Yes you do..... yes you do...... yes you do...............

LOL, Ann T. Let me help.

Yes, Teresa, you do. Really. I didn't think I did either, but the thing has been invaluable. I don't use it a lot because it's big, I think I'd use a smaller one more, but I really find it useful.

Annie

I found a recipe page from NESCO:

Here is a link that might be useful: NESCO recipes

I was looking around at the Nesco website and there is a lot of information about using the Nesco roaster oven. There's a whole page of "helpful hints" for the roaster. When you are at the recipe page I linked above, look to the left of it and there are several links with help.

I have the 18 quart Nesco and the 6 quart. I do as most people here who have already said and use it for any recipe. Of course, I have mostly used it for soups, stews or Greek Chicken. I love my Nescos so much I built in a transformer in my kitchen so I could keep using them after I moved here. If I found out they had a between size, I would get it sent over here in a heartbeat. Sometimes the 6 qt. is too small and the 18 qt. too big.

Greek Chicken recipe......please?

Teresa

Lisa, they do have an inbetween - a 12 quart.

Ann

About 6-12 months ago during one of these Nesco threads, I discovered that I did have a Nesco. I had tucked it away thinking it was a slow cooker that cooked too hot and I opted for an older crock pot from a thrift store.

Thanks all.

Ohhh I am thinking that I so need a roaster!! I didn't realize all that you could do in them. I have a slow cooker and 4 crock pots of different sizes. We don't do many big family things, but with a growing family of 6 I think that I could get a lot of use out of one. I am thinking that the 12 quart one looks like it would be a perfect size for a variety of uses. Like goldilocks, not too big, not too small....Just right lol!

Stacie

Well, I went to the (dreaded) Wal-mart last night to avoid the onslaught of the trick-or-treaters and to see if they had Nesco roasters - since they have them on their web site. But, nooooooo, no roaster ovens. So I bought my dental floss and batteries and went to see my mom.

BTW, she loved her fudge from the RTM candy/nut shop!
Teresa

Teresa, I don't have a recipe, but I can tell you what I do. I learned to make this from watching my Mom. It was and is one of my favorite meals.
I usually use my Nesco for this, but it can also be made in a dutch oven on the stovetop or in the oven, whatever method you prefer.
Brown in olive oil, a cut up chicken, chicken leg quarters or breasts, depending on what you usually use. I usually use leg quarters. Remove from pot and then saute a couple of onions sliced in half rings. Add canned tomatoes, green beans and potatoes to pot and also return chicken to pot. Cook at a low simmer until chicken is done. I usually cook at least 1,5 hours. I season with salt, pepper and Cavender's Greek Seasoning. You can also use a little sage if you like it.
Hope you like it.
Lisa

Ann!!!!!! Are you now the official forum enabler???? LOL
I really need to figure out how to get one of those over here. Maybe when my son gets to come visit next year.
Lisa

The biggest problem with a roaster oven is people think of it as a slow-cooker only. It's so much more accurate to remember it's a small oven. I was going to link to the Nesco recipe site, but too slow... Was going to just say if you can do it in an oven or slow-cooker do it in the roaster oven, but... too slow.

I found that oiling the cookwell is very important to help make it more non-stick shall we say? If you season the cookwell properly it will be much easier to clean up. It's not unlike the grates on your grill need to be oiled and seasoned. The easiest way I found is get it hot, pour in a little oil and take a paper towel - use tongs if fingers are tender and brush it around. Or use a pastry brush or paint brush. I *never* use non-stick spray on it. At least not anymore. That stuff should be outlawed in my opinion. I've runied enough bakeware from using that garbage and won't on either of my Nescos. OK I did use it a couple times and I regret it. Get one of those pump up oil spray bottles and use decent oil in it. Or take a butter wrapper or a blob of shortening.

