slow cookers

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I'm just wondering whether or not to get a slow cooker or not.
To save energy realy.
I don't eat meat so it would just be for my husband,for when I make him casseroles etc.
Three questions realy.
Are they economical,fuel wise and how long do they take to cook a casserole.
Also what size should I be looking to get for one person.
Any recommendations for particular models would be appreciated.

Triker

Get this £6.69 bargain, I have one and its brilliant.http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4228613/c_1/1|category_root|Kitchen+and+laundry|14418476/Trail/searchtext%3ESLOW+COOKER.htm

Yes they are economical and cheap to run, great to not have to cook when you get in after a day at work and food is piping hot and ready to go.

There are many recipes you can use for you too, it doesn't have to be meat...sauces, soups, veg chilli etc, etc.

foxgloves

I dithered for quite a while about whether to get a slow cooker, but I'm glad I did. We bought the Crock-pot one with the big black hob-proof crock and I tend to brown meat first in the crock before setting the slow cooker to get whatever it is made. Most recipes seem to say 5-6 hours on the high setting or 7-8 hours on the low one, so you'd just use whichever length of cooking time suits your needs. I tend to use the longer one as I find it suits me to get whatver it is in there around coffee break time & have it ready to serve up at 6.30-7.00 ish. There's a 'warm' setting too, which you can use to keep food that has finished cooking warm for a further hour or two. Very useful if the people you're feeding are stuck in traffic, etc. There are several good slow cooker recipe books around. I didn't buy one, but borrowed 3 or 4 different ones from the library then copied out the recipes I most fancied trying. Today, I've got a beef rogan josh bubbling away in there. You can also google online recipes....I found one for quite an unusual veggie chilli (it's got sweetcorn & bulghur & all sorts in it) which makes loads, really fills people up & also freezes well for taking for packed lunches, etc. I mostly only use the high setting for making meat stocks. So, I'd have to say that if mine broke, I'd be looking to replace it pretty immediately. I'm not sure about the energy useage, but have heard that they use roughly about the same as running a lightbulb.

gillypkk

oh i love love love my slow cooker!!

you can buy cheaper cuts of meat and they are delicious coz its cooked long and slow and i just bung everything in one and forget about it till tea time. stews are fantastic coz you dont even have to bother with doing tatties to go with it coz its literally all in there you just dish it up.

ive never done soups in mine coz ive a pressure cooker that i just bung everything in and in 7-10 minutes ive got lentil soup, veg soup with whatever veg i have in the house and in 25 mins ive scotch broth!

i couldnt live without either my slow cooker or pressure cooker!

lizzyb1812

Running costs - the cooker that Triker linked to runs at 90 watts. That would be the highest setting. To run it for 8 hours on high would cost under 9 pence if you leccy cost 12p per kwh (kilowatt hour). Run on low/for shorter time would be quit a bit less

HTH

TryingHardToSave_2

I love my slow cooker, my mum brought me one for my 20th bday pressie ha and i couldnt live without it now. Being a busy mum with 3 young boys, running in and out house all the time with clubs. My slow cooker takes so much stress away from me.

Stews, curries, casseroles, chillis, bologense, joint of meat and even puddings.

I just literally chop and chuck everything in and leave it do its magic Fatty tough joints on low over night, fall away with a spoon. And i love the smell of stew cooking when you walk in on a cold night.

Yes you much get one x

LJM

i honestly dont think i could be without mine now i use it a lot especially when batch cooking

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Thanks everyone,you've pursuaded me.
I'm going to go out and buy myself one tomorrow.

SailorSam

Don't think just 'cos it's only for one you should get a small one.
I'm on my own but when i'm making curries; casseroles etc i fill it up then portion everything in the freezer
You've always got ready meals then.

[Deleted User]

I too live alone yet I have a 3 litre one which is brilliant and it means I can batch cook casseroles and portion them up then freeze when cold I also do a big vat of soup overnight sometimes especially in the winter so its all done when I get up in the morning I have two slow cookers a small one which my DD and her large family outgrew and my 3 ltre one.I also have a standard size Remoska which I treated myself to a couple of years ago and have found unless I am batch baking I don't need to put my oven on much at all.Most of my evening meals can be cooked in a lot less time than having to put the big oven on

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

JackieO wrote: »

I too live alone yet I have a 3 litre one which is brilliant and it means I can batch cook casseroles and portion them up then freeze when cold I also do a big vat of soup overnight sometimes especially in the winter so its all done when I get up in the morning I have two slow cookers a small one which my DD and her large family outgrew and my 3 ltre one.I also have a standard size Remoska which I treated myself to a couple of years ago and have found unless I am batch baking I don't need to put my oven on much at all.Most of my evening meals can be cooked in a lot less time than having to put the big oven on

This is what I'm hoping JackieO,that I won't be needing to use my oven so much.
The cost of fuel these days its realy worth trying to save if you can.
I think I'll invest in both a small and a larger slow cooker with a view to freezing ,which I'm ashamed to say I had'nt even thought of .
I've been looking on line and there are some good bargains to be had in slow cookers so it won't break my budget.
Thanks for the advice everyone.