The crockpot XL is one of the most popular slow cooker models on the market. With its large capacity, it’s perfect for cooking for a crowd or meal prepping. But exactly how big is the crockpot XL? Let’s take a closer look at the dimensions and capacity to get a clear understanding.
Crockpot XL Size Overview
The crockpot XL comes in two different models – the 8 quart and the 10 quart. Here is a quick overview of the dimensions of each:
8 Quart Crockpot XL
- Height: 10.5 inches
- Width: 15.5 inches
- Depth: 16.5 inches
- Interior Crock Height: 7 inches
- Interior Crock Width: 12 inches
- Interior Crock Depth: 12 inches
10 Quart Crockpot XL
- Height: 12.5 inches
- Width: 16.5 inches
- Depth: 16.5 inches
- Interior Crock Height: 8.5 inches
- Interior Crock Width: 13.5 inches
- Interior Crock Depth: 13.5 inches
As you can see, the 10 quart model is a bit taller and wider than the 8 quart version. But both offer a large interior crock size perfect for cooking in bulk.
What Fits Inside Each Size
Now that we know the overall dimensions, let’s take a look at how much food actually fits inside each crockpot XL model.
8 Quart Crockpot XL
The 8 quart crockpot XL can hold:
- 8 quarts of liquid or food, equivalent to 8 liters
- 10 pounds of food
- A whole chicken or large roast
- 16 servings of soup, stew or chili
This size is great if you want to prepare a meal for a large family, party of 8-10 people, or do medium batch meal prep for the week.
10 Quart Crockpot XL
The 10 quart crockpot XL can hold:
- 10 quarts of liquid or food, equivalent to 9.5 liters
- 14 pounds of food
- 2 whole chickens or large roasts
- 24 servings of soup, stew or chili
The extra large 10 quart size allows you to cook for a crowd or do meal prep for a family of 4-6 for an entire week.
Visual Representation of Capacity
To give you a visual idea of just how much food can fit in each crockpot XL size, here is an illustration with common items:
| 8 Quart | 10 Quart |
|---|---|
|
|
As you can see, the 10 quart crockpot XL can hold significantly more food, making it better for larger households, gatherings, and bulk cooking.
Comparison to Standard Crockpot Sizes
To give even more perspective, let’s compare the crockpot XL capacities to standard crockpot sizes:
| Crockpot Size | Quarts | Food Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Mini (1 quart) | 1 | 2 servings |
| Small (3-4 quart) | 3-4 | 6-8 servings |
| Medium (5-7 quart) | 5-7 | 10-14 servings |
| Large (8-9 quart) | 8-9 | 16-18 servings |
| XL (8 quart) | 8 | 16 servings |
| XL (10 quart) | 10 | 24 servings |
As you can see, the crockpot XL sizes offer significantly more cooking capacity than even the large and standard XL crockpots. They are in a class of their own when it comes to bulk slow cooking.
Tips for Cooking with Crockpot XL
Now that you know all about the generous capacity of the crockpot XL, here are some tips to help you get the most out of this slow cooker:
- Cut food into smaller pieces – This allows food to cook faster and more evenly.
- Add extra liquid – The extra room in the crockpot XL means you need more liquid to keep food moist. Add an extra cup or two of water or broth.
- Cook on low heat for best results – High heat can burn food in such a large crock. Low and slow is best.
- Use a cooking bag for easier clean up – Cooking bags prevent food from sticking to the sides of the stoneware.
- Use the warming function to keep food ready to eat – Once cooking is done, switch to warm to keep food ready to serve over a period of hours.
Should You Buy the 8 Quart or 10 Quart?
If you are trying to decide between the 8 quart and 10 quart crockpot XL, here are some factors to consider:
- How many people will you be cooking for? The 8 quart can generally feed 8-10 people, while the 10 quart can feed up to 20.
- Do you want to meal prep or freeze leftovers? The 10 quart allows you to cook double batches for more efficient meal prepping.
- What size roasts or birds do you want to cook? The 10 quart can fit extra large roasts and even turkeys.
- Do you have space for a larger model? The 10 quart is quite big, so make sure you have cabinet and counter space.
For most households, the 8 quart is likely sufficient. But the 10 quart is a great option for large families, entertaining, or anyone who loves to cook in bulk.
Crockpot XL Accessories
Here are some useful accessories that enhance the functionality of the crockpot XL:
Glass Lid
A glass lid allows you to peek inside the crockpot without lifting the lid and releasing heat. This helps food cook faster.
Serving Spoons
Extra-long spoons make it easy to serve out of the deep crockpot interior.
Cooking Bags
Cooking bags can make cleanup a breeze. They prevent food from sticking to the pot.
Steamer Basket
A stainless steel steamer basket allows you to cook vegetables, seafood, etc in the crockpot.
Popular Crockpot XL Recipes
Here are some great recipes to cook in your crockpot XL:
Pulled Pork
Cook a 5+ lb pork shoulder on low heat for 8-10 hours until falling apart. Shred and mix with your favorite BBQ sauce.
Beef Stew
Brown stew meat, then cook low and slow in broth with potatoes, carrots and celery.
Pot Roast
Sear a 3-4 lb chuck roast, then slow cook in liquid like beef broth or wine until fork tender.
Chicken Soup
Cook chicken, vegetables like carrots, onions, and celery, and seasonings in broth on low for 6-8 hours.
Vegetable Soup
Slow cook vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beans, tomatoes, zucchini, spinach in broth.
Dulce de Leche
Simmer sweetened condensed milk uncovered on low for 10 hours, stirring occasionally.
Conclusion
With generous 8 and 10 quart capacities, the crockpot XL allows you to whip up large batches of soups, stews, roasts and more. No other slow cooker offers the same amount of bulk cooking ability. So if you love to meal prep or cook for a crowd, the crockpot XL is a must-have for your kitchen.