Buying a slow cooker (which? & why?)

sb44

terra_ferma wrote: »

what a great idea :T
while looking for roasting bags I found that in the states they use these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Reynolds-Slow-Cooker-Liners-/220797710138?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336891af3a
I haven't seen them in UK and they are too expensive to buy from US, but sooner or later we'll get them here too, I expect

and this is how they use them
http://mrscdoesstuff.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/easiest-roast-recipe-ever.html

If you have a small s/c you could use the strong freezer bags from Lidl, I think they are £1.50 for 75 and withstand temperatures of up to 115 deg.

They are suitable for cooking in too (sous vide).

Perhaps you could cook two or more small meals at the same time if using a large s/c and 3 different bags. You would probably have to loosely tie the tops with the wraps.

spinningsheep

I have a Tefal 4 in 1 rice and slow cooker. Never used it for rice, but in the 3 years I have owned it, it has paid for itself I am sure. It cost me £60 new from my catalogue as a first order got £20 off I think, and it's amazing. Up to 9 hr timer and keeps warm afterwards, upper and lower heating plates and removable cooking bowl that is dishwasher safe. I know you can buy a crock pot for £20 from Aldi but I use mine all the time, and get perfect results every time, so was worth paying that bit more.

thriftyniftyme

After mine died I kept looking at a Tefal 8 in 1 in Costco until I came to my senses. Of the 8 functions I doubt I would have used any of the three rice functions, nor the cereal or porridge ones. I have a steamer already and I rarely make cakes, and if I do I can use my breadmaker. So I was nearly seduced by the '8 in 1' thing but would really only ever have used one function!
It was also a much higher wattage than the Tesco one and though I know it wouldn't have drawn 700W all the time it's likely it would have drawn more than a dedicated slow cooker. (I checked the Tesco one and it uses about 180W when it's drawing, and it doesn't draw constantly). One of the main attractions of a slow cooker for me is that it saves on fuel cost.
I also lusted over a Crock Pot one briefly, but in reality I knew full well that a cheap one would do the job just as well, just not quite as swankily!
In the end I did what I always do: watched on ebay, got frustrated when the local ones all went for more than I was willing to pay, then went with the cheapest I could find, the Tesco one.

I'm also glad that I went for a 3.5l SC instead of a bigger one. I find that the smaller one is still large enough for a whole chicken and makes 6+ portions at a time, which is enough for my needs. I couldn't have got buy with any smaller personally though.

That's not to say my own considerations would be the same as everyone's though!

InaPickle

Hi all! :wave:

I want a slow cooker cos you guys seem to think they are the best thing since sliced br...sorry, a breadmaker and I can really see my using one. I indulged in a MR 6L one just before Christmas as it was a bargainous £24.95 but it's round, and I've realised that's not the best shape for joints/chickens and I would struggle to fit one in width wise, despite the depth. I wanted it for cooking spag bol etc for myself as well as joints (I live alone, but would be happy to bulk cook), but I'm getting the impression from what I've read of this thread that I might be being a bit ambitous with one that size.

Please help! What size should I get? Should I forget the idea of being able to do joints etc in one as well as cooking things like spag bol as it will be just too big, or is there a good compromise size? My kitchen is only small and there's no way I could have a big one for joints and a little one for everything else, hence trying to get as many functions out of one as possible.

Your advice is most welcome!

mavisangelica

Well I have just come home from Tesco today and bought their own brand slow cooker. They were reduced down to £8. It is 3 litres. So even if I don't use it very much, I won't have wasted much money on it. I am sure we will though.