Do you actually use your Slow/Pressure Cooker or Air Fryer?

[DrPhilYourGuts]

Yes, I am easily led, but I keep seeing how fabulously energy saving these kitchen gadgets are. Many seem to have rave reviews, but are they actually worth having?

I've seen you can get combination 'multi' cookers, which are all three but not sure if these are jack of all trades and masters of none.

If you have one, do you recommend? DH seems to think they can only make 'slop', but some have bake and roast functions so surely not only wet food?

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I had a slow cooker but donated it to charity. I never managed to produce a tasty meal in it. Everything ended up dripping in juices and tasting of cardboard, and there was always an extra step of taking out any meat i had boiled and putting it on a plate, and thickening up the juices in a separate pan, sometimes browning the meat before putting it into the slow cooker. There was so much to wash and the effort wasn't worth it. The best thing I did with it was using it to rise yeast dough using the warming function but I can do that elsewhere.

Bought an Instant Pot and subsequently an Air Fryer.

I've used both far more than I ever used the slow cooker, and the results are as tasty as I hoped. There is also far less washing up. The instant pot has a saute mode which is very useful. I've used it to bake/steam brownies too, in a Pyrex dish I bought at a thrift store. They were the best brownies I've ever had.

I don’t have a pressure cooker, use my slow cooker rarely at this time of year, much more autumn and winter, Air fryer is my best purchase ever, used at least once a day, often twice.

Instant Pot and air fryer are both amazingly useful. I rarely use the slow cooker since going veggie and getting the Instant Pot.

@LadyEloise1 here you go

To add I got my IP years ago but there's a version now where you can use it as an air fryer too I think.

Not sure why all the pics are attached twice

Thank you @FictionalCharacter

I got given a slow cooker and can't work out how to make it fit into my life, so Im selling it (effectively giving it away). I don't understand how it can be useful - I work full time and thought i could put on a meal in a slow cooker at 630 breakfast and then just put it on the table at 7pm all ready, but the max things take seems to be four hours. Plus I have to brown and soften stuff beforehand. Frankly it's not worth the shelf space.

Im going to embrace non cooking and microwave recipes instead.

Of course @Rapidtango !

simmer 2 chopped onions in a lot of water. Im talking a big pan (about 2.5l of water, i use a kettle) for about 30 mins (this stock is the base for the taste)

500g diced beef into the water and simmer for another 30 mins.

i use my eyes for guidance for the diced swede and carrots but basically a big dinner plate and half carrots and half swede. Simmer for another hour. Then add a bowl (again sight!) of chopped potatoes. Then at this point i top up the water with beef stock (granny used 2 oxo cubes) and salt and pepper. You can add lentils if you like.

then simmer till potatoes are cooked.

but eat the following night with copious amounts of bread!

Yum yum. That's tomorrow's dinner sorted.......
Thank you.

There is no standard way of cooking lobscouse but you just have to Google to find various ways.

in my part of wales it was a normal tea. Called it “swper chwarel” quarry supper as it was served as the men came home from the slate quarries. Been brought up on it snd my kids love it.

For those of you with Instant Pots, can I ask where you go for recipes? I have one gathering dust and would like to use it more, but need guidance. Thanks

Thanks

OK... I have an air fryer and 2 slow cookers....
I miss having a pressure cooker (think my ex has it)

Is it worth me getting an instant pot, rather than just a new pressure cooker?

@HoppingPavlova What size / capacity is your air fryer ?

I don't have a slow cooker, but I love my air fryer... I actually have 2. We bought a small one to try it, ended up loving it so bought a dual basket Ninja dupe from Costco. Saves us a fortune because our oven is so old and costly to run.

@evilharpy I wish people would stop saying this about pressure cookers as it's rubbish! To cook a chicken it takes 15 mins to get to pressure, 25 to cook and then 20 to naturally release. Yes quicker than an oven but not quick!

OP I have all of those things. We use the air fryer loads, corn ribs, wedges, salmon. The slow cooker is handy too when we're at work. The pressure cooker is the least used as it always takes so much longer than you think!! They are not quick!!

@Asparagusluvva it is 23L. I use it every day.

There is an Instant Pot which comes with an air fryer lid. I have recently upgraded as I used my previous model loads.

@Huckleberries73 can you explain how you get risotto done in 10 mins? Is that the full time up to pressure and NPR? Am I doing something wrong as everything takes ages!!! I wish recipes would be truthful and state the real time and not just cooking time!

This risotto recipe is excellent and has very clear, honest timings: www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-easy-risotto-in-the-instant-pot-257465. If you warm the stock it will come to pressure in 3-4 mins, cook in 5, then quick release.

I had a Phillips air fryer for years and years, but got the ninja Foodi grill a few weeks back and I don’t recall having the oven on once ever since. We can airfry, roast, bake and grill in it, and so much easier to clean than the drawer versions

@sponsabillaries thanks for that- with the sautéing etc that looks like 15 mins which is better than lots I've done. I need to find recipes that I can do in it as I tend to just cook pulses and make dahl 🤣. I do a chicken in it sometimes if it's hot and I don't want to put the oven on!!