Recommendations for Slow Cookers please

arkonite_babe

tiff wrote:

I've not come across that one Kaz.

I spotted that one as well, but seeing as how I already have a rice cooker, thought it a bit pointless to buy another one.

kazd

tiff wrote:

I've not come across that one Kaz.

I saw it in Lakeland Plastics first and then checked to see if it was cheaper on Amazon which it was. Not sure whether I should just go for a straightforward crock pot.

Michael_K

kazd wrote:

I have just seen another slow cooker, its a Tefal 3 in 1, its a slow cooker, steamer and rice cooker. Its on Amazon for £45 odd.

What do the slow cooker guru's think of this one.

I bought the Tefal 3 in 1 rice cooker/steamer/slow cooker several months ago and it's been in use daily ever since.

As a rice cooker and it has a sealing lid, non-stick inner pan and a delay timer, the features I was after.

As a slow cooker it has a timer for the cooking period but no temperature control. I think its heat setting (at 84 C) equates to the low setting on conventional slow cookers. Though you can start things off to boil with the rice cooking/steam mode and then switch to the slow mode. I like the fact that after cooking on whichever mode it automatically switches to 'keep warm' mode, though I only tend to use the slow cooker for rice porridge.

I was going to get it from Amazon too at that price £45, but just popped into a local independent electrical retailer on the offchance who had it on sale at a very nice price.

For more info there were consumer reviews of it on the US Amazon site, it's sold with the Krupps label. And its manual is online from the Tefal site.

Ticklemouse

Don't personally know what the Rival one is like, but they seem to be big in the USA and when doing my pre-purchase research, I did think there were quite a few negative consumer reviews. Try googling it and see what you think, before you buy. It's probably OK, but fore-warned is fore-armed, as they say.

Pooky

I just got offered a free one with any order on la redoubt. Would be silly to refuse really!

Not sure if it will be any good but worth a try as mine's just about to bite the dust.

tiff

Rival made the original slow cookers, and seem to be the main brand in the USA, I must admit I read reviews on them which didnt seem to be too good and when I looked at one in an electrical shop and compared it to Morphy Richards, MR looked better quality which hopefully means it will last longer. Also MR sell all the spares you need via their website so if you break the crockpot, lid, knob etc you can get replacements.

crazyhazy

Just wanted to recommend the one I have, it's a tefal 3 in 1 and as well as a slow cooker you can also use it as a rice cooker and a steamer. I got it from john lewis.

Ticklemouse

Hey, if it's free, who cares what make it is.:D

My friend came round yesterday after the school run and watched me slicing onions and bunging the old pork chops etc in and has decided she really ought to get one. Also, sister who used to have one until ex dropped it ( :mad: ) is also contemplating purchase of another one. Are we trend setters or what.

However, they still haven't got into washing with vinegar or buying bicarb by the tonne, (and the bicarb really does work brilliantly as a deodorant - but haven't told too many people that one yet or I WILL be that mad woman in the playground at home time:o )

DingDong_3

I'm really confused about slow cookers etc.. so can someone please advise me? I have no cooker (I use a convection microwave oven) and so I have no hob to fry etc.. Someone at work suggested I buy an electric frying pan which is basically the same as a normal pan but I'm having trouble finding one.

I've also read posts on here saying about slow cookers. I live on my own so don't need a massive one but what do you cook in them anyway? I'm new to home cooking and don't know a thing so any help would be much appreciated.

tiff

Never seen an electric frying pan, but here is a small example of what you can cook in a slow cooker.

Curry
Chilli
Jacket spuds
Whole joint of meat
Any kind of stew/casserole
Rice pudding
Bread and butter pudding
Bolognese for Spag bol
Soup
Chicken in white wine sauce/any kind of sauce
Goulash

Lots and lots of things, the list is endless.