-stick stainless interior? and why you chose one over the other?

Lizbeth, I have the non-stick, because that's the one that was on sale.

Turns out I like it, clean up is a breeze. Unlike Tami, I love to cook, but I just hate to clean up, so the less scrubbing the better I like it.

Annie

I just ordered mine. Walmart online delivered to a local store. $34.95 plus tax free shipping. Amazon wanted the same price. Whatever that one is that is listed in the two sites is what I got. Both read the same to me. I should have it around the 24th.

Annie, maybe that's why I hate to cook! I hate the clean up too. Mostly, I just don't want to fuss with it anymore.

Tami

Tried my best to justify buying another pot of anykind, but I couldn't, so I quit trying and just ordered mine, red, from Amazon. It was $34 with no tax or shipping. I would rather have had the white but it cost more. I'm aware it is different from a crockpot which I have 2 of, but storage is a real problem for me. Then there's the 2 enameled cast iron pots one of which is permanently parked on my stove. Don't have any more room under the beds,LOL, so it will be interesting, besides I'd have to go upstairs if it were under the bed.

I am anxious to try it out though.

jude