buying and using a slow cooker?

nest_egg

Hello all, I'm Nest_egg, a new member!

I've been reading with interest for a while and thought I would sign up to join in the fun People make fun of my frugality. Well, my long term aim is to buy a house so we'll see who's laughing

I wanted to find out about slow cookers. I have read many people on here mention them. Is it possible to cook entire meals using a slow cooker? i am considering buying one. What basic specifications are required? I work 12.5 hour shifts so would need the slow cooker to do its thing while i'm out (i'm too exhausted to cook by then, but do love healthy food).

Does it really save time?

If you have any delicious recipes I'd love to hear more

Bongedone

There are lots of threads on the Old Style boards for slow cooking.

Here is the thread for buying and why:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=76138

Dobiesmon

Hi
I have got this one as it does more than just slow cook well worth the money .
http://appliances.pricegrabber.co.uk/pressure-cookers/Tefal-4-1-RK701115-Slow-Steamer-Rice-Porridge/m716391968.html/search=tefal%20slow%20cooker/st=query

nest_egg

Oh wow, wish I'd known about that before I bought my rice cooker!

I like Tefal

moggitymog

slow cookers are fab, we just chuck in potatoes, veg, onions and meat cover with hot water, switch it on and leave it all day

moggitymog

mine is the tefal 6.5 litre, we bought a big one because we freeze half for another day

Fire_Fox

I have the Tefal four-in-one too! Only paid about £45 quid from Amazon tho (actually free cos they sent me two damaged ones, and got confused about how many charges and refunds they'd done). :money:

nest_egg

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I have the Tefal four-in-one too! Only paid about £45 quid from Amazon tho (actually free cos they sent me two damaged ones, and got confused about how many charges and refunds they'd done). :money:

LOL! They arrived broken?

I ended up buying a Cookworks one for special offer, reduced from 19.99 to 9.99 in Argos, couldn't resist the bargain when I saw the 5/5 reviews it was getting everywhere. It's 3.5L (there's only 2 of us).

I'm dying to use it and see how it turns out! Why can't you cook pasta in it? Also, why do you have to add beans at the end, that's really annoying!

Chris25

Hi nest_egg and welcome to MSE. As Bongedone has pointed out, you should have alook at the Old Style boards - loads of friendly tips, recipes and advice on how to be frugal
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=33

twentypenceoff

theres nothing better especially in the winter than coming back after a day out and theres a cooked hot meal all you have to do is take the lid off im eating slow cooker veg casserole i made right now and its lovely

Fire_Fox

nest_egg wrote: »

LOL! They arrived broken?

I ended up buying a Cookworks one for special offer, reduced from 19.99 to 9.99 in Argos, couldn't resist the bargain when I saw the 5/5 reviews it was getting everywhere. It's 3.5L (there's only 2 of us).

I'm dying to use it and see how it turns out! Why can't you cook pasta in it? Also, why do you have to add beans at the end, that's really annoying!

One had a mahoosive dent in, blatently been dropped at some point. Can't remember why I was refunded for the other one now! Major palaver as you have to be in for collection or trek to the Post Office: but Amazon customer service were ace to be fair.

Pasta needs a hotter temperature, maybe even boiling water I think. If you add tinned beans too early they break up in the stew.