Buying a slow cooker (which? & why?)

deborahmcgeachy

Thanks everyone there's some fab ideas and recipes in there!!!

lor6126

was thinking of this one -[URL="http://http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4207490.htm?_. sorry dont think im allowed to post links yet.

zippychick

ive merged this with a thread discussing which slow cooker and why
Zip

sandy2_2

bluecelticgirl wrote: »

A couple of months ago I bought a Breville one from Argos - love it - used it heaps. Not sure of size but it's not a small round one - it's a medium sized oval one - snip.... Think I only paid less than £20 for mine. snip

We bought the Breville oval 3.5lt one from argos just before Xmas, now it´s decided to stop working......the onlight is on, but it´s not heating up....so it´s going back!!!!
I had a Cookworks one for years before.
My recommendation is look for a slow cooker with 2 heat setting, pref with auto setting as well, also one with a cool touch outside casing (the Brevill was metal and got hot) . I think the solid lids are better for cooking than the glass, although with the glass it is nice to see what´s happening

Edit: I also look for one that is around 200watts
Sandy

Patr100

lor6126 wrote: »

Thinking of buying one of these,as i understand it, we will be able to put it on in the morning and our meal will be cooked at night. Do they use a lot of electricity, and will we be able to save by cooking cheaper cuts of meat?. Also cant decide what one to buy for two people. Looking to spend hopefully no more than £25.
Thanks for any advice.

No they do not use much electricity - about the same as a one or two old fashioned light bulbs -
Yes you can use cheaper cuts - just give then long enough to get tender.

LadyDee

Having decided I wanted a slow cooker, I bought one from Mr T (own brand 3.5lt) only to find when I got home that it had been used! Food caked on around the dish, on the lid etc. Nasty!

Anyway, refund duly obtained, and having now read through zillions of posts about SCs I'm hunting for another one.

Should I buy the Tesco one, or do I go for another model? I actually like the white Breville VTP067 simply because it's white and I think easier to keep clean than stainless steel.

Can anybody offer pros & cons between the two?

Also another question while I'm here, I'm actually a vegetarian - do I really need a slow cooker?

mummyjane

Hi,

I have come to the conclusion that we would really benefit from one of these, however, I was wondering if there is much difference between say a £20 and a £60 one?

Any advice appreciated!

Jane

HelenKA_2

I've never looked at a £60 one but my first one was £4 from a boot fair and my bigger one was £20 from Robert Dias and my titchy one was free from freecycle. All work fine but the new one has a much fiercer heat than the other two which are much older models. I wouldn't leave that one on all day as the food would be past it's best.

What I do if I need the capacity of the big fierce one is use it at the weekend or on a day I get home at lunch time then use the oven to re-heat when required for a meal.

We bought my Mum the small one from Lakeland and I believe that works fine so I suppose the bigger models will do so too.

consultant31

mummyjane wrote: »

Hi,

I have come to the conclusion that we would really benefit from one of these, however, I was wondering if there is much difference between say a £20 and a £60 one?

Any advice appreciated!

Jane

My original one was circular and as I use it every week to cook a joint of beef, it annoyed me to death that the meat was long and the sc was the wrong shape for it.

Just last week I saw an oval 6.5 litre Morphy Richards one in ASDA for what I thought was a great price - £20. I snapped one up and am really pleased with it. Just got to buy a joint now to fit in it........not that I go out with a tape measure, measuring the meat before I buy :rotfl::rotfl:

mummyjane

I think I saw that one in our ASDA, I did think about getting it then. I am trying really hard just to buy the things on my list at the moment to try and reduce our spending. Is it big enough to fit a joint of meat in? I am trying to get dh off the takeaways and eat more cheaply and more healthily so need to try and have meals ready so he isn't tempted to order anything.

I don't know why I'm even talking about £60 ones - no chance of affording one anytime soon