Is a slow cooker worth it - Vegetarian edition

[MentalLentil]

I was just reading through the slow cooker thread, but it looks like most of the posters use it for meaty stews or similar. Does anyone rate slow cookers for veggie cooking?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Mine doesn't get used much.

It's good to make chilli and a Quorn mince shepherd's pile filling. It also makes nice rice pudding. I don't really use it for anything else as so many recipes call for tinned tomatoes, which I can't stand.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Nope. I think they just turn veg to slop. Worse than the meaty slop.

I've pondered a pressure cooker or instant pot thing for pulses, but a slow cooker is a waste of time for veggies, IMHO.

[Mummyoftwo91]

I've always wanted one but I'm vegetarian too and feel everything would be a mushy mess

[SpinachForever]

They are excellent for cooking dried beans and chickpeas. I soak the beans in it overnight and switch it on in the morning, super easy and the result is really tasty. I always do big batches, use some of the beans immediately and freeze the rest for easy use.
I also made baked beans in it once, the best ever, so must do that again.
Then I tried vegetable soup and it was a miserable watery mess so it put me off trying other things, but I'd like to get better at using it.

[DoreenLethal]

No - I gave ours away and got a remoska instead which has never produced a different meal.

[DoreenLethal]

Duff meal not different meal!

[SueTrinder]

I think slow cookers are quite good for vegetarian stews because the vegetables break up less than they do on the stove top or in the oven because they are cooked at a lower temperature. I do a butternut squash curry with coconut milk and it's fab in the slow cooker, much better than on the hob because the butternut squash doesn't fall to pieces and the individual flavours of the spices are still distinctive. And coconut milk is much less likely to curdle in a slow cooker because of the low heat.

I do love my slow cooker but realistically it's just as much work as any other kind of cooking. The best meals are those that you prep normally (rule one of the slow cooker club: never put a raw onion in a slow cooker) early in the day and then can stick into the slow cooker to be ready when you get back. I generally don't use special slow cooker recipes although I do have the Lakeland slow cooker book which has some nice recipes (lots of meaty recipes though). Adding things like spinach towards the end of the cooking makes a big difference to the overall flavour.

I like it for steamed puddings as well (particularly Christmas pudding) because you don't need to keep on topping up the water like you have to when steaming on the hob.

And personally I've found it quite good for soups, got a nice carrot and lentil soup recipe on here that is delicious.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I keep thinking it might make a nice tagine, but haven't actually tried it yet.

[snowgirl1]

I agree with PPs that slow cookers are good for veggie recipes because the veg doesn't turn to mush. I've got one but don't use it that often. There is a facebook page (vegetarian slow cooker fans...or something similar to that) which is good for different ideas.

[DesolateWaist]

I have the same question.

Intersting to hear about using them for beans.

It doesn't seem to me that it saves you any time or effort though. Especially as you seem to have to cook most of it in advance.
Also, some of the recipes seem to take about 3 hours. Not much use if you got to work all day.

[YelloDraw]

Nah, get a pressure cooker for pulses, stews and soup instead.

[MentalLentil]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll look into the pressure cooker option.