Is it worth buying a slow cooker?

meer53

You can also get liners for them now so no washing them afterwards !

Pollycat

The OP has posted previously about wanting to eat other than ready meals as she works full time.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5718816

So I guess another thing to consider is the shopping for raw ingredients.
It's far quicker to pick up a stack of bol, chilli, shepherds pie etc which are all in the same place in a supermarket than buying onions, carrots, meat etc.

And doing the preparation of the ingredients.
Does the OP want to spend this extra time involved with doing meals in a slow cooker?

Nelski

I use mine at least twice a week and its always on with a batch cook at the weekend. Second the idea to have a look round the internet for some slow cooker recipe sites you might be surprised what you can do in it its not just for soup and stew

Benefits to me are: one pot therefore less washing up, very low energy cost, never overcooks so if i forget its on its no problem, fills the house with gorgeous smells when I get home from work, makes enough for the freezer if I want that and most importantly the best tasting meat you will ever have.

Need2bthrifty

Pollycat wrote: »

The OP has posted previously about wanting to eat other than ready meals as she works full time.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5718816

She also asks a question then is never heard of again :think: mmmmm

NineDeuce

I bet for most people they are one of those things which seem good at the time until you realise that you just want a quick burger most of the time....

Pollycat

NineDeuce wrote: »

I bet for most people they are one of those things which seem good at the time until you realise that you just want a quick burger most of the time....

Wrong board.

This is the Old Style board and you'll probably find that for most people on here, slow cookers are one of those things that seem good at the time and then continue to be so.

PasturesNew

You need to identify just 2-3 instances where you can genuinely see you could use it.

Forget the fancy dishes you see photos of online, you'll probably never make those as they have many ingredients to source and make a HUGE volume.

3.5 litres is good for one, providing 2-3 portions.

If you regularly grab meals for one then could you make those in the slow cooker? Think about how you could use it once a month, say, to get the real benefit of the purchase.

Also, don't think of it as something you use in the week, while you're out at work all day - that's too much pressure to get round to it. Instead, see it as something you can make (to eat and/or freeze) while you're pottering around the house at, say, the weekend.

A pack of raw meat + a jar of sauce = curry.
A pack of raw mince + DIY chilli sauce or a jar = chilli.
A lump of roasting joint meat = Sunday dinner meat.
A pack of raw beef + some root veggies and a bit of gravy = stew.

Start by thinking about the food you buy, you like, you head for .... and your "wishlist" of things you don't get round to making, but would. Some things "could" be cooked in one, but, on reflection, are "too much waiting for it" to bother changing the way you currently cook something. e.g. soup ... I'd rather buy 4 cans of soup/year in different flavours than get a SC to make a vast quantity of one type.

Also - if you're going to buy one, make sure you know BEFORE you pick it up what you're going to cook - and get the ingredients in ahead of time.... so the minute it comes in through the door you make your first meal, otherwise it'll end up as a half-opened box with the instructions flicked through and left....

elsien

Pollycat wrote: »

The OP has posted previously about wanting to eat other than ready meals as she works full time.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5718816

So I guess another thing to consider is the shopping for raw ingredients.
It's far quicker to pick up a stack of bol, chilli, shepherds pie etc which are all in the same place in a supermarket than buying onions, carrots, meat etc.

And doing the preparation of the ingredients.
Does the OP want to spend this extra time involved with doing meals in a slow cooker?

I work full time. But I find 10 minutes preparation at night worth it to come to a hot meal on days when I know I'll be pushed for time. And shopping doesn't take long if you know what you're going for. especially for veg that keeps well.

rach_k

I love ours. You can do casseroles and stews really easily (and if prepping the ingredients is a problem, there's nothing to stop you buying ready prepped veg, chopped meat etc) but my favourite use is probably for chicken. Chuck some halved potatoes, whole carrots, any other veg you want in the bottom, plonk a whole chicken on top and leave it on for the afternoon. You don't get a crispy skin (you can grill it for a few minutes at the end if you want that) but it always smells delicious and goes down very well with the OH and kids. Chicken thighs are also super easy - put them skin side up in a single layer on the bottom of the slow cooker and leave them for 4+ hours. You don't need any oil or water, just season the chicken if you want (or add spices, herbs etc). The fat comes out of the meat to stop it sticking but the skin stays out of it so it crisps up nicely. I guess the texture is probably softer than oven-cooked but nobody has ever complained.

I'm veggie so don't use it often for myself as I like meat alternatives like Quorn and I find the texture off-putting when slow cooked. Rice pudding is great slow cooked though!

lucyhope

I had one but didn't like it, I'd rather use my pressure cooker, I found that the meat wasn't as well cooked as we like it even though it was on for hours. I seem to be very much in the minority because most of the people I know love their slow cookers.