Thrifting Finds, and a couple of questions
- Thread starter rp2813
- Start date
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Answers:
1) Yes, that slow cooker/deep fryer combo had a frying basket insert when it was new; it hung onto the two studs by means of two "keyhole" slots on the side of the basket. If I were you, I'd check back with that thrift store to see if the basket has made it out onto the sales floor - it may have gotten separated in the sorting area. If you don't find it, it's possible that whoever donated it didn't know where the basket was at the time of donation (if a young person was donating leftovers from Grandma's estate, it's also possible they didn't know what the basket was - some of today's young people are nearly feral about stuff like that).
2) The chafing dish uses liquid Sterno fuel; you pour it in to saturate the Fiberglas "wick" material inside. Liquid Sterno comes in a squeezy bottle and is found alongside the canned Sterno. The bottle is bright yellow.
Nice finds!
1) Yes, that slow cooker/deep fryer combo had a frying basket insert when it was new; it hung onto the two studs by means of two "keyhole" slots on the side of the basket. If I were you, I'd check back with that thrift store to see if the basket has made it out onto the sales floor - it may have gotten separated in the sorting area. If you don't find it, it's possible that whoever donated it didn't know where the basket was at the time of donation (if a young person was donating leftovers from Grandma's estate, it's also possible they didn't know what the basket was - some of today's young people are nearly feral about stuff like that).
2) The chafing dish uses liquid Sterno fuel; you pour it in to saturate the Fiberglas "wick" material inside. Liquid Sterno comes in a squeezy bottle and is found alongside the canned Sterno. The bottle is bright yellow.
Nice finds!
Thanks for the info!
We basically don't deep fry at all so I'm not concerned, but will poke around at Savers next time to see if the basket might be there. Alas, I'd never be able to convince them that the basket should be free since it belongs with something I already bought.
I'll be purchasing some liquid Sterno when I find it. A far more civilized arrangement than opening a plain can and lighting it on fire.
We basically don't deep fry at all so I'm not concerned, but will poke around at Savers next time to see if the basket might be there. Alas, I'd never be able to convince them that the basket should be free since it belongs with something I already bought.
I'll be purchasing some liquid Sterno when I find it. A far more civilized arrangement than opening a plain can and lighting it on fire.
polkanut
Well-known member
That dimmer control will come in especially handy for those special "moments" in le boudoir.
norgeway
Well-known member
Deep Fryer..
This is a Sunbeam product.
This is a Sunbeam product.
After plugging the dimmer switch in last night, I found that it has a small neon lamp inside so it's easy to find in the dark. It works out nicely in the guest bedroom . . . er . . . boudoir, as it's much easier than reaching for/trying to locate one of the dual pull-chains on the bedside lamp.
Fuel
I've successfully used denatured alcohol in these burners. Pro/cons alcohol vs Sterno anyone?
I've successfully used denatured alcohol in these burners. Pro/cons alcohol vs Sterno anyone?
I've revived this thread because . . .
I may be using the chafing dish on New Year's Eve. Two questions:
1) Is denatured alcohol OK to use as was mentioned by Sarah directly above?
2) Whether it's liquid Sterno or denatured alcohol, how much is typically required to fill the burner assembly?
P.S.
I discovered a hairline crack in the bottom of the crock on the Penncrest cooker/fryer. I don't think it's safe to use, and wouldn't count on finding a replacement any time soon. :-(
I may be using the chafing dish on New Year's Eve. Two questions:
1) Is denatured alcohol OK to use as was mentioned by Sarah directly above?
2) Whether it's liquid Sterno or denatured alcohol, how much is typically required to fill the burner assembly?
P.S.
I discovered a hairline crack in the bottom of the crock on the Penncrest cooker/fryer. I don't think it's safe to use, and wouldn't count on finding a replacement any time soon. :-(
maytagbear
Well-known member
Sterno, gel or liquid
IS essentially denatured alcohol, though I think liquid Sterno is slightly deodorized (I may be incorrect.) With either one, gel or liquid, the fumes of Sterno make me want to vomit, so if I am at a function where it is being used, I stay away from the warmers unless I am actually getting something to eat.