What types of things do I cook in it? Virtually anything that fits and is appropriate. I've baked bread in it, meatloaf, soup, stew, chili, hamburgers, pot roast, baked potatoes, well, potatoes of most any kind, roasted, au gratin, etc. Turkey breast, ham, chicken... I've seen people talk that they use it for a frypan, even making pancakes, but I draw the line there - it's not the greatest for that but it can do it if you're in a jam.

The best lasagna I ever made came out of my 4 quart Nesco. It was the first time I tried making it without boiling the noodles. One caution, the edges might get a bit crisp but Virginia Olson of Nesco recomended a sacrificial noodle placed against the side around inside the cookwell. Let that one burn a bit and the rest will be perfect. I never tried it. If you have a larger one (12 or 18 qt) use a pan in the roaster on the rack.

I sometimes line the cookwell with foil to ease cleanup. I bought some crock-pot liners to try out. Don't see why they wouldn't work in it.

Another little trick. The idea is that the two holes in the top are perfect for the right amount of ventilation. Occasionally I want to keep all moisture (and heat) in the unit so I'll lay a sheet of foil over the top, let it sort of droop in the center, then put the lid on, and press down tight. Press down the foil around the cookwell lip and it's a pretty tight seal.

When I make country style ribs, I often make the foil packets like I do for the oven and jut put them in the Nesco. Easy to take tongs and flip them around.

As for the rack, I just take the food out and use tongs to grab the rack, although normally I'll let it just cool in there and clean it when I clean the cookwell.

Beware, I'm not sure if this still applies, but the first operation can give off a smell and even some smoke. Try to do the burn-in outside. Leave the cookwell out and just take the heatwell and cover it, turn it on high and let it go until the smell is gone. My one took 4-6 hours as I recall while the other was fine after probably 1/2 hr to 45 min. There's a coating on the heating element and it needs to burn off. It's a one-time thing but some have been turned off by it. They didn't bother to read the manual.

Don't make it overly complicated. Try it. Just remember the cookwell *does* get hot. But so does a crockpot or a pot on the stove or in the oven. Keep oven mitts handy. I see the new ones have a glass lid available on some models. Interesting.

The other day I was looking again at the instructions and recipe for the no-knead bread recipe that you cook in a dutch oven and the thought crossed my mind - why not try it in the Nesco??? It won't do 500° but it will do 450° and many sources say 425°-450° is fine. Size should be about right. Before spending megabucks on an expensive dutch oven for a loaf of bread it might tell me if I like it or not. Plus I wouldn't have to bend over that big hot oven to dump the dough and such. I'd think it's worth a try anyway. Any volunteers? :)

Thank you cynic for all that great information. Now, I'm REALLY interested in finding out if anyone has baked the no knead bread it theirs? That would be GREAT!

Thanks cynic and everyone for the great info. That is what I was looking for. Cynic the oil spray mister thing is just what I need. Saw one on Amazon and didn't order, now I will.
My 80 year old mom checked out my new Nesco and I had to order one for her. The weight or lack thereof was what won her heart. The crock pot is too heavy for her to lift now but the Nesco was just the right weight.
Annie, Apple butter!!!....been making small amounts in my mom's crockpot....now I can get a bunch made at once. But will use my 16 qt nesco. Have a bushel of apples waiting. Thank you. I really need to put my brain in gear more often! LOL
Teresa nc...yes! you do need one. I think it would work beautifully for soup samples at market.....(I do read all the posts here :))
arkansasgirl...thanks for the link to the nesco website. I had checked it out but wanted more "real world" ideas like we have received here. Nothing gives better information about the use of a product than real people who have used it. Nesco does have some good recipes there though, don't they? I use their dehydrator recipes all the time.
pfmastin....me too. Who has baked bread???? Do you use a pan or just put it in the cookwell? Intriguing idea.
So thank you all for the ideas.
Murphy

You're welcome. Any other questions, ask away I'll try to answer them if I can.

