Lunch Bucket Crockpot

[Bonnie G #2]

Oh thanks for that review - I think it's going to get a lot of use from my DD, probably less with me - but it'll be really nice for left overs from the sound of it and I can suffer through the cord issues as long as it works. I'll be eager to hear how it does with the spagetti.

[**Tinkerbell**]

Excellent review, BusyMom!
Thanks for the detail about eating with the cord and the fast cooling. I'll be interested to hear about reheated leftovers that aren't liquid.

*Tink

[duonyte]

Thanks so much for letting us know how it works. I am very interested.

[Sage]

Love to come and visit here; always such great ideas and this one really is something for that Christmas list. Hope I can find here in Canada.

[Jacqueline in KY]

I am working the election here in the states on Tuesday, I said today I wish I had a thermos to take soup in. Now, this would have been perfect for that, but then I just need one twice a year, on election days so I don't think I need it in my way.

Hope everyone enjoys it though.

[Buzymomof3]

wow - today I found the best use for it!! I brought some cider and am keeping it warm so I can have a cup of hot cider to warm me up whenever I want and it doesn't get hot enough to burn. Next week - hot chocolate!

Still haven't put anything non-soup in it, but I will soon! It really only takes about an hour to an hour and a half to heat to eating temperature. I'm enjoying having it more than I thought.

[Bonnie G #2]

Great idea BusyMom, I've heated up left over spagetti in mine when I was having lunch alone and it was great, I put it on and then left it until I was ready to eat. Can't wait until DD gets hers to try out this Christmas, I think she's really going to love it.

[FloridaMelon]

I've had mine about a month now and just love it! I leave it on my side desk at work and bring frozen stew in my lunch bag, turn it on when I get there and enjoy a really hot lunch at noon, 1 or even 2 pm (kind of gets crazy at work sometimes).

Sometimes I carry it down to the lunchroom and when I do everyone comments on how cute it is!

And the best part is, it really doesn't smell enough to drive everyone crazy. My office-mate is a super-smeller. You know, she's the one we send out into the public area to sniff out something we think we *may* have gotten a whiff of.

[**Tinkerbell**]

"Super Smeller"

That's me. It's fine when it's something yummy, but half the time my youngest (6 years old) asks me while riding in the convertible, "Mom, what's that smell?"
So I automatically take a big whiff, only to realize that she knows dang well it's cow poo and I'm going to start gagging!

[Buzymomof3]

Too funny Tink! My brats, I mean kids, are like that too.

I finally used mine for non-liquid. For our feast day I warmed gravy up in it (I know, still liquid). And then today I did my leftover chinese in it. It was great, the rice steamed back to life quite nicely, and the meat and veggies were hot but not overdone which sometimes happens in a microwave. I was a little afraid it would 'crust' and be hard to clean where the top of the food meets the side of the pan since it's so thin, but no problems at all as long as I clean it fairly quick. It might crust, but it doesn't get hot enough to burn on. Yeah!

I am SO GLAD I got this little guy. I highly recommend it!

[**Tinkerbell**]

omgosh! We always have tons of Chinese leftovers and I don't even bother with the steamed rice after it's refrigerated, cause it's always dried out. I really do need this little gadgie. I want the pink one.

[Bonnie G #2]

Oh, I've got to try that too - hadn't even thought of rice and veggies but bet it'll work perfect.

[Buzymomof3]

Mine was part of a meal that had a bit of sauce left. If your rice dish didn't have any liquid left I'd probably put a tablespoon or two of water in with it.

I think the concept I never got was that this is a warmer, not a crock-pot cooker. So most of the fears I had about it overcooking and being hard to clean never came to light. It just warms it to a wonderful eating temperature which is too low to cause issues with the food sticking to the pot. Canned soup can take as little as an hour to heat.

Also have to say, my son loves the cotton candy from Sam's club. I've found the round plastic container from that is the perfect size. Filled about 2/3 full (I marked with a sharpie), I can use it for a measuring device, and it makes a great freezer container. When the soup comes out of it, the frozen chunk fits in the pot perfectly, so I never have to take my insert home, I just transport my meal in the candy container back and forth.

[Bonnie G #2]

Buzymomof3 wrote:
Mine was part of a meal that had a bit of sauce left. If your rice dish didn't have any liquid left I'd probably put a tablespoon or two of water in with it.

I think the concept I never got was that this is a warmer, not a crock-pot cooker. So most of the fears I had about it overcooking and being hard to clean never came to light. It just warms it to a wonderful eating temperature which is too low to cause issues with the food sticking to the pot. Canned soup can take as little as an hour to heat.

Also have to say, my son loves the cotton candy from Sam's club. I've found the round plastic container from that is the perfect size. Filled about 2/3 full (I marked with a sharpie), I can use it for a measuring device, and it makes a great freezer container. When the soup comes out of it, the frozen chunk fits in the pot perfectly, so I never have to take my insert home, I just transport my meal in the candy container back and forth.

That's a great idea, I'm not a cotten candy person, but if I can find them I know my DGSs would take care of that for me so that I could have the containters.

[**Tinkerbell**]

Great idea, Buzy!
I wouldn't have any trouble selling extra cotton candy around here either.