Buying a slow cooker (which? & why?)

trying-very-trying

Sarahx wrote: »

I got this one the other day, which you can use to brown the meat (though I've not used it yet). I used a code (from the code board) for £30.00 off £60.00 spend on first order.

http://www.marshallward.co.uk/rf/mar/p.do/sc7500-iuk?Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&SNtt=slow+cooker&groupId=524961379&Nu=this_product&SNtk=littlewoods_search&Np=1&SN=102+85&Ntt=524961379&D=524961379&Ntk=group_search&Dx=mode%2bmatchall&thisprod=524961379&N=102+85&Nty=1&Mis_item_id=15&Mis_item_loc_id=1&product=524961379

Sarahx, can you tell me what the wattage is on this? Thanks.

trying-very-trying

craigbroadman wrote: »

Hi All

I am looking to buy a Slow Cooker - been looking at...

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4227573/Trail/searchtext%3ESLOW+COOKER.htm

Reviews seem real good, however i'm not too sure how much you can really cook in one that is 3.5L and I think I would prefer a bigger one? Any recommendations??

Many thanks

I suppose it depends on how many people you're feeding. I had a 3.5 ltr sc for years, and it was certainly big enough to cook a whole chicken or a pot of stew whatever for six of us. I have recently swapped with my daughter for her 4.5ltr awt one, but only because I can use it for doing longer pieces of meat, i.e roast pork or beef when it's on special offer.
Having said that I would like to have a smaller one as well now that there are only 3-4 of us, but I use the remoska instead. Again, I only have the standard remoska which I find ample for 4 and can even be stretched to 6, where loads of people would recommend the large size, even for a family of four.

Edit: forgot to add that I think the one you are looking at is an ideal wattage for a 3.5l sc, a lot of them now are over 240w.

april_fool

Sarahx wrote: »

I got this one the other day, which you can use to brown the meat (though I've not used it yet). I used a code (from the code board) for £30.00 off £60.00 spend on first order.

http://www.marshallward.co.uk/rf/mar/p.do/sc7500-iuk?Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&SNtt=slow+cooker&groupId=524961379&Nu=this_product&SNtk=littlewoods_search&Np=1&SN=102+85&Ntt=524961379&D=524961379&Ntk=group_search&Dx=mode%2bmatchall&thisprod=524961379&N=102+85&Nty=1&Mis_item_id=15&Mis_item_loc_id=1&product=524961379

Hello Sarahx. Have you tried your SC out yet? I have the Morphy Richards 4.5l model and am thinking of getting a larger model, but am also wondering whether to go for one of the models you can use on the hob to brown meat. I have always browned the meat first, but have been reading through the multiple threads on SCs and not everyone browns the meat. I am looking for a way to avoid having to wash up filthy frying pans in the morning whilst I am trying to get out the door with my casserole on. The question is do I abandon the browning or do I get a new SC that I can use on the hob?

competitionscafe

This is what Mathew Fort had to say about slow cookers in his new Q&A column in yesterdays paper:

Q: "I hear the Crock-Pot is the must-have kitchen device at the moment. Is it worth dusting out the one in the attic? Any recommendations as to what to cook in it that won't turn out brown and soggy?
A: The Crock-Pot was one of the most useless, retrograde additions to the cook's armoury ever foisted on the public. It has a certain earthy appeal, I suppose, but does it add to the joy of life and the pleasure of cooking? I think not. Like the fondue set, you try out your Crock-Pot twice, then shove it to the back of some cupboard to gather dust for eternity. I can think of only one use for it. If you have one, smash it up and use the bits to go at the bottom of flower pots to aid drainage."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/31/matthew-fort-food-advice


Needless to say it didn't go down too well.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/jan/31/matthew-fort-weekend-column (comments section at the end)

champys

competitionscafe wrote: »

Needless to say it didn't go down too well.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/jan/31/matthew-fort-weekend-column (comments section at the end)

I read the comments and was interested by one person mentioning that the SC is great for making lemon curd.
Does anyone reading this thread have a recipe? Thanks in advance!

competitionscafe

champys wrote: »

I read the comments and was interested by one person mentioning that the SC is great for making lemon curd.
Does anyone reading this thread have a recipe? Thanks in advance!

Here is a recipe from Thrifty Lady:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1773664&postcount=6

Here is one with step by step pictures:
http://www.cookuk.co.uk/jams/homemade-lemon-curd.htm

And The National Trust Heritage Lemon Curd: Crock Pot or Traditional :
http://www.recipezaar.com/The-National-Trust-Heritage-Lemon-Curd-Crock-Pot-or-Traditional-275052

onetomany

hi my fish cakes turned out yuck little man would eat it, then ive broke the lid from my slow cooker, its a old style i had it 16 years it was a cordon bleu automatic one, carnt seem to find a number to ring for a replacement on line,so started to look in argos which is really confusing i need a big one with , any recomendations please i want to buy tomoro as i have rabit in fridge to stew thanks for listening

*moggins*

This is the one that a lot of us seem to have. It will take a whole chicken quite easily.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4227573/Trail/searchtext%3ESLOW+COOKER.htm

trying-very-trying

If you're happy with the cordon bleu one that you have, why not try using one of your own pot lids, or even a well fitting plate will do the job. I also had that same one, and used a pot lid for several years after I broke the original lid. My daughter now has the sc and she uses a well fitting plate with no ill effects.

onetomany

trying-very-trying wrote: »

If you're happy with the cordon bleu one that you have, why not try using one of your own pot lids, or even a well fitting plate will do the job. I also had that same one, and used a pot lid for several years after I broke the original lid. My daughter now has the sc and she uses a well fitting plate with no ill effects.

thanks ive put a cassorole lid on at mo as i was in middle of cooking, but i no sounds silly but i really love my sc so dont u think it will affect the cooking? there dont seem to be many around with auto settings,