I like my old fridges, but....
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I used mine for Thanksgiving this year to cook a ham, but I really don't think they are very efficient at stuff like that.
Their best and highest use is church suppers, family reunions, neighborhood get-togethers and the like. When my best friend turned 40 we had a big picnic for him at one of the local parks. I bought a few extra-large cans of baked beans from Costco, heated them up to about 500 degrees in the roaster (since there was no electricity at the park, I wanted to be sure they would be hot for supper), and loaded the thing in the Volvo. It was a huge hit. The only trouble was their lids were not designed for transport. I duct taped mine down, and had to make sure I cleaned it well before the tape baked on.
Other than that, the roaster was "in its element"
Their best and highest use is church suppers, family reunions, neighborhood get-togethers and the like. When my best friend turned 40 we had a big picnic for him at one of the local parks. I bought a few extra-large cans of baked beans from Costco, heated them up to about 500 degrees in the roaster (since there was no electricity at the park, I wanted to be sure they would be hot for supper), and loaded the thing in the Volvo. It was a huge hit. The only trouble was their lids were not designed for transport. I duct taped mine down, and had to make sure I cleaned it well before the tape baked on.
Other than that, the roaster was "in its element"
Be sure to give away the roasters soon so you can take them as a tax deduction. I can tell you must not be Italian. In our area Every Italian family has at least one Westinghouse roaster as they use them for all the rigatoni. An Irish roaster is the blue graniteware that goes in the oven so those stay at home. Also, I find that Protestant churches have more social activities than Catholic churches do and would need a roaster for more events.
Oh, another thing, the "real" Westinghouse roasters cook more evenly and gently than the Hamilton Beach ones they make today. Found that out at the Westinghouse museum.
exploder321
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Our church has 4 roasters... Soon to be 5... We also have two stoves, 2 kitchen aid dishwashers and a massive commerical frige that i can fit in)
The Italian Connection
Bob! I'm 1/2 Italian! In fact, the last time I recall using that roaster it was for a huge cioppino party some friends and I threw.
The brief history on the roasters is this:
My mom had the smaller 1940's oval shaped Nesco. It was actually an Italian or Portuguese friend of hers from church/school who had the larger Westinghouse. But that lady liked the smaller size of my mom's Nesco and would often borrow it and leave the larger Westy one in exchange. I guess one time she brought the Nesco back and said to keep the Westy because my mom ended up with both.
Interesting to hear that the Westinghouses cook more evenly than the HB's. My only concern is that the sides get hot. I'm sure the newer Nesco and HB roasters are better insulated and safer that way. Also interesting to hear there's an Italian connection. I've been told the same thing about my family's first TV, a 1951 Capehart that I'm debating on having restored, but that's for another thread on another web site!
Bob! I'm 1/2 Italian! In fact, the last time I recall using that roaster it was for a huge cioppino party some friends and I threw.
The brief history on the roasters is this:
My mom had the smaller 1940's oval shaped Nesco. It was actually an Italian or Portuguese friend of hers from church/school who had the larger Westinghouse. But that lady liked the smaller size of my mom's Nesco and would often borrow it and leave the larger Westy one in exchange. I guess one time she brought the Nesco back and said to keep the Westy because my mom ended up with both.
Interesting to hear that the Westinghouses cook more evenly than the HB's. My only concern is that the sides get hot. I'm sure the newer Nesco and HB roasters are better insulated and safer that way. Also interesting to hear there's an Italian connection. I've been told the same thing about my family's first TV, a 1951 Capehart that I'm debating on having restored, but that's for another thread on another web site!
That may just be hype about the Westinghouse being more accurate but I doubt that the HB roasters are better insulated, they look exactly like Westinghouse but are made from thinner metal - how else can they sell for 39.95 at Big Lots. We have a Nesco roaster (6 quart) and it gets just as hot on the outside as on the inside.
All of the Italian families in our neighborhood had a Westinghouse roaster, often used for rigatoni and chicken when they had large family get-togethers. A Polish Catholic church also has as collection of roasters, for their sausage and Hunuska? They seemed to be popular with some ethnic groups and not others, we Irish just have Irish roasters you place in the oven. So did you donate the roaster to your church or volunteer fire company yet?
All of the Italian families in our neighborhood had a Westinghouse roaster, often used for rigatoni and chicken when they had large family get-togethers. A Polish Catholic church also has as collection of roasters, for their sausage and Hunuska? They seemed to be popular with some ethnic groups and not others, we Irish just have Irish roasters you place in the oven. So did you donate the roaster to your church or volunteer fire company yet?
Bob, I think I'm going to wait for New Years' Eve to come and go before I donate the roaster. Looks like my partner and I will be hosting and I might find a reason to use it and justify hanging on to it. I've donated enough other stuff already this year to manage my usual tax write off so can wait until after the first of the year, and I'd like to see that bright red indicator light glowing on the Westinghouse while it performs one last task for me.
Thanks for the advice on the newer units. I had no idea so few changes were made and assumed that since your average toaster is insulated these days, that this roaster revival would contain some technological and/or safety improvements. Now I know there's virtually no difference in the 50-year old roaster I have from the brand new ones, except I'll bet the new ones don't have the convenience of a detachable cord!
Thanks for the advice on the newer units. I had no idea so few changes were made and assumed that since your average toaster is insulated these days, that this roaster revival would contain some technological and/or safety improvements. Now I know there's virtually no difference in the 50-year old roaster I have from the brand new ones, except I'll bet the new ones don't have the convenience of a detachable cord!
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