Slow cooker question

crana999

Hope this isn't a really stupid thing to ask, but..

Is there any point in getting a slow cooker specially if you're vegetarian? I understand one of the best things about it is the way it cooks meat slowly.. so if you don't eat meat or fish, is it that much better than just cooking it in a pan? What are the benefits, apart from being able to leave it cooking during the day? (I'm not that bothered about leccy costs because I don't pay for the electricity used in the kitchen)

squeaky

The question has been asked before - so it can't be all that stupid

The basic answer was yes, as I recall. I'll see if I can find the original thread (he sez with his fingers firmly crossed while wondering if it wasn't merged with the main slow cooker thread)...

Anyway, watch this space and I'll edit here if I find it.

crana999

Sorry, I didn't find anything when I looked.. thanks!

squeaky

That's OK - it WAS merged which makes it that much harder to find.

You can join the slow cooker thread at the right point ---> Here

Ticklemouse

Just having a flick through my new slow cooker recipe book and there are lots of recipes for soups and sauces, but there is a section on 'Vegetarian and side dishes' eg baked eggs with creamy leeks, savoury nut loaf, all sorts of things with beans and pulses, pasta dishes, mushroom and courgette lasagne, lots of curries etc etc. You can also cook cakes and desserts in them as well as drinks and preserves.

If you are a fi!!!!arian, then there are lots of recipes for fish and if you just don't eat red meat, then lots with chicken (I know this isn't you, crana, just for others:))

Is there no-one you can borrow one off? Or maybe look for a cheapy one at a boot sale? Have a look in the slow cooker cook books - you may find enough recipes to tempt you. I'm tempted just reading this one and I'm not a veggie

crana999

Um, I don't think I can borrow one, no.. my family don't have one and my friends (all being undomestic types) don't either.

Are most of the recipes you have there ones that you could make in pans about as easily? (apart from the cake!) I don't really want to get one if there's loads of stuff you can make with it but it;s mainly stuff you could make another way (if that makes sense).

Thanks

squeaky

Speaking as a carnivore I'd say yes, there are other ways to cook everything. For most things you can roast, boil, or steam them. Different cooking methods produce different results. I've found that a slow cooker is a very good way to cook things.

More to the point, it's very economical to run and, if you're busy through the day, you can set it going in the morning in the full and safe knowlege that you'll have a tasty meal waiting for you in the evening.

crana999

I might not bother then.. it's not just buying it, it's that it's one more thing to cart around with me at the start and end of every term.

For anyone else interested, this one's half price at argos and less than £9

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=3151&productId=130101&clickfrom=name