Is it worth buying a slowcooker?

[AmIGoingMad]

Just wondering really. I keep hearing that they're great but doesn't just bubbling away on the hob do the same thing? On the other hand I obviously wouldn't leave the hob on when out of the house. Is it safe to leave the slowcooker on?
What sort of things do you make in yours?

Sorry if these are stupid questions but I'm just wondering if its worth taking the plunge or not!

If I do, which cost effective (cheap ish) slowcooker do you recommend?

Thanks!

[gamerchick]

Yes and yes.

I cook allsorts in mine. I'll never cook a joint of beef in the oven again. The things it does to meat no cooker can compare

I got a big one from aldi for about 18 quid.

[BigW]

Yep, they are amazing. I put mine on in the morning and go not and leave it all day. This was particularly good when I was working.

I cook anything and everything this way. Yum!

[stripeygreensocks]

Yes. Everything from lasagne to banana loaf and bread.
I have a 3.5 litre and a 6 litre, both Argos cheap ones and both fab.

[AmIGoingMad]

Lasagne?! That's a revelation! I thought they were only for one pot/ stews? I'm obviously clueless!

[forgetdieting]

I wouldn't be without my slow cooker.
It will save you money because it turns cheaper cuts of meat into very tender dishes. I make lots of meals, especially curry. It gets used so much I'm thinking of buying the larger one now.

[mrspremise]

Yes! A million times yes! You can make the best chicken stock ever, plus curries, chilli, ragù, will be better than ever!

[sixlive]

You can have mine except I steam my christmas pudding in it. All food tastes the same, strange metallic taste to the food. Veg comes out a strange texture, meat too. I don't want stringy gammon or chicken. I know I'm in the minority, it's a great concept I really I wished it worked.

[stripeygreensocks]

Are you on fb AmI? There's a fab slow cooker group

[Trooperslane]

I love mine for all the reasons above.

Only costs the same as running a lightbulb I believe.

[pregnantpause]

Sixlive- which one have you got? I felt the same when I had a certain cheap one, but when I was given a crock pot that changed.
Now I love it, squash based African stews, soups, lime and chilli chicken for shredding into wraps, sausage and bean casserole (tinned beans) dhal, aubergine parmigiana, hot pot, baked potatoes, mulled cider and wine, pheasant and chestnut casserole is delicious, the slow cooker is far kinder to both pheasant and rabbit, so a rabbit pie filling is also lovely, obviously chilli, pork belly and chorizo stew is a favourite here too. Lamb shanks cook beautifully in it, as do whole chickens
I will be rather alone in this, and am fully prepared to accept it could be failure on my part as a cook, rather than the cookers fault but, I don't like beef in it. I find it stringy, but, tbf, I favour rare beef and am never a particular fan of it cooked. I also think Curries are better on a hob.

[squarecircle]

Beautifully tender pulled pork is a favourite in our house. And venison sausage and lentil stew with cranberries.
Really cheap and economical to use, but it does tend to make the house smell of whatever you're cooking.

[BuzzLightbulb]

Rink they were on special offer at Aldi this week. Still one or two left last night when I was in.

Bought some le creuset type cast iron stuff in there a few weeks ago, really very good so don't worry about the quality.

[sixlive]

Murphy Richards huge one if it wasn't for steamed puddings I would get rid

[AmIGoingMad]

Not on fb- it scares me a bit!

I think I will look into getting one.

Thanks!

[bakingaddict]

Its good for pork and beef but I find every time ive done chicken it comes out minging. I am a good cook honestly but slow cooked chicken must be my blind spot

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I love mine use it several times a week. As above you can so everything from stews to lasagne to whole joints to read and cakes.

You can do stews and soups and mince in winter and do whole chicken or pulled pork to shove on rolls or wraps with salad.

Would not be without one now!!!

[JamNan]

Yes!

[breatheslowly]

We've got one and haven't used it very much. We don't eat much meat as DH only really eats chicken breast, so no stews. If you eat that sort of food you might get on better with a slow cooker than we have.

[forgetdieting]

A slow cooker is good for lots of dishes, but the one i've failed with too is chicken, which ends up a bit stringy "bakingaddict". Sausage and bean casseroles work well though.

[JodieGarberJacob]

Slow Cooked Wonders on FB is my inspiration! You'll be amazed at the stuff you can do with one.

[SirChenjin]

Yes and yes.

We bought a Crockpot about 2 months ago - no idea why I didn't buy one years ago, as it has literally revolutionised the Chen household we don't get out much. I either cook stuff overnight and then put it in the fridge until evening, or put dinner into cook while we're both out at work. No more faffing about cooking when I get in - fab.

Off to like Slow Cooked Wonders now - thanks Jodie

[SirChenjin]

Couldn't seem to find Slow Cooked Wonders on FB

[FunkyBoldRibena]

I have a slow cooker, hardly used. However my oven decided to give up the ghost last week so we bought a large remoska last Saturday and I've used it for every meal since. It's marvelous.

Bang the chopped veg/spices/herbs when you get back from work, go get changed/check emails/faff about then open up, add sauce/cheese/whatever bang the rice/pasta on and in 30-45 minutes from switching on the food is cooked. And it doesn't taste weird like in the slow cooker.

Absolutely fantastic bit of kit. And a fraction of the cost of a new oven/heating up a whole oven.

[Snowdown]

I think it's worth buying, they're cheap to buy and run and you might love them. I prefer food cooked in an oven or on the hob...better flavour IMO, curries were awful....cooking all day destroyed the spicing, spag Bol didn't benefit from long slow cooking, all the work is at the beginning on the hob, washing two pots is annoying and all the stews I made tasted very samey, so when mine cracked I didn't replace it but the majority of people seem to love them, so think they're worth a go.

[AmIGoingMad]

Some love hate views then