Buying a slow cooker (which? & why?)

ljonski

according to the flyer through the door today Netto are selling the ;Morphy Richards 6.5 litre s/c for £24.99 from Mon 14th June

Hannah_10

I'm thinking of buying a slow cooker but I don't know if it's one of those appliances where a cheaper one works fine (like my £10 toaster), or where you should really invest properly (like my kenwood food processor). I might not know but I bet you ladies/gents do... What do you reckon then? Spend it or hoard it?

Oh yeah and edit to add: I notice some have timers and some don't, I also notice certain brand names come up over and over. What makes a good one then?

All points of view invited, especially fast ones as today is a good day to just do it (quick before another bill comes in)! :rotfl:

Gigervamp

I have two. A cheapy one (can't remember the make, but it only cost about £13) and a Crockpot brand one. I've found that the lid on the cheap one doesn't fit very tightly, so when it gets condensation on the lid, it bubbles out of the side. I don't have this problem with the Crockpot, so I'm planning on buying another Crockpot. The Crockpot can also be used in the oven and on the hob which means you don't have to dirty another pan if you want to fry off your onions first, which is handy.

So, in my experience, the more expensive one is the better one.

Oh, neither of mine have timers, just the low, high and keep warm settings, but as I'm at home all day, I don't need a timer function. I imagine a timer could be handy if you're out at work all day.

Penelope_Penguin

Hannah_10 wrote: »

All points of view invited, especially fast ones as today is a good day to just do it (quick before another bill comes in)! :rotfl:

My POV - don;t bother Try and see if you can pick one up on Freecycle (that's where I got mine, and I'm pleased as it sits in the cupboard most of the time).

If you're insistent, though, take a look at this thread on buying a SC. I'll merge this later.

rachbc

i bought a mid price one - would have got a cheapy but decided I want a larger oval one so can do big joints. a timer would be handy but a plug in one does the job too. Love mine - did bbq pulled pork in it last night which meant a lovely dinner with very little heat produced in the kitchen on a hot night

freakyogre

I can't comment on the more expensive ones, but I bought a Cookworks one from Argos about two and half years ago for around £10.00 and it's been brilliant. I don't use it as much in the warmer weather, but do use it regularly in the colder months. Even if it packed in now, I think i've had my moneys worth from it!

Hannah_10

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

My POV - don;t bother Try and see if you can pick one up on Freecycle

My local Freecycle is not really all that well trafficked, I'm from a tiny town in the middle of an isolated rural expanse so slowness is to be expected I suppose. I would happily grab one if I saw it, but they don't come up. Requests for them do pretty frequently, but never get fulfilled, so if I want one I better think about buying it.

Hannah_10

I have read back the last years worth of posts and decided I need a SC which...

• Has a clear lid.
• Has a 4.5L-6.5L capacity.
• Has variable heat settings.
• Is oval shaped for joints of meat.

I was also reading the crockpot brand have pots you can take out and use on the hob to fry your onions/meat off, or put in the over (saves buying ovenware). This isn't an essential, but it's certainly really appealling and makes the thing much more convenient.

So at the moment I'm looking at a:
Crockpot 5.7lt Saute Slow Cooker SCV1600BS

It will cost between £55 and £60 (depending on voucher codes, cashback etc). The other alternatives I would be looking at can not be used on the hob etc but are £30-£40. I don't mind paying out, I am happy to save up for something good but is it any good really? Have any of you used this one before?

TIA ~ Hannah

sinister_nutmeg

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_14779.htm?WT.mc_id=2010-07-12-12-18

Anyone got one? Am sorely tempted to buy it, since even if it only gets used to make yoghurt it'll pay for itself pretty quickly! Does the 'controllable thermostat' mean you can set the temperature to whatever you want, does anybody know?

Any thoughts appreciated - I have never owned a slow cooker before but have a fairly clear idea that it will fit in with how we cook.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

sinister_nutmeg wrote: »

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_14779.htm?WT.mc_id=2010-07-12-12-18

Anyone got one? Am sorely tempted to buy it, since even if it only gets used to make yoghurt it'll pay for itself pretty quickly! Does the 'controllable thermostat' mean you can set the temperature to whatever you want, does anybody know?

Any thoughts appreciated - I have never owned a slow cooker before but have a fairly clear idea that it will fit in with how we cook.

Hi - I just bought this one and I'm thrilled with it. Looking back through a number of slow cooker threads on here there are plenty of recipe links so it's going to be very cheap and delicious cooking I hope!

hth

HH x