I can't be the first to think of trying the Nesco for artisan bread, can I? Or can I?? Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut, contracted with Nesco to put my name on some ovens and sell them as "The Cynic No-Knead Bread Bakery"! If you act now, I'll cut one of the "easy payments" and throw in another Bread Bakery FREE! Anyone care to co-host an infomercial??? LOL

Another question, please: when using this roaster oven, do you have to be careful of your countertop or the surface that it's sitting on? Should you sit it on a wood board? What if I wanted to put it out of the way and sit it on top of the dryer in my laundry room? Would you sit it on a towel to prevent scratching?

Where have you put your Nesco to cook and what surface protection (if any) have you used?

Thanks!
Teresa

Teresa, we've set those roasters everywhere from my tiled countertop to the formica island, Amanda's cheap whatever counter, folding plastic tables in the garage, the floor of the town hall. I've never had a problem in any of those places. We even set them on tables with those cheap plastic table covers you buy in rolls and not had damage. Be careful, though, the sides DO get hot. Of course, so does my crockpot.

The only thing I'm careful not to do is set it under my cupboards, which are wall mounted. There may or may not be a problem but I didn't want the steam rising up and perhaps warping the cupboards and I don't have room to carefully lift the lid if I do that, so I could burn myself easily, I think. I'm more afraid of hurting myself than I am the cabinets, frankly.

Annie

Thanks, Annie! That is what I needed to know!

Teresa

So I just bought a 6 qt. white porcelain well Nesco! What convinced me (besides everyone here) was reading the manual online. You can brown meats in the oven, add other ingredients, and then continue to bake. Can't do that in a crock pot. I like to cook larger amounts then freeze portions and share with my mom. Plus, this will mean less heating up the gas oven for items that won't fit in the toaster oven. And the shipping was reasonable from the Nesco web site. I like the wide range of recipes on their web site too.

Thanks you bunch of enablers!
Teresa

I've used mine on a Rubbermaid plastic cabinet! (One of those with the doors, about waist high - nice size and height and I stored it inside the cabinet.) The oven has little feet on the bottom that raise it up, much like most appliances like toaster oven, crockpot, etc. I'd venture a guess that a crockpot might put more heat out the bottom than the Nesco (I can't speak to other roaster ovens) since many crockpots heat from the bottom, where the Nesco heats from the sides - they call it the "circle of heat", hence less bottom burning. No need to worry about that. I have cutting boards under mine to keep the shelf cleaner, ease cleanup and I can set utensils next it it and the lid, but it's really not a big thing.

Many people use the dryer in the basement or laundry room for holding the Nesco. It's a good height, (normally) flat and a large surface and the washer can give more surface for utensils, lid, etc, although the large ones I believe still have the clip to hold the lid don't they?

Congratulations on your Nesco purchase! Hope you enjoy it tremendously and please post back with your thoughts after some use. One comment on browning. Keep in mind the Nesco holds a *lot* of moisture and doesn't dry things out as much as a conventional oven so you have moist results. This can impact the browning. Pat the meat dry and even remove moisture if you want to brown things a lot. For pot roast, I'll usually brown it first in the electric frypan or on the stovetop. You could do this in the Nesco but it'd take more time. Again, in this respect it's much like a slow cooker or a conventional oven, even the stovetop. I have however taken a chuck roast, cranked up the Nesco to it's highest and browned it a bit, then added the rest and moved on. The sides of course are hottest so press it against there for quickest results.

BTW, don't forget the uses outside either. Summertime - hot kitchen? Still want pot roast, ham or turkey? Put it outside in the garage, on the picnic table or other safe surface. Use common sense for power, meaning don't leave it sitting there in the rain! I know people who don't like the smell of certain things, corn beef and cabbage, especially cabbage come to mind so they'll cook that outside. Use it for hot beverages. Mulled cider in the fall, use it for cocktail meatballs, etc on a buffet. Use your imagination.

LOL, cynic, I did lamb in it once for Elery, and put it on the back deck so I didn't stink up my house. (grin)

I also use my big roaster to make beef stock, I roast the bones right in the insert/pan, then add my seasonings and liquid and let it simmer. Works like a charm.

