Buying a slow cooker (which? & why?)

jenk_3

I was in the same boat as you, I wanted one but was unsure if i would be wasting my money and not ever using it again after the first week.

Someone on one of my post put this reply.

"I know that Robert Dyas have a Paul Rankin 5.5L for £19.99. And the Morphy Richards 6.5L one for £24.99 which has max capacity for the bowl for 4.5L. Which I know a lot of people on this forum have."

The site is here

I also posted on the codes forum and someone has replied with a 10% off code so this all helps.

My view on these is that I will be cooking more then I need so I can freeze food saving time when work is more hectic. Thats why I wanted a larger capacity.

Good look in making your choice.

Emma

Penny-Pincher!!

Hey

I have a 3ltr and the 6.5ltr both bought as pressies There are only 3 of us, so find the smaller one perfect for stews/curries etc. I really only use the bigger one for big meat joints or when we have people coming or making a huge portion of something.

If there is 5 of you, I would go for the 6.5ltr. You could always make a bigger portion of whatever and freeze it or have next day for lunch

PP
xx

Edinburghlass_2

I have the Argos one and find it is just fine, can get a whole chicken in slightly skewiff (sp) depending on the size of chicken and still have room to pop some potatoes in at the top for the last hour of cooking.

The thing I liked about the Argos one is the shape being more upright rather than being oval, it takes up less room in an already small kitchen.

Enjoy it

Dumyat

dont know about money saving but I find it the best way to cook roasts and stews. The meat is so tender and you just cant go wrong.. never burns etc. And like someone else mentioned ...doesnt matter when you want to eat, the timing is just not crucial. And it can be one pot cooking....potatoes veg and roast all in one!

nabowla

I've got my SC on at the moment for the first time. The lid's rattling rather a lot due to liquid bubbles - is this normal? I'm worried that it's about to explode at any moment.

black-saturn

The good thing about a slow cooker is that you can feed the children from it first and then leave 2 portions in there so you and your partner can eat together later. It wont burn or go dry as long as you leave the lid on. You will soon make up the £9.99 you spend on it in savings on your cooking bill.

black-saturn

No it ok, it's just the steam. It should settle down.

Lillibet_2

I don't know what size you would need, but if Hubby arrives home & he/both of you eat later than the kids then a slow cooker would be fantastic as you could all eat the same meal at different times as it cooks so slowly that anything ready for the kids would easily keep in it on low & not spoil for a couple of hours until you/he are ready to eat. So only one meal to prepare instead of 2:j:j:j

[Deleted User]

swampytiggaa wrote:

I have really wanted a slow cooker for ages - but can't really afford one. On another thread one in argos was mentioned for £9-99 - a 3.5litre one which seems a good price.

I have been trying to borrow one to see if we would get any use out of one - but no one i know has one.

There are 2 adults, a 12 year old 4 and 2 year old in my house so i think this might be a little small - but it is rare that we all eat together [H gets in too late for the littlies to be eating] so i thought it might work to cook our meal then do the babes pasta or whatever - then another day do them something in it and us something out of it iyswim.

I am really tempted by this cheap one - does anyone have one and would it be feasible to use it like I am suggesting? Not ruling out getting a larger one later if i think we would use it - just feel that spending more on something i have never had experience of might be a good idea [I am a total slow cooker virgin as my mum never had one either]

thanks for any advice you can give me - i am feeling inspired to really go for OS now it is the new year

I bought mine about a month ago and I don't know how I have gone so long without one. It is on virtually three times a week. At the moment it is downstairs in my kitchen bubbling away with potato's ,leeks, mushrooms and a good dollop of garlic. Hopefully by tonight I will have some scrummy soup that will top up my evening meal. If you have a bowl of soup first then your next course needn't be that large. I have mad some lovely stews and soups and even made a rice pudding last week. Home made soup is so easy to make ,just chop all the veggies up into oxo-size cubes, mix up two veggies stock cubes in about a litre of water bung it all in top up with another litre of water switch on and retire to the sofa with a glass of wine. several hours later prod the spuds, if soft then its done .I usually whizz 3/4 of the mix in my blender and return to the pot for half an hour. Voila two litres of home made soup that has cost you buttons and tastes better than anything out of a tin. I figure if you can cook it in water you can cook it in a slow-cooker. It's the best thing since sliced bread.I bought mine in Argos and it is the Cordon Bleu one, and oval shaped.I am going to have a go at a chicken at the week-end apparently it is great for that as well.
you will never regret getting it .If in doubt use either the low setting in which case it takes a few hours longer, or the high setting. But once its on then just forget about it. Put it on about 10.00.a.m. and you'll have a piping hot meal by 6.0..p.m. and it doesn't dry out, so if your husband is late home it will still taste as good.Good Luck

beanz_2

hi magentantsue would not bother getting a rice cooker have got one but never use it