Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

rach

I haven't managed to read this whole thread but the ideas are great from what i've read. I am seriously considering a Remoska too, sounds like it will be easier as well as cheaper. Also going to dig the SC out and try using it for spag bol etc, have only ever used for soups and stews in the past. Perfect if I can have food ready when I get in on these winter evenings..

We decided to keep the heating off til Oct, but now it's nearly here I am going to suggest at least leaving it off til mid oct if not November.

One tip I do have is something I did the other day - I had used the oven anyway but when i turned it off I shoved in a load of new potatoes sprinkled with olive oil. They cooked in the residual heat from the oven which stays there for ages after it turns off and ta-da, perfect lunch for work the next day!

morganb

I've got REALLY organised with working out what we are eating and when now, when previously I would just bung one tray of something small into the oven ... although I am not convinced that the roast dinner I did entirely in the microwave tasted as good as it would have done if it had been in the oven. Still, I am going to use my slow cooker as much as possible ...

moneysavingfamilycomp

can anyone explain to me about slow cookers im considering buying one we eat alot of casseroles currys spag bol mince and yorkshire pud etc so im wondering if it would be cheaper to use a slow cooker but how do you use it if you just throw everything in set timer and leave it it will be great.

cw18

yep -- chuck in, pop on lid, set temp, and run.

mine has a choice of three temps (low, med and high), but no timer. but the beauty of slow cooking is that if something's in for a tad longer than you intended it doesn't spoil.

my first attempt was a roast chicken that I'd reckoned on 6-7 hours for. after 8 hours we were still stuck at the hospital, so I phoned home and asked son to turn the machine off. but it still sat with residual heat for another 2.5 hours before we got home, and was absolutely perfect

Sunnyday

cw18 wrote: »

yep -- chuck in, pop on lid, set temp, and run.

mine has a choice of three temps (low, med and high), but no timer. but the beauty of slow cooking is that if something's in for a tad longer than you intended it doesn't spoil.

my first attempt was a roast chicken that I'd reckoned on 6-7 hours for. after 8 hours we were still stuck at the hospital, so I phoned home and asked son to turn the machine off. but it still sat with residual heat for another 2.5 hours before we got home, and was absolutely perfect

Another vote for the "chuck it in and run" convenience of the slow cooker here I try to use it at night on the E7 electrcity but last year i used it in the day as well.
We have the MR 6.5 litre one which is great for batch cooking stews and the mince mixture for bolognaise, chilli, shepherds pie filling etc.

I`ve just been to the shops and after catching up with the thread before i left i`ve bought all the ingredients for the above so the sc will be on later

I do prefer stew in the pressure cooker though as i don`t have to cut up the root veg smaller but i`m just lazy

I`ve been on the remoska thread earlier too and now have the ingredients for another meal from there too.

SD

morganb

I have only bought my slow cooker very recently (about 2 weeks ago) and I have already used it seven times!
It's a large one, so it does need a lot of stuff in it, but then this produces at least two meals which I can freeze and use later.
I always just used to set my oven timer on but the taste from the slow cooker is AMAZING.
For example, I made a beautiful Hungarian goulash for lunch the other day; two days later I made a beef casserole, half of which went into a pie, the other half is sat in the freezer, and I only do online shops everyother week now too.

Made some beautiful soup in there the other day.

next thing to in is a gammon joint tomorrow morning so that it's ready to eat when we all get home

cw18

I've done a couple of gammon joints in mine -- one was a 'value' one, the other a Whoopsie!

I can honestly say I've never had such a tasty and tender gammon joint before..... am positively drooling at the memories now.

Sunnyday wrote: »

We have the MR 6.5 litre one

That's the one I bought on the recommendation of a load of people on another site...

suzybloo

Well thats me started to get organised. Lakeland have lanterns down to £14.99 that are wind up - so bought two - one for DD1 and one for myself. Will go in with the candles (might just use mine when I am in on my own)Greenhouse has been cleaned out now everything is passed and this will now house the high-dry and at least if its raining the washing will still be aired and dry quicker inside.
Slow cookers - I thow everything in the wok first to seal it and bring it up to a heat, then throw it in the SC and 6-7 hours later a ready made meal! Soup is the same throw the veg chunks/pulses in it with stock, cook for 6-7 hours and blast it with hand blender - great when you get in after work sitting down to your evening meal within ten minutes!!

morganb

cw18 wrote: »

I've done a couple of gammon joints in mine ... am positively drooling at the memories now.

Thanks! Roll on dinner tomorrow!

Freyagirl

poppyoscar wrote: »

I have worked out that my electricity metre goes up by 21 units a week and my gas by 4. have no idea what this means but does it seem reasonable for a single person not in winter?

PO xx

Only have heating (not yet on) and hot water by gas but I have only been using one unit a week for the last four weeks that I have been monitoring it, I live on my own too.
Freyagirl