Annie

Glad to know that it can be used most anywhere. I did put a couple of potholders under mine because I was afraid it would get to hot and burn my countertop. An old crockpot did that once and is why I didn't have a crockpot for many many years!
I made applesauce in mine yesterday. Cut up a bunch of apples, filled the cookwell almost full, set it for 275, 275 was too hot, burned some around the sides, lowered to about 200 and in about 45 minutes....applesauce! I did stir occasionally. Perfect applesauce.
Apple butter today! Gonna start at 200 this time and go from there. I guess this slow cooking is a trial and error kind of thing with the temp adjustments. I need to do some temp taking on my stove to get an idea of what temp "low" really is. Never thought about it before....when something is simmering away on "low" or "med", exactly what temp is that???? What is the temp in a crockpot that is set on "low" or "high" There's a question for you, cynic! :) I bet you know the answer. Thanking you very much in advance! (big smile for you)
Murphy

Yum, homemade applesauce! That will be one of the first things I cook in my Nesco when it arrives! Yesterday I copied/pasted lots of the recipes from the Nesco site. And I definitely want to try the 5 hour Roast Sticky Chicken recipe (not on that site) first. If it does that well I will know the purchase was worth it.
Teresa

"What is the temp in a crockpot that is set on "low" or "high" There's a question for you, cynic! :) I bet you know the answer."
Aw shuckins... (kicking dirt with my toe...), how nice. Ahem. Actually I did some research on this some years ago. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me but essentially it varies! Slow cookers use relative terms not unlike washing machines use "hot" "warm" and "cold", none of which are defined. As I recall, "low" on a slow cooker could range anywhere from about 150° to 250° and high could vary from something like 200° to over 300°. So one machine could actually be hotter on low than another machine on high. How's that for precision? One of the pots that I had was a real pain. Had to switch between high and low all the time. Low was so cool that chili wasn't a good eating temperature and high of course boiled it so to have it out for several hours it was constantly switching back and forth and boy would *that* build up a nice crust on that crock! And no, it wasn't pleasant to clean. My one "Chef's Pot" had a variable temperature control on it. That unit I actually liked (it was functional) but it died.

Murphy, when I did the apple butter, I left it on 250 until the apples cooked down and were soft, and stirred them frequently. I put a couple of cups of apple cider in the bottom of the roaster. With the lid on it took an hour and a couple of stirs before they were cooked down, and then I just simmered until I got apple butter. Stirring occasionally, of course.

Annie

Annie, do you test your apple butter on a cold saucer? I always did that to be sure it had cooked down enough.

Teresa

Well you all talked me into this! The price was right and it was in stock so my Nesco Professional 6-Quart SS Roaster Oven with Glass Cover and Non-Stick Cookwell will be shipped from Amazon by Nov. 10th. I am looking forward to it helping me with Thanksgiving dinner. Since the only use my crockpot gets these days is making hot spiced wine or apple juice; I see a lot more cooking happening with the roaster. I will pass the crockpot over to my daughter or if she doesn't want it, Goodwill will take it.
Kat

Kat, good for you.

Teresa, I used to test the apple butter but I've made the same recipe since I was a child, at least 40 years, and now I can tell whether it's done by appearance. It just "looks done" at some point, and that's when I put it into jars and seal it up. I never measure seasonings either, I add some, taste, add more if necessary. It's second nature after all these years.

Annie

Thank you cynic. I knew you would know!! Not as precise an answer as I had hoped for but like you say, it is all relative. LOL Each pot is different. Guess I will have to take my own temperatures in my own pot and go from there.
Annie, thanks for the tips on apple butter. Life got in the way and I didn't get to the apple butter, maybe sometime this weekend.
Teresa, thanks for reminding me of the Sticky Chicken Recipe. I had not thought of it for the roaster, perfect though. And one store around here has chickens for .67 lb.
Murphy

Yesterday I saw that there are bread recipes on the Nesco web site recipe page. There are quick breads and even English Muffin bread - which is a good, quick yeast bread. They have you put the bread in an 8.5"x4.5" pan, then set the pan in the cookwell to bake. But I think the round cookwell (greased or oiled) would be fine for a round loaf. You could let the round loaf rise in the cookwell, then put it in the preheated Nesco oven. I want to make a Portuguese Cornbread recipe similar to what we had at our quilting forum retreat in early October. It was really delicious!

