Is it worth buying a slow cooker?

arh

We borrowed one 20 years ago when we were without a kitchen and liked it so much that we bought one for ourselves. Brilliant for having food ready for when you get home. Our daughter also became a convert and has her own. The size depends on whether you want to cook for more people, eat the same thing more than once or freeze food. Ours doesn't seal meat but I would probably go for that feature now.

Stangi

I love my slow cooker. As I am retired, and have the time, I prefer to fry up stuff in olive oil in wok first then add liquid (less than you'd think) and then chuck it all in slow cooker. Improves the taste and look. Grow lots of herbs in garden, which go in, chopped tomatoes sometimes, use umpteen veg and whatever meat I have to hand, especially cheap cuts like neck of lamb and pork cheeks. I do it on high for 20 mins then turn it down and forget about it. I use an oval 3.5 litre basic Argos cookworks one and this gives me four helpings to use that week or freeze in portions. Then other days I can get a portion out of freezer to defrost overnight and microwave for my main meal. I also batch cook jacket potatoes and sweet potatoes whole in oven, so oven is only on once a week. These similarly can be microwaved when needed. Great savings in time and energy, gas/ electric. My own meals on wheels. Even before my hand operations, when I couldn't peel or chop veg, I could still use it, with ready prepped veg, and ladle it out when done. I know someone who works long hours, who spends some of weekend batch cooking in his SC which means he can get a quick meal more healthy than ready meal, when getting in from a long day at work.

BHCJackie

Yes.
I bought mine years ago and use it nearly every day, mainly to cook chicken fillet for my dog.

I've done turkey crowns, whole chickens, mince-y things, soups and even pasta (although this is still a work in progress).
There are loads of places to get recipes - groups on social media, ebooks etc.

Mine is just a basic model with high, low and keep warm so I use a timer switch.

If anything happened to mine I would probably cry and then go and buy a new one.

sillyvixen

I love my slow cooker - we got it as a wedding pressie, and its great. Even my brother who lives with us, and is the world worst cook can make decent home made meals with little effort in it. I only have a small one but actually want a bigger one to take away on holiday with dad as well and cook a meal while we are out and about to show him how easy it is as a widower I feel a slow cooker could really help him and provide a stack of meals (freeze some and microwave to heat) much better than the cremated chops and over cooked veg and potatoes he is used to making himself... My dad is the sort of person who would need to see evidence that it worked before buying kitchen stuff ... he has a kitchen full of my mum's stuff he has no idea what to do with and considers to hard to investigate, and would not buy more unless he knew it would make his life easier.

He has been using the electric carving knife to cut plastic for his model making as he has no use in the kitchen for it!!

freyasmum

I never used to really like my slow cooker. I used to find that most things would come out tasting the same, with flavours dulled from such long cooking - and I don't like mince cooked in it at all.

However, it's on at least once s fortnight with three massive chunks of pork in to make pulled pork for lunches - my OH adores it!

Also fantastic for cooking joints of beef, and rice pudding.

Pollycat

BHCJackie wrote: »

Yes.
I bought mine years ago and use it nearly every day, mainly to cook chicken fillet for my dog.

chicken fillet for the dog! :eek:

Are you sure a money-saving website is the right place for you?

Only joking , welcome to MSE. :grouphug:

Citygirl1

Well thanks all, I think I am convinced to get a slow cooker now. I have this week hit on the idea on buying breaded chicken breasts from M&S which taste lovely but the one I did tonight got almost cremated in the oven as I had left it while I was busy doing something else. I do like the idea of home made ready meals. I also eat fish but this is something that can't be slow cooked, apart from fish pie. I'd just do that in the steamer in the microwave.

Gokarna_2

I love my slow cookers - I have three of them! One for hubby's meat, one for my veggie dishes and a smaller 'communal' one for in our campervan. When I was working full time I used to joke that having a slow cooker is like having a wife at home to cook my meals.

sukavi2011

Hi, I recently acquired the small slow cooker for 1-2 portions. I use it at weekends when Im home or only pop out for a couple of hours. I am nervous about leaving on while at work as am out of the house for 12 hours. Reading from other posts im sure they are safe but its something 'i need to get over. Other than that I have cooked beef, lamb stews and gammon joints, all were lovely. I found my bolognese a bit runny but I am sure will improve in time.

tibawo

As a single mum I find my slow cooker so useful especially when i am working late or the kids have activities as i can throw in meat and veg in the morning and know when we get in the thought of not having to cook or have kids asking when tea is ready is such a godsend! Even more so why the nights are dark and cold.


I know I could do a lot more with it, we even take it caravan holidays as I can let it cook and enjoy quality time with the family and can join in rather than making [or eve paying] for tea!