Slow cooker outside overnight?

[kelly94942]

Hi all! For our upcoming 4th of July trip, I am doing all of the cooking! (this isn't a chore, I love cooking!) One of the things I was thinking about was a slow cooker breakfast casserole. I have made these in the past and they are great - everyone can eat whenever he/she gets up! I was thinking about setting up the slow cooker on a table outside over night, so folks from different RVs can come by and just get breakfast when they wake up without coming into one RV. Has anyone ever done this? Any issues?

[camperpaul]

Even in late afternoon the furry banditos come out looking for food ...

I had left my electric pressure cooker on the picnic table and went inside for a few minutes.

During the time I was gone, a raccoon had tipped it over alowing the pressure weight to fall off.

This released the steam pressure, allowing the pressure activated latch to open.

The raccoon then turned the lid about 45° allowing the lid to fall off.

Away went my Cornish Game hen, potatoes, carrots and onion ...

[swtgran]

Guess the night is not the time to cook in a crock pot outside. I will have to make a note to self.

[copeland343]

swtgran They had fur and were wearing masks so I believe the bandits were racoons. They have taken ice chest down the road on several trips and opened the side compartments on the trailer. Eaten my eggs bacon and other items in ice chest and left tooth marks on the drinks (they have not figured out how to open soda cans with out biting them). So yes animals can be a problem if items are left out at night. Had one climb ladder and look in the window when we brought everything inside.

[MarshaNichols]

I used my crock pot for breakfast...it cooked all night inside...oh those smells!! Jimmy Dean has a good slow cooker breakfast recipe! Happy camping! :C

[wbwood]

My wife made me breakfast casserole in the crockpot for Father's Day. Was awesome. Put it in the fridge and reheated it the next day or two. Was awesome.

Would cook it inside and put out in the morning when people are stirring around. If people are around you shouldn't have to worry about critters.

[kelly94942]

doxiemom11 wrote:
You must have a pretty big crockpot. How many can come by for breakfast?

I do have a large crockpot (actually I have more crockpots than I care to admit in a variety of sizes - I use them a lot!) - I'm expecting 8 adults and hopefully ZERO critters for breakfast!

[kelly94942]

skipnchar wrote:
Where is the RV going to be? Never a good idea in the back country due to wildlife concerns. If you are staying in an urban RV Parking lot, no problem.

Somewhere in between - Southern Oregon, so it's not super urban, but it's a large RV park close to I-5. I think I'm going to go the "better safe than sorry" route and at least make sure it's in one of my outdoor storage compartments!

[GailS]

I am a "better safe than sorry" person so no chance I'd leave it outside. It sounds wonderful and too good for the animals.

[Helmsey]

I put mine in the bed of my truck and close the tonneau cover when cooking something overnight. I have done this a couple times with no issues.

[SWMO]

Has anyone ever actually had a problem with an animal, other than those humanoids, messing with a crockpot? I would think the heat of the pot would be enough to keep them away from it

I've been in an ongoing war with them for years. As to the heat, that is a point I also thought of. I don't know that they would avoid it or not, but It wouldn't surprise me if they didn't overturn anything it was set on. I store corn and car food in a shed in which the door can be pried open enough on the bottom for them to squeeze through, it doesn't seem to be wide enough to me, and I can't keep them out with one concrete block. I have to put 2 against it. Apparently after they move one the second one confuses them?
Campgrounds are like magnets to coons and possums and I think there is a good chance they would cause a problem outside at night. Daytime is not their time and what happens then has little to do with midnight.

[swtgran]

I cook outside during the day without giving it a thought. I put the food outside on a table, go site seeing, come back, have dinner. I never thought about overnight.

Has anyone ever actually had a problem with an animal, other than those humanoids, messing with a crockpot? I would think the heat of the pot would be enough to keep them away from it. Since I have never had a problem with it, I don't know about hot food.

[doxiemom11]

You must have a pretty big crockpot. How many can come by for breakfast?

[skipnchar]

Where is the RV going to be? Never a good idea in the back country due to wildlife concerns. If you are staying in an urban RV Parking lot, no problem.

[Super_Dave]

I've left mine outside all day from about 5:00 a.m. til late afternoon with no surprises.