Teresa

Teresa, I've baked brownies in my roaster, I'm not surprised there are baking recipes. They came out just fine, BTW.

I haven't tried the yeast bread, though. now I really DO need a smaller one...

Annie

Boy oh boy, am I a happy little camper....

I spotted a Nesco 12 qt. convection roaster nestled among old crock-pots and coffee pots at the Salvation Army Thrift Store the other day. This puppy clearly had never been used before, had all the paperwork. The owner's manual was dated 2003, I think. It was pristine!

I plugged it in for a quick test, checked it all over, and woo-hoo brand new, scooped it up right then and there for $25.00

I believe it's model 4842 if memory serves (has a little fan attachment for convection that can be used or not).

I'm so pleased because at 12 qt capacity, it is not too big and unwieldy to lift or store, and will be a perfect addition to my regular oven, and my 4 qt and 7 qt crock-pots.

So, if the need isn't urgent, stroll the small appliance area of the local thrift stores, Goodwill, Salvation Army from time to time and maybe you'll get lucky like me! Yippie!

Thrift stores are a great place to get crock-pots too....always just 4 or 5 bucks and they last forever, if you don't care about the dated look.

Happy Acey!

Score!!!

Wow Acey, congratulations! I'm jealous. Not fair. The 12 qt seems like a nice size for a lot of things.

Rosewitch, conrats to you too. Hope you enjoy yours like I enjoy mine. Just a reminder, be sure to put it outside or in a ventilated area and burn it off for a while. Warm up the cookwell a bit too and season it with oil like any nonstick. I'm very cautious about how I treat my nonstick cookwells and mine are still in perfect shape. The glass lid intrigues me. Let me know if it has a vent in it, I'm curious.

Happy Nescoing to you both!

cynic,
Thanks I have received my unit and finally had time to unpack it. The box was in perfect condition and the unit is in great shape except for one thing. Along one side of the non-stick cookwell's interior base there are several raised bumps and I am a bit concerned that with use the coating may start to crack. I have contacted Nesco about this and am waiting to hear back from them. The glass lid does have two small vent holes; one on either side of the knob. I really like the size of this unit and I am looking forward to using it.

If anyone in the area of Cocoa, Rockledge or Merritt Island Florida is looking for a Nesco....heads up!!!

There is a white Nesco 18 quart roaster at the Humane Society Thrift Shop on US 1 in Rockledge!!!

It looks to be in fine shape, although needs to be washed of it's cobwebs. The cookwell is fine, and the cord looks good. Just needs a good cleaning. They have it marked at $20.00. It is way in the back of the store where the small appliances are!

I've been having the same argument with myself as some of you have.

Reasons I don't need a Nesco:

1 I have no storage for another pot/roaster/kettle.
2 I have 2 crockpots a large and a small.
3 I have an old but good cast iron dutch oven.
4 I have a 5(?) qt. enamaled cast iron pot.
5 I have an enameled cast iron brasier.
6 I have a 5 qt Stainless dutch oven.
7 There are only 2 of us.
8 I'm pushing 80.
9 I have no room for another large pot of any kind.

I have to stop reading all these posts about Nesco. It's killing me.

Christened the 6 qt. Nesco oven today by making some chicken noodle soup in it. I even left the house while the chicken was simmering in broth and vegetables! I like to live dangerously sometimes.

This was my delicious Curried Chicken Noodle Soup from many years ago. It originally used Chicken Noodle Soup Starter, a product that is no longer around. At one point, I emptied the canister of Soup Starter, separated the noodles from the dried vegetables and tried to figure out exactly what was in the mix; it was dried soup vegetables including potato, dried noodles, some "herbs and spices" and probably some dried chicken bouillon.

