Slow cooker advice

Graduate_Bum

I am thinking about picking up a slow cooker as I hear they are better for power consumption and would be handy (and tasty!) to leave dinner cooking while I'm in work.

I work long hours though so I am wondering can I leave it cooking for 10 hours or longer or can anyone recommend one with a good timer?

Thanks!

krlyr

As an alternative to a timer on the slow cooker, you could use one of those plug adapters with a timer. I've done it once or twice when I've wanted to slow cooker to kick in a couple of hours after I've left for work

Graduate_Bum

That's definitely an option, thanks for the tip. How long do you cook most of your slow cooker recipes for?

WishICouldFindMySlippers

Most slow cookers come with a High/Low setting. Depending on what you're cooking - obviously a big joint will take longer to cook through than cubed meat - I find High is around 5-6 hours cooking, and Low is more a "put it in at breakfast and have it for tea" setting. Ours is often on for 10-12 hours at a time

~Beanie~

I usually use one of those plug in timers (£1 from Poundland) and set it to come on about 12pm-1pm. Cooked on low, my meal is usually ready by 6pm when I get home from work.

Depends what you are cooking really, it can be a bit of trial and error.. I did a chicken curry the other day and it was on for 4 hrs on high, that was a bit too long really as the chicken was overcooked and so I won't cook it for as long next time.

I also did a sausage casserole but set the timer to high by mistake instead of low. Came through the door after work to a horrible burning smell and a slow cooker full of black goo!

Graduate_Bum

Thanks for the info. I think I'll probably go for the £12 Tesco as it has good reviews and buy a timer plug.

I'll let you know how I get on!