What Size Slow Cooker to Buy

tesuhoha

I'm looking at the Morphy Richards 3.5litre on Amazon which at £22.99 seems to be a really good buy. However, on reading the reviews I am concerned it may be a little small for us.

We are a family of 4 adults, two of them men with big appetites and sometimes I feed my son's friend too. So I am not sure. What would you recommend? Its an oval one - would this be big enough to put a whole chicken in?

tesuhoha

I'm not being impatient or anything but I've just ordered a posh one, a Cuisinart 4Litre. I was looking at it last night on Amazon and it was £70 and now its been reduced to £49.99. I know its a lot but I am sure it will save me money in the long run and I have to have one large enough because my cooker has just packed up.

The part to repair my cooker is £35 and I have a new one waiting in its packing case for when the new kitchen is finished. So I am loath to spend £35 on the old cooker.

Pink.

Personally I would have gone for a larger one. You don't have to fill it if you don't want to but it gives you the option to feed more or batch cook and freeze . I had a 4ltr slow cooker for 25+ years but it wasn't big enough to feed our family of five as the children grew up if I wanted to add potatoes etc to the crock so I bought a 6.5ltr and it's perfect for us although I still prefer the older one as it cooks much more slowly than the newer version

As you've now made your decision, I'll add your thread to our main slow cooker thread:

Buying a slow cooker (which? & why?)

Pink

Mollymoonlight

I bought a £19.99 Breville from Asda on a whim on Christmas Eve. Its turning out to be the best purchase ever!

tesuhoha

Pink. wrote: »

Personally I would have gone for a larger one. You don't have to fill it if you don't want to but it gives you the option to feed more or batch cook and freeze . I had a 4ltr slow cooker for 25+ years but it wasn't big enough to feed our family of five as the children grew up if I wanted to add potatoes etc to the crock so I bought a 6.5ltr and it's perfect for us although I still prefer the older one as it cooks much more slowly than the newer version

As you've now made your decision, I'll add your thread to our main slow cooker thread:

Buying a slow cooker (which? & why?)

Pink

Thanks. I'll let you know how I get on

Auntie-Dolly

I'd recommend a bigger one too. My first one was small & almost straight away I realised I should have got the bigger one. Having said that I think it was less than £20 from Tesco.

life_unexpected_2

There are 4 of use and I have two oval morphy richards with 6.5lt and a 3.5lt capacity but have to say it's very rare I use the smaller one. The large one fits a whole chicken or leg of lamb.

rev229

I have a 3.5l and a 6.5l. the bigger one cooks quicker even on low heat. The small one is much better for joints of meat and the larger for bulk cooking curries, stew etc. I bulk cook and freeze in portions!

tesuhoha

Pink. wrote: »

Personally I would have gone for a larger one. You don't have to fill it if you don't want to but it gives you the option to feed more or batch cook and freeze . I had a 4ltr slow cooker for 25+ years but it wasn't big enough to feed our family of five as the children grew up if I wanted to add potatoes etc to the crock so I bought a 6.5ltr and it's perfect for us although I still prefer the older one as it cooks much more slowly than the newer version

As you've now made your decision, I'll add your thread to our main slow cooker thread:

Buying a slow cooker (which? & why?)

Pink

Well you were right about it being too small. It was also rather a large lump with a small pot in the middle and heavy too so I packed it straight up again and returned it.

I am now researching which one to buy and will prob go for a larger capacity. Cheapness is not a factor in buying. The things I am looking for are lightness and not taking up too much room as well as being large capacity, good quality, maybe a sear, digital timer if possible. I am looking at reviews too so any here would be helpful although I am about to look at your thread.

tesuhoha

Mollymoonlight wrote: »

I bought a £19.99 Breville from Asda on a whim on Christmas Eve. Its turning out to be the best purchase ever!

How big is it? Does it take a joint?

CT19720

I bought this one from a Robert Dyas shop and it was £19.99, reduced from £39.99.

I do a lot of bulk cooking - bolognaise; chilli; chicken or beef casseroles, to freeze, and this one is large enough to take a whole chicken; large joint of meats.

I love it because I think it is quite compact, and light weight compared with others that i have seen. It cooks the food really well, and never had a bad meal out of it.