What is the point of slow cookers?

[EachandEveryone]

My neighbour came around to admire it yesterday. It was her that persuaded me to get one, I am a nurse but have stopped nights for now. I batch cook sometimes but I’ve only myself to feed. I really don’t need a slow cooker do I? What does actually taste better in it? And doesn’t it make you living space smell of cooking all day? I’m in a flat and can’t stand it if I smell cooking in my bedroom😃

I love my slow cooker. Things like stews and curries are so much better slow cooked, 10mins work in the morning then ready when I get home. I'm not sure I'd make stews if I lived alone though

I love mine, use it all the time.

I try to love mine but I hate everywhere smelling like casserole all day

Oh my!!
I absolutely love & rely on my slow cooker!
I did jacket potatoes in mine yesterday for tea and a vege lasagna the day before.
Batch cooked of course, in the freezer for supper next week.
Curry, cheesy potatoes, I do all sorts in mine.
The house does smell of lovely cooking when you walk in the house after your 12 hour shift, but scented candles soon get rid of that.
Love it, give it a go...

It reallocates time. Prepare it in the morning, food ready when you come in. Leave on warm and still ready for various family members who need dinner at different times because of activities.

I wouldn't bother if it was just me though.

My sister has one for me. It was originally my mum’s, then she had it and now it’s coming to me. I’ve been wanting to try one for ages so I’ll give this one a go and if I like it I might invest if I need a bigger/better one.

I really like mine but I’m not convinced it actually saves much time. All of the preparation time is the same because the meat has to be browned etc.

I love coming home to the smell of dinner lol though but if you don’t I would probably send to a charity shop.

I use mine at least once a week, although I usually put it in the kitchen. I do tomato sauce in it, just a basic one with onions, garlic, 2 tins tomatoes, tomato puree and herbs, it cooks down to something really dark and rich. Squash and quinoa chilli. Chickpea and sweet potato curry. A butter bean and bulgar wheat Mediterraneany thingy. Basically anything I'd have to stand over the hob for stirring, it's very convenient bc I can just dump in a load of stuff at lunchtime or in the morning and come back later to a cooked dinner (or just to cook pasta or something)

I don't eat much meat though so there isn't any faffing around with browning etc.

All of the preparation time is the same because the meat has to be browned etc.

I never brown the meat - I just check everything in. After 8 hours of slow cooking I don't believe that 5 minutes of browning would make any difference.

Some lovely ideas here. Baked potatoes? How do they work?! If anyone has a cookbook or collection of recipes they could share I'd be really grateful.

Brilliant! I make stews, curry, bolognaise, chilli, meatballs, easy to put in before work and it's all good to go when you're home and too pooped to cook

I probably use mine 2-3 times a week

I used mine a lot when I worked full time, but now I don’t I’ve gone back to doing casseroles in the oven on a low heat. Although I do like cooking a curry in the slow cooker.

I go through phases with mine. Useful because I ferry disabled son around so I can leave it cooking our meal and it keeps it warm to accomodate different meal times. That said I have a small kitchen with not many electric sockets so making space for it near a socket is a pita!

With dh working from home I can now just pop a casserole in a low oven as theres always someone here.

Lasagne in the slow cooker changed my life!! Sure you have to cook the meat then assemble in the slow cooker. But it means when you get home from a day/night at work it’s just ready to eat rather than having to wait 45 mins for it to cook!!

I'm a nurse who loves my slow cooker. I like that I can have a proper meal ready for the second I get home, when I'm normally starving and tired. I often to a meal in thr slow cooker and a loaf of bread in the bread maker (on a timer so it is freshly cooked) and it is wonderful. Then I take leftovers to work for lunch the next day.

@OLittleTownofBethlehem

I really like mine but I’m not convinced it actually saves much time. All of the preparation time is the same because the meat has to be browned etc.

I love coming home to the smell of dinner lol though but if you don’t I would probably send to a charity shop.

This is exactly what I was gonna say. Given you have to dirty a pan to brown the meat then it makes sense just to cook the whole dish in that one pan and then it’s ready sooner too

I have a slow cooker but not really persuaded on the benefits of it

I've got bolognese sauce in mine right now.I love it.

It's very useful if you arrive home late with hungry children and you want to have a home cooked warm meal ready. It's just you so no, you don't need one, can just have a sandwich if you're hungry.

My slow cooker has a pan that you brown it in and then the whole thing transfers to the slow cooker.

I love it because ready chopped veg plus ready cubed beef plus water plus some herbs = amazing dinner with about five minutes input from me.

I use mina occasionally, dh uses it more but he thinks its ok to just leave in in for 4 hrs for spag bol, he does an hr or so on high rest on low and he browns meat , onions and garlic before but i think they need to be on longer ? Like 8 hrs thats why I don't use mine much as im never organises enough first thing to throw it in and think lunchtime prob too late as i have no idea what temp they cook at .

The point is that it doesn't dry out or burn at the bottom the way it would in the oven. You can leave it unattended and come home to a lovely, home cooked meal. I wouldn't be without mine.

Fell out of love with mine.

It was quite useful when kids had after school activities and I was busy driving them about... However,

Both my DC disliked the texture of the food

I found it really tasteless and watery

It was huge and a complete pain to clean out

I think if I'm in a rush I'd actually rather eat a jacket potato, quick stir fry with microwave rice, ready made pizza, or something on toast

And this reminds me, I'd heard people rave about cooking a whole chicken in one so thought I'd try it. It was disgusting...slimy, greasy, grey and just vile. Never again

Hi OP, the advantage is super tender meat and food ready when you get in after a long day. Plus, batch cooking so you get another three dinners in the freezer!

CHINESE PORK BELLY – Place 4 thick pork belly slices, (rind off), in a bowl, then add 2 tbsp of Chinese five spice or 2 tbsp of Thai 7 spice, 1 sliced onion, 4 sliced spring onions (optional), 1 sliced pepper, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 5 garlic cloves chopped, 50 ml of water and 1 tsp ground ginger. Mix really well then place everything in the slow cooker or in freezer bag and seal and pop into the freezer for use another day .

SLOW COOKER – High 2 hours or Low 4-5 hours.
SERVE – Serve with boiled rice and a nice veg like broccoli, mange tout or green beans with a little drizzle of sesame oil over the top.

@Silvercatowner I have baked potatoes in mine right now I literally just wash them, stab them, rub butter around them (oil works too), wrap them in foil and put them on low! Depending on how big the potatoes are they're usually lovely and soft within 5-6 hours.

If you like your baked potatoes with a crispy skin then you can stick them in the oven for 15-20mins after, but I never bother doing that as I always have baked beans which make the skin wet anyway!

All of the preparation time is the same because the meat has to be browned etc

Er, no you don't. I'm currently using mine to slow cook some brisket for burrito filling. It just sits there all day doing it's thing until it turns into deliciously spicy tender meat. I just put the meat, spices, garlic and a bit of stock in there this morning and won't have to look at it until 6-7 pm.

It's not hard to clean either. You just put the bowl and lid in the dishwasher.