Is a slow cooker worth it ?

[elelfrance]

Trying to carve out some more time in my day at the minute, feel like i'm chasing my tail from when i get in from work till when i go to bed

Have read about people saying that a slow cooker is a godsend, so wondering would it be worth a try, but I find the longest part of cooking is the peeling/chopping bit, and not the actual cooking ... i know that it would allow me to prep a stew in the morning and have it ready when we come home, so i could have dishes that i don't normally have time to make, but i wonder is it just moving prep time around ? from evening to morning IYSWIM ?

Am I missing something ? Is there a better way to get organised ?

[Wolfiefan]

It is moving round prep but some recipes can be low prep. Pulled pork etc.
Also Google dump bags. Charming name. Freeze raw stuff. Defrost and dump in slow cooker in the morning.

[P1nkP0ppy]

I'm making spaghetti bog in mine as I write, using frozen chopped onions/sliced mushrooms/pancetta cubes/beef mince plus two tins chopped tomatoes, squirt of garlic purée and two chopped courgettes. I'll add a glass of red wine and it's set to go.
It smells really yummy.

[RosieandJim89]

If I was going to do a stew in the slow cooker, I would buy ready chopped fresh/frozen and chuck it all in. The other thing I do is prepare night before. So, get the kids in bed and then spend half an hour prepping. Put it in the fridge and take it out the next morning.
I think slow cookers are great but they do take a few tries to get the hang of and work out whether yours is a fast-slow cooker etc. Always worth having a back up for the first few attempts.

[Daytona79]

Yes they are the best thing ever and it finds allow get a instant pot

[elelfrance]

oooh dump bags ... now that is a game changer .... ladies you might be convincing me

[HeyMacWey]

I found that the meat tasted rank unless I pre-browned it which I found hard to fit in first thing in the morning so found it much easier to make during the weekend and then chill or freeze for during the week.

[ohidoliketobe]

Another here who preps before bed. I chop the veg last thing, usually while watching tv, chuck it in the pot and leave i the fridge overnight. Then it's just adding the sauce / tinned tomatoes / herbs whatever first thing in the morning.
I have a sear and stew one, I prefer the meat to be browned off a little and the veg softened first. Dead easy, just do exactly the same but sit the pot on the hob for 5 mins before putting it into the actual cooker part.
They're great on days when you're all in at different times. I've got turkey chilli in mine at the moment. Me and DS will have some when I'm back from picking him up from nursery and DH is working late tonight so he'll have his when he gets in with a packet of microwave rice

[cdtaylornats]

Save yourself cleaning a heavy pot

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AZ80NQC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[SaggyNaggy]

Every week I do a recipe in mine that lasts 2 days.
Chilli, bolognese, stews etc.
So if I have a day doing little I'll cook it all and pop it in, the next day is easy, turn it on low, relax.