Buying a slow cooker (which? & why?)

joedenise

I've got the original Crock Pot and use it 2-3 times a week in winter but nowhere near as often in summer, probably about once a fortnight.

I bought this in curry's when they had them on special offer and got it half price at £20 which I was happy with (wouldn't pay £40 for it). It's a 3.5 litre oval crock pot which as others have said you can fit a whole chicken in. I wouldn't bother with a round one - had one of those years ago but never got on with it, just couldn't get enough into it even though that was also supposed to be 3.5 litre.

Denise

MrsE_2

Thank you, good points re the shape & timer.
Noted & taken on board.

Are the original crock pots susposed to be good then?

MrsE_2

What do you think of this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrew-James-Premium-Cooker-Attachment/dp/B005XBXXCI/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1339510341&sr=1-1

terra_ferma

I have a multi-function machine with different programmes, an intellichef.
The good thing is that you can fry your onions/brown meat and slow cook in the same pot.
It's also a steamer, rice/pasta cooker. You can boil eggs as well. It has a baking programme but I don't use it.
Highly recommended. Not cheap but definitely worth it.

can be found on ebay

review:
http://fwd.channel5.com/gadgets/appliances/kitchen-appliances/cooking/morphy-richards-intellichef-9-in-1-multicooker

samsil

ive got a 6litre 'cookworks' from argos, it was 21.99
im fairly new to slow cooking but I do love it and use it about x3 times a week.
chose this one because - both the crockpot and lid are dishwasher safe, and I'll never need another one because its huge and fits a big whole chicken. only downsides are - because the crockpot is HUGE it fills half the bottom space in the dishwasher ...! and also, as ive read, it does tend to overcook a lot of things /cook faster because its power is for the full 6l capacity...so most meals I have to expect they'll be done in 3 hrs on hi or 6hrs on low, (as opposed to the recipes which usually say 4hrs hi, 8 hrs low)

HTH

rubytuesday

Not an answer to the question sorry but I hated my slow cooker with a vengeance and gave it away.

I thought it made food taste revolting but then I don't tend to eat red meat much mainly chicken.

craigywv

mines a swan crock and i love it!!

devon27_2

I have 3 :eek:, got a big "family size" Rowell one which was used when we had friends over on the weekend, a cheap Tesco one £12.00 which is brill and a Morphy Richards small one that we had for Xmas.

Wouldnt be without ours, so handy even thought there is only 2 of us:j

pink_princess

I love mine, it is a Rival crockpot 6.5l.

miss_scrooge

I have a magic cooker made by empress it's like a slow cooker but has no plug saves on electric just heat the food for 10 minutes on hob then keeps food warm just like a slow cooker.