Is it worth buying a slow cooker?

Citygirl1

Are they worth it or just another kitchen gadget? Also what size is better for a single person?

JennyP

I use mine a lot! If you eat meat, it's especially good as meat is so tasty after several hours of simmering. I use it less for veggie stuff. I was single when I bought mine - I got a normal sized one and froze extra portions.

Gloomendoom

I bought one over fifteen years ago when I was single. It is definitely one of the best things I have bought. My wife adopted it when I married and it still gets used weekly.

As above, I just got a normal family sized one.

MrsWenger

We use ours regularly through the autumn and winter. So easy to cook a chicken, a chilli or a casserole so it is ready when we return from work. Try it; you'll like it!

elsien

I have a smaller one - takes up less room and still does enough for two portions so I can freeze one.
If you do a search, I'm fairly sure this question has come up before.

Pollycat

I've been using slow cookers for almost 45 years.
When my last one broke, I replaced it straight away.
I have 2 - 6.5 litre and 3.5 litre.
Sometimes I have both on at the same time if I'm batch cooking for the freezer.

Whether you'd find one useful is something only you can decide.
Maybe browse some slow cooker recipes and see if that's the type of food you'd like to eat.

Tom99

They are very good. I do a whole chicken in mine, all the meat falls off the bones and all the juice is saved for the gravy.

tori.k

I'd see if I could borrow one first, and try out a few meals, I actually have three that I use regular for different things, but I know others that don't like flavour or texture of food cooked low and slow

moneyistooshorttomention

I wasnt sure whether mine was worth it for some time - as I dont eat meat.

However, latterly I am now finding it very useful for being able to cook in a "dump it in the slowcooker and just leave it" way - rather than having to keep an eye on something on a hotplate.

So I'm now experimenting my way through cooking grains that way and there's no risk of them overflowing onto the cooker top and I don't have to time it exactly to the minute. I've found it's a better way to stew apple than on the cookertop in a saucepan - just cut in chunks and add some spices and leave on high for an hour or two and don't even have to add water or spend the extra effort to cut it particularly small.

I have a two-portion size - rather than a large one.

Tom99

They don't all have timers but I just use a plug in timer set for 5 hrs so I can just forget it knowing it will not overcook.

Prinzessilein

I love my slowcooker!

It really comes into its own in Autumn...thick stews (very MSE as it is a way of using up all those odd ends of veggies) to which I add some dumplings at then end, and turn the cooker back up to High....lots of chillies and curries...soups and casseroles

It also does a 'posh' meal when needed...cheap cut of lamb, good slosh (or two...or three) of red wine...and it slow cooks to melt-in-the-mouth unctuousness!...Serve with creamy mash and steamed greens and it puts many a restaurant meal to shame!

It also does stewed fruit....and it does rice pudding

Mine is actually a very basic model...small (2 - 3 portions) and no browning function...cost me about £20 a few years ago...one of the best buys I ever made!