Slow Cooker virgin

cr1mson

Looking to get a slow cooker for family of 4.

What features should I be looking at?

What size?

Would be looking to leave it unattended for a max of 6.5 hours.

Thanks.

C

GlynD

Pages of them here pal. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slow-Cookers-Kitchen-Appliances-Home/b?ie=UTF8&node=3147641

arbroath_lass

Cr1mson, I'd post this on the old style board. They are the kings and queens of slow cooking :rotfl:

You might also want to think about what you want it for? Are you batch cooking? Puddings as well as main meals?

bagpussbear

I have a basic Breville one, its 3.5 litre and I feed a family of 3 from it, and usually there are leftovers too, so look for a 3.5litre or above for your family of 4.

Mine has low high and keep warm on the knob. Can't see much more you'd need really.

I'm very happy with it, they still sell my model in Argos, can post a link if you want.

cr1mson

bagpussbear wrote: »

I have a basic Breville one, its 3.5 litre and I feed a family of 3 from it, and usually there are leftovers too, so look for a 3.5litre or above for your family of 4.

Mine has low high and keep warm on the knob. Can't see much more you'd need really.

I'm very happy with it, they still sell my model in Argos, can post a link if you want.

If you could post a link that would be great! As this is second reccommendation I have had for the Breville.

cr1mson

arbroath_lass wrote: »

Cr1mson, I'd post this on the old style board. They are the kings and queens of slow cooking :rotfl:

You might also want to think about what you want it for? Are you batch cooking? Puddings as well as main meals?

Thanks wouldn't be too fussed on leftovers as only have small freezer due to lack of space.

bagpussbear

cr1mson wrote: »

If you could post a link that would be great! As this is second reccommendation I have had for the Breville.

Here you go:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4201276.htm

cr1mson

Thanks for moving this to Old Style Moneysaving board.

Have seen this is it any good?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1217476.htm

joedenise

I've got the CrockPot and think it's fantastic. I think the oval ones are much more useful than the round ones as you can do a whole joint in it. I've done chicken, gammon & lamb in mine so far. I know that others have used their's to do pulled pork but I haven't done that yet - that's one to try at some future date!

Denise

sKiTz-0

I got an oval 3.5 litre from Tesco for around a tenner and love it! There's only me here, so when I do a pot full it normally does a portion for my tea, a portion for lunch at work the next day then a few portions for the freezer for some cheap and healthy meals that can just be dinged in the microwave - perfect for lunches at work or an easy tea on the nights when cooking seems like too much of a chore or I don't have much time.

If I was feeding a family of 4 I would be tempted to go for a bigger one 5-6 litre. The bonus with that size is you can cook a joint of meat in there - great for pulled pork or meat for a sunday roast. You could always do a big joint of meat for tea on Sunday, then use any leftovers for sandwiches for work during the week. Plenty of recipes on the old style board or online. And you'd be suprised how versatile they are - I have recently used mine for puddings and even as an air freshener for the house (a sliced orange and some cloves in hot water left with the lid off - makes the house smell lovely)

You will be fine to leave it on for 6 hours or more. Most recipes I do go for 6-8 hours so it is great to just bung everything in before you leave for work then when you get home you are treated to the lovely smell and your tea already made, great on a cold dark winter evening. It's almost like somebody else has cooked for me.

I'm out of the house for 9 hours during weekdays, so I just plug mine in with a timer set to start at 12pm so everything is just ready as I am walking in the door from work.

Enjoy!

richardw

Basic one from a supermarket would be ok http://direct.asda.com/ASDA-ESC-30---slow-cooker---brushed-steel/001561754,default,pd.html