Self timing slow cooker?!

[Nakupenda]

Does such a thing exist? Google doesn't have the answers.

For example - DP and I will soon be out of the house from 7.15am - 6pm
Is it possible to get a slow cooker I fill in the morning, then set it on a timer so it doesn't start cooking til 4/5 hours before we get home?

Thanks in advance

[mypropertea]

Wouldn't the food go off waiting to cook?

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

you can easily buy timer plugs.

Or the Instant Pot has an integral timer....not entirely certain it works for the slow cooking aspect, but you can def delay start times for some functions.

[Nakupenda]

Well I did wonder this. I'm desperate to use a slow cooker but can't see how to get around it being out of the house for such long hours! It'll be such a massive faff getting in at 6 and scrambling to prepare tea!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

You can just use a timer plug but ibwouldnt have food hanging around that long then taking time to get up to a safe temperature.

What about using one at the weekends and freezing the food to eat in week?

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Unless of course you do a veggie meal- veg curry, soup or whatever. If you did a trial run at the weekend you could see how much water you'd need to use and have a plug in timer to turn off then you can reheat when you get in- although mine stays warm for ages.

[mumsiedarlingrevolta]

I love my slow cooker-it's a "Crock-pot" from lakeland (which I got cheaply because box damaged) it has a keep warm function so that when the food is done it just keeps it warm until you eat it. Would think a delayed timer to start cooking later risky as the food would be sitting there going off. Mine perfect for this :)

[ivykaty44]

I just put everything ready in a tipper ware, then place in slow cooker and turn on at 6am

When we want to eat at 7pm we dish up the food.

Delisious stew.

Everything is cut large chopped roughly.

I'm not sure why you would cook for a shorter time?

Cuts like oxtail, shin beef, pork cuts taste better cooked long and slow thus the advantage of a slow cooker on low heat.

[ivykaty44]

Even chicken thighs are fine cooked for 13 hours and make for a great economical easy cook as the bones just fall away from the tender meat

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Mine does whole chicken in 5 hours, not sure what it would be like for more than double that

[KayJBee]

A plug timer would work but so would putting it on when you leave the house. Slow cookers are designed to be on for at least 8 hours on low. Its no problem to keep it cooking for 12 hours.
I'd have to put mine on high if I wanted it cooked in 5 hours.
Just put it on low and leave it all day.

[shovetheholly]

The instant pot has a delayed cooking timer. It is also the best thing EVER because not only does it slow cook - it is also a pressure cooker, rice cooker, soup maker, saute machine, and makes yoghurt and cheese. I LOVE mine.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Yes, I have this one
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00J0BPQVI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475248021&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=slow%20cooker%20andrew%20james%20digital&dpPl=1&dpID=417z12KEpKL&ref=plSrch&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[AndNowItsSeven]

It has a timer.

[wowfudge]

We just use a plug in timer. Works fine. The food does not go off!

[bingohandjob]

I'd consider an Instant Pot if you're buying a new piece of kit...it can slow cook on timer or pressure cook so super quick. It makes the cheapest/toughest cuts of meat SUPER tender in no time and great for all kinds of meals. We got ours from Costco.

[EarSlaps]

I wish people would stop going on about the instant pot as now I NEED one

I have used a timer plug with my slow cooker if I'm going to be out for a really long day. Our kitchen is pretty chilly so I don't worry about the food spoiling as long as it goes in really cold. It's never for more than a couple of hours. Modern slow cookers do tend to cook a bit hotter than the older ones, so things can over cook sometimes if you leave them too long.

I'm planning on going back to work soon, and I don't think I'm organised enough to get food sorted in the morning or the night before. At the moment I'll pop things on during the day while I'm around. I'm really hoping to work short days so a pressure cooker would be much more practical for sorting dinner out when I get back from the school run. Plus I can sear food in the Instant Pot and put the pot in the dishwasher. As soon as I get a job I'm buying one and selling the slow cooker

[Maraki]

I get everything ready the night before and put it in the slow cooker bowl. Then I put the slow cooker bowl in the fridge. At 6:30am, I set the plug timer (cheapy from Ikea!) to start at 11:30 am and stop at 6pm. In the morning the slow cooker bowl warms up slowly to room temperature (otherwise it will crack) and food (including chicken) has never gone off. I don't do this in the summer during hot days though.

[sonias27]

If you decide to take a plunge a get a slow cooker, Morphy Richards do a lovely slow cooker that cooks up the most amazing meals at a really good price. My hubby brought me one last year and i love it.

[shovetheholly]

earslaps - DO IT!!

Seriously, I use mine every single day. It's so much less messy and more convenient than the hob for so many of the things I cook (I like a good stew!).

A revelation for me - and this is so silly and simple - has been pressure cooking potatoes. Because I ALWAYS have them boil over on the hob, and then that horrible starchy water takes ages to clean up. In the instant pot, there is no chance of that and no mess. Brilliant.

You can make a soup in no time at all too and then shove a stick blender in it, and it is like you are Delia Smith with no effort at all.

[EarSlaps]

Oooh shove you bad influence

I think I will get one- if I manage to get a job before Christmas I'll get one as soon as the job offer comes through, otherwise it will be on my Christmas list!

I like slow cooking but I hate faffing around with a separate pan to fry things off first and I hate that I have to wash the bloody thing up and I'm always paranoid I'll smash it on the granite worktop. I'm guessing you need to wash up the Instant Pot lid?

Plus the IP does more.

[EarSlaps]

Oooh shove you bad influence

I think I will get one- if I manage to get a job before Christmas I'll get one as soon as the job offer comes through, otherwise it will be on my Christmas list!

I like slow cooking but I hate faffing around with a separate pan to fry things off first and I hate that I have to wash the bloody thing up and I'm always paranoid I'll smash it on the granite worktop. I'm guessing you need to wash up the Instant Pot lid?

Plus the IP does more.

[shovetheholly]

Yes - being able to saute in it and then cook further is the amazing thing, it truly is a one-pot wonder.

The removable pot does brilliantly in the dishwasher. I think you could probably put the pressure cooker lid in there too, though I haven't tried that because to be honest it's never been that dirty - just a rinse under the tap is plenty to keep it spotless. You can get an additional glass lid, which can definitely be put in the dishwasher and that allows you to see the contents a bit more easily.

I've used it to make chutney and it's brill for that too.

[EarSlaps]

Well fingers crossed for my interview next week (third try's a charm right?)

[shovetheholly]

Good luck earslaps - you sound awesome, so I'm sure they'd be very, very lucky to have you on board. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[EarSlaps]

Why thank you .

That's what my old boss says shove, shame he's in a different continent. It's just trying to find that elusive job that fits around school runs (and hopefully pays over minimum wage ). Every flexible or part time job advertised has loads of completely over qualified people chasing it.

Well I have got an interview each time I've applied for something and the feedback is that they really liked me and will let me know if anything else comes up, but there was someone with more relevant experience. A friend told me she had fifteen interviews before getting her job!