isw wrote:
> Brooklyn1 wrote:
>> isw wrote:
>> >
>> > What I want is a cooker that can be set to whatever temperature I want,
>> > gets to that temperature fairly quickly, and then maintains that
>> > temperature with half-degree precision.
>>
>> That would be any ordinary stove cooktop and any beat to heck pot
>> w/lid and a candy/deep fry thermometer.
>
>No, that would give you something that you *could* maintain at a
>selected temperature provided you were willing to devote a lot of time
>to twiddling the knob.

Twiddling knobs is something of which you are quite accomplished.

>> For half degree precision you'd need to spend big bucks for laboratory
>> quality equipment
>
>Solid-state temperature measuring devices are only a few bucks, but you
>have to know how to use them.

Measuring after the fact devices are quite different from temperature
generation/maintaining capability.

>> however there is nothing anyone needs to cook
>> that needs better than +/- 3ºF
>
>A range of six degrees is too large if you're trying to turn out meat
>that's cooked just the way you want.

Cooktop temperature accuracy is quite different from food's internal
temperature, especially since this thread is about slow cookers... To
maintain cooktop temperature accuracy of +/-1/2º one would need a very
controlled laboratory environment, where ambient temperature and
barametric pressure is highly controlled, as well as electric line
voltage. You are severely confused.

>> for stews/soups eyeballing bubble
>> activity is plenty accurate enough

>quite correct; those are certainly "non-critical" so far as temperature
>is concerned.

Pan temperature is no more critical for frying. Grill temperature can
be +/- 50ºF and will have no effect on the internal temperature
attained of a steak, none whatsoever except timewise. Baking
temperature is more critical than for stews/soups but there is nothing
one bakes that oven temperature accuracy greater than +/-10ºF matters
one iota. You are severely confused regarding cooking and
precision... I doubt you are capable of tying your shoes.