My former fondue set's burner took a generous half cup of the stuff.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
IS essentially denatured alcohol, though I think liquid Sterno is slightly deodorized (I may be incorrect.) With either one, gel or liquid, the fumes of Sterno make me want to vomit, so if I am at a function where it is being used, I stay away from the warmers unless I am actually getting something to eat.
My former fondue set's burner took a generous half cup of the stuff.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
polkanut
Well-known member
Denatured alcohol will burn faster than Sterno. The Sterno is jellied denatured alcohol, and thus a bit more solid making it burn longer. As far as how much to use, I would make sure the Fiberglas wick inside the burner is well saturated, but make sure there is no standing alcohol inside before lighting it to be safe.
ovrphil
Well-known member
Excellent chaffing dish - love that Danish style.
Your slow cooker find w/o the basket is the same thing with the one I found a few months.
I like that top on your unit - has me thinking now...mine isn't original. I call it bittersweet, instead of Halloween orange.
So, Sunbeam made these for Penneys, eh?
Your slow cooker find w/o the basket is the same thing with the one I found a few months.
I like that top on your unit - has me thinking now...mine isn't original. I call it bittersweet, instead of Halloween orange.
So, Sunbeam made these for Penneys, eh?
ovrphil
Well-known member
uh, this is my unit in whole - yours looks more mid-century. If you locate a basket, are you going to use it as a fryer? Ours has a problem- doesn't reach more than 155F. (thermostat problem).
Hmmmm.
Phil, I think that even though the glass lid isn't original, it would perform better than the lightweight one that came with these cookers. My experience with slow cookers has taught me that lighter weight lids tend to spit moisture and make a mess. I bought my mom one that behaved that way.
I haven't tested my cooker's thermostat, but you've given me the incentive to do so. How did you test yours? I'd be aiming an infrared instant-read thermometer gun at mine. If it checks out OK, perhaps we need to discuss making one good unit out of the two we have. I'm not all that attached to mine if you're wanting a functioning one to use as a slow cooker (or deep fryer if you ever locate a basket).
Phil, I think that even though the glass lid isn't original, it would perform better than the lightweight one that came with these cookers. My experience with slow cookers has taught me that lighter weight lids tend to spit moisture and make a mess. I bought my mom one that behaved that way.
I haven't tested my cooker's thermostat, but you've given me the incentive to do so. How did you test yours? I'd be aiming an infrared instant-read thermometer gun at mine. If it checks out OK, perhaps we need to discuss making one good unit out of the two we have. I'm not all that attached to mine if you're wanting a functioning one to use as a slow cooker (or deep fryer if you ever locate a basket).
ovrphil
Well-known member
Ralph, this unit I have seems to have a short in the thermostat. I tried boiling water w/o the ceramic insert and lid. It boiled right away. Dry and clean surface and insert the ceramic pot and lid, turn to maximum heat and
it won't get hotter than 150F ...measured with a candy thermometer, held away from the surfaces in the water only. Once or twice the light came on in its maximum position and I tried tapping it or moving it to see if I could coax it into being connected in that higher temperature thermostat setting. No luck. I've never seen or used an infrared instant read thermometer gun, but it sounds like a winner to me!
There are so many crock pots at Goodwill and the thrifts; most are newer types. I gravitated to the look of this one , so yeah, I'd be very interested in your unit! Email me when its convenient...we can work something out.
Thanks Ralph!
it won't get hotter than 150F ...measured with a candy thermometer, held away from the surfaces in the water only. Once or twice the light came on in its maximum position and I tried tapping it or moving it to see if I could coax it into being connected in that higher temperature thermostat setting. No luck. I've never seen or used an infrared instant read thermometer gun, but it sounds like a winner to me!
There are so many crock pots at Goodwill and the thrifts; most are newer types. I gravitated to the look of this one , so yeah, I'd be very interested in your unit! Email me when its convenient...we can work something out.
Thanks Ralph!
Phil, I'll see what I can determine about mine. The guide on the front advises to set the temp control pointer on the red center band (probably around 250 degrees) when using the ceramic insert, so I'll run my tests without it. I'll post my findings here.
