Buying a slow cooker (which? & why?)

MisterMonty

elona wrote:

It is just as well that I did get a large slow cooker as DH comes downstairs at 7a.m. and then starts to eat anything that has been cooking overnight.

I wondered why the level of food in the slow cooker seemed to be less than I expected then found DH eating curry at 7a.m.!:eek:

LMAO

This just gets better and better, another unforseen benefit of a slow cooker!

Curry at 7am. Yum!

Hehehe.

MisterMonty

ahmilligan wrote:

Hiya MM,

I ordered mine from amazon, it was only £24.51 which includes delivery, for some reason the 6.5L was cheaper than the 3.5L one by more than £10 - weird.

Al.

That's a REALLY good price, the cheapest I've found so far is around £10 more expensive. Maybe I'll delay my shopping trip in favour of having it delivered.

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it.

MM

kiwichick

No probs MM, hope you enjoy it when you get it.

Be sure to check out the recipe thred on here for SC ideas, its FAB.

If you cant find something ask Sqeaky, hes FANTASTIC.

MisterMonty

Don't shoot me..... I know I could have purchased this for less.... but this morning I went to Comet and bought a Morphy Richards 6.5 litre slow cooker.

After spending two hours yesterday reading through this thread I just couldn't contain my enthusiasm any longer!!!

Anyway, I went to the supermarket on the way back home and picked up a large chicken to whack in there for dinner time.

I was really looking forward to the smells of the bird cooking and then tucking into the delicious white meat with a few roated potatoes.

So near yet so far.

I took the cooker out of the box, put the lid on and noticed a very significant wobble of the lid.

I remembered reading in the thread (but I can't remember who worte it) that if the seal is broken the moisture will evaporate from the cooker.

I was so keen to try the cooker out but decided to put it straight back in the box and return it immediately.

The shop opened another cooker and found the same problem (only not quite as bad). I plumped for a refund.

I'm not sure whether the 'fault' I found is in fact a fault or whether these MR cookers all have wobbly lids.

I would be grateful for some feedback on this issue.

Many thanks.

MM

kiwichick

Hi MM,

My seal is not perfect either but the literature that comes in the pack said that due to the ceramic pot being earth fired the fit would not be tight as you will never get a uniform shape of pot.

Mine doesnt have steam pouring out of it when its on so I figure its ok.

Be interesting to hear what others say though.
Al.

MisterMonty

Thanks Al,

The second cooker's lid wobble wasn't quite so pronounced. I just didn't want to take the risk until I'd checked it out here first.

I thought I might be in for a fight with customer services but they offered a refund immediately.

Now that all the magic has gone, I'll probably hold off and buy at amazon.

Darn it! No chicken tonight!

kiwichick

No probs MM,

Mine only took 5 days from order at amazon and thats with the free delivery,if you want to pay for next day you can, not sure how much it is though.

Tightwadways

I know this is a strange question, but we're going away in a few days time and the travelodge are fine with us taking and using a mini fridge, (great for storing cheese, milk etc for brekkie and lunch), just wondered if anyone's ever dared to take a slow cooker into a hotel? Apart from the downside of having to cook when you're on holiday the financial cost of not having to do take out or restaurants every night must be good?

I'm feeling pleased with myself - cooked soup in the slow cooker during the week - carrots, lentils, bacon bit of apple and onion= yum!!

MisterMonty

Quick update.....

I was passing :rolleyes: Argos yesterday and bought myself a MR 6.5L for £22.49.

The lid fits better than the other two I saw, but as a result of what Al said, I'm going to stick with it and give it a try.

MM

Newbird

MM - The lids are not supposed to be a tight fit. They do allow a small gap to release a small amount of steam, otherwise they might build up steam pressure like a pressure cooker!
My old 1970's Prestige Crock Pot - (still going strong) has a small pierced hole in the lid, like a teapot lid, and some steam escapes during cooking from there. Not much, just enough to make the kitchen smell lovely. The newer models don't seem to have a hole in the lid, some lids are glass - so the manuals do say don't expect a tight fitting lid. I'm sure yours will be absolutely fine - so get cooking