This recipe has added white wine to the broth to cook the chicken, then some cubed Velveeta cheese and 1 t. plus curry powder. I had bought some of the dried soup vegetables at the Amish market, added diced onion, carrot, celery and potato after the chicken was cooked, then added in the chicken meat, 8 oz. of the Velveeta, and the curry powder. Tastes as good as I remember! Who needs stinkin' Soup Starter? Not me!

Teresa

Jude, I want to support you in your decision not to get a Nesco. I have many of those debates and I am winning more than losing of late. With that said, I do have an unopened yogurt maker that I purchased in September when there was a thread on homemade yogurt. I even have and extra set of jars (also unopened).

That's funny Jude31...all those reasons fit me except the pushing 80 part...HAHA!

I just received a Nesco roater from my mom, but there is no rack inside it. What does that look like?

I live in Wisconsin where the Nesco is a tradition. I believe it is made here or at least it was, who knows anymore, but it is a great device and I use it all the time. Just realize that it is not all things for everyone and you will be happy with your purchase. I first saw the Nesco in use at a friends house where Mom would cook with it a lot particularly game. So it has a lot of nostalgia for me. I make their chili recipe for the 6 qt a lot adapted a bit to my own tastes and people seem to enjoy it. It's great when it's too hot to use the oven. I own several 6 qt models and a 18 qt size which I use to cook for large family gatherings and for turkey. You'll want to experiment with it before you use it for an important family gathering or you may be disappointed. There is a technique for getting a turkey to brown correctly and if you don't do it right the turkey won't brown and may have a steamed taste. Still good but maybe not what you were looking for. On sale I have seen the 6 qt size selling for $25, buy one and support American industry and get a bargain to boot!

I just made a pork shoulder roast in my 6 qt for pulled pork sandwiches. It worked really well. Didn't end up steamed or braised the way things get in a slow cooker or crockpot. I roasted the pork on the oval rack Annie referred to, so the meat actually was elevated and out of the juices . It also browned in the process. Very close to doing it in an oven.

I use the roaster for making roasted/steamed beets. Cook them in a covered Pyrex loaf pan using the rack again. I love beets fixed this way but don't want to turn on the oven during the summer.

Every year I read this thread, and every year I am determined to get a big Nesco Roaster. (I have only one regular oven and holiday meals can be interesting trying to juggle oven time.) In the past I've found that products now frequently come in several different qualities, and price isn't necessarily an indicator of such.

So, question: Are there differences of quality in Nesco products... specifically the Roaster? If so, how does one know if they are getting the "top of the line"?

That kind of thing happens most with things that are made for large retailers like Walmart, Costcom and Home Depot. It looks the same but is made differently. I believe that the stock numbers are different. Functionally they must be, but I don't know if there are exceptions or tricks involved. The Nesco is so simple, I can't imagine where they would scrimp to make it cheaper. The insulation? My Nesco experience is mostly with a very very old one, though they haven't changed in general design, much.

If you buy one at Costco or Amazon, they'll back it no questions asked. Other stores have similar policies as well, but Costco and Amazon get the raves.

Thanks Annie 1992. Now I have to clean out my mom's house so I have something to look for :)

I wonder if I can buy a rack if I can't find it.

Oh dear, I checked the Nesco site and didn't find replacement racks. Maybe you could make one, wire together some canning jar rings or something.....

Annie

There are generic options:

http://www.thepartsbiz.com/Universal-18-22-Quart-Roaster-Oven-Replacement-Roaster-Lift-Rack-_p_11833.html

I also found this in the FAQ about replacement parts. I take "internal" to mean things like heating coils, not a rack to go inside:

You can purchase most replacement parts by calling our office at
1-800-288-4545 with the model number & serial number OR date code of
your unit.

*Please note we cannot send or sell any type of internal parts as per insurance restrictions.*