Your liner and insert look to be different colors than those on mine, but I'm sure the inserts fit the same. Additionally, the exterior on mine is solid orange and yours looks shaded, so the two cookers aren't quite identical in appearance.
If it turns out that mine heats properly, you can shoot me an e-mail to establish contact since your e-mail address doesn't appear in your profile.
Your liner and insert look to be different colors than those on mine, but I'm sure the inserts fit the same. Additionally, the exterior on mine is solid orange and yours looks shaded, so the two cookers aren't quite identical in appearance.
If it turns out that mine heats properly, you can shoot me an e-mail to establish contact since your e-mail address doesn't appear in your profile.
ovrphil
Well-known member
Ralph -
The finish is the same as yours. The flash created a sunburst finish look (which would be cooler looking).
The bottom identifications show:
" COOKER & DEEP FRYER"
Cat.No 1309-10 Serv.No 4559-A
J.C.Penney Co.
New York, N.Y.
FOR AC ONLY AAD
and then the Caution/Do not Immerse message
and it has a black hand stamp of C604or C804 (not distinct)
I'm sorry, my email was there, but I had to check the right box - duh!
I'll shoot you an email.
Thanks a lot.
The finish is the same as yours. The flash created a sunburst finish look (which would be cooler looking).
The bottom identifications show:
" COOKER & DEEP FRYER"
Cat.No 1309-10 Serv.No 4559-A
J.C.Penney Co.
New York, N.Y.
FOR AC ONLY AAD
and then the Caution/Do not Immerse message
and it has a black hand stamp of C604or C804 (not distinct)
I'm sorry, my email was there, but I had to check the right box - duh!
I'll shoot you an email.
Thanks a lot.
Test Complete!
I think it's fine, Phil.
First I cranked it up without any water in it and decided to shut it off when the thermo-gun registered close to 500 degrees -- and counting -- while aimed at the inner liner.
Then I dumped in 8 Corningware Electromatic cups worth of very cold water and set the control at 300. It was boiling in just a few minutes. I had to turn it well into the Simmer zone to get it to cycle off and stop boiling.
Set at about 1/3 of the way into the Simmer zone, it held the water just below boiling, cycling off at 175 and back on at 165. Just inside the top 1/3 of the Simmer zone, it kept the water at a medium boil, around 190. It didn't want to cycle off at that setting, and although I'm no physicist, I think that had something to do with just having plain water in it as opposed to a food mixture containing a considerable amount of solid mass.
I'm also impressed with how the outer surface remains relatively cool to the touch, unlike any of the slow cookers I own.
The way this thing heats -- much faster than a standard slow cooker -- I'm betting that the crock on mine got cracked because the previous owner exceeded the red zone setting with the crock in place.
I'm going to call it good. Now all we need to do is arrange to unite it with your crock and you can give it a whirl using real food with and without the crock in place.
I think it's fine, Phil.
First I cranked it up without any water in it and decided to shut it off when the thermo-gun registered close to 500 degrees -- and counting -- while aimed at the inner liner.
Then I dumped in 8 Corningware Electromatic cups worth of very cold water and set the control at 300. It was boiling in just a few minutes. I had to turn it well into the Simmer zone to get it to cycle off and stop boiling.
Set at about 1/3 of the way into the Simmer zone, it held the water just below boiling, cycling off at 175 and back on at 165. Just inside the top 1/3 of the Simmer zone, it kept the water at a medium boil, around 190. It didn't want to cycle off at that setting, and although I'm no physicist, I think that had something to do with just having plain water in it as opposed to a food mixture containing a considerable amount of solid mass.
I'm also impressed with how the outer surface remains relatively cool to the touch, unlike any of the slow cookers I own.
The way this thing heats -- much faster than a standard slow cooker -- I'm betting that the crock on mine got cracked because the previous owner exceeded the red zone setting with the crock in place.
I'm going to call it good. Now all we need to do is arrange to unite it with your crock and you can give it a whirl using real food with and without the crock in place.
ovrphil
Well-known member
Thanks for the way over the top test, Ralph. I'm replying to your email - sorry for the short delay here in reply.
Phil
Phil
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