Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if its ok to leave a slow cooker on while I'm at work?

23 replies

annabanana84 · 24/10/2013 00:05

dp has got us a slow cooker. It's great, but now he wants us to leave it on the low setting for 9 hours while we're both at work. I'm not so keen - isn't it dangerous?

OP posts:
lessonsintightropes · 24/10/2013 00:06

My sis does this all the time and comes home to lovely stews. Don't worry too much, you can get one of those circuit breaker plug things if you are anxious about current surges.

queenebay · 24/10/2013 00:07

Not at all. Mine is on most days

thehorridestmumintheworld · 24/10/2013 00:07

That is what they're designed for, its quite safe. Its great to get home to a nice warm casserole too.

Bogeyface · 24/10/2013 00:08

Thats what they are made for! You put it on before work and come home to a delicious stew, using less elec than an energy saving light bulb. Whats not to love?!

But if you are twitchy then yy to the circuit breaker in case of a surge, although in 20+ years of using one that has never happened here.

gallicgirl · 24/10/2013 00:10

It's very dangeroui.
Probably best to sit and watch it for 10 hours just in case it cooks a lovely stew while you're not looking.

BigBoobiedBertha · 24/10/2013 00:11

Agree they are meant to be left on all day whilst you get on with other things. They don't need watching.

What do you think will happen that makes it a danger, just as a matter of interest?

Original poster
annabanana84 · 24/10/2013 00:12

Woooow, that's great, thanks! Bacon ribs it is tomorrow then! It'll be like a cook has been in while we've been at work. Fab!

OP posts:
BackforGood · 24/10/2013 00:12

Of course you should - that's the point of having one.
It's just the lovliest thing in the world to get in after a long day at work on a dark wintry evening and open the door to the delicious smell of your dinner all ready and cooked for you.

Isetan · 24/10/2013 02:28

As others have said, leaving it unattended while your out is part of its design. Do you unplug the fridge, turn off the boiler and never leave the TV on standby (although you really should) when you go out? It's just a new gadget that you have to get used to, however, coming home to the smell of stews and a roast chicken doesn't take much getting used to.

UncleT · 24/10/2013 02:57

Hate to be repetitive, but that's precisely what they're for. You should have no fear in leaving it to do its business as that's precisely what it's designed to do.

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/10/2013 03:09

I have asked my fire fighter friend about this. His view is that you have to clear the area it is on, make sure it is in good working order, no proper kinks in the wire, go for it.

He wouldn't take his shirt off though so I don't know if it was good advice...

MrsMook · 24/10/2013 06:06

They cook at a low temperature, about 70oC so don't build up masses of heat.

sashh · 24/10/2013 07:33

Do you switch off and unplug your TV, radio, PC, set top box, all lights etc and never ever forget?

Leave it on, it will be fine.

Sparrowlegs248 · 24/10/2013 07:41

I'm a bit twitchy about it so did some trial runs at the weekends. It made me more twitchy tbh. I used a sachet of casserole mix stuff and this seemed to stiick to the sides of the cooker and would have burnt had i not been there to stir it throughout the day. Is that where i went wrong? With the sachet?

Can anyone suggest fool proof things to cook in it?

Groovee · 24/10/2013 07:44

I use mine all the time. There is a fab group on facebook called Slow Cooker Saddos! They have hundreds of recipes which has me cooking far more and a different range from soup and stews.

Pulled pork is my favourite.

SunnyL · 24/10/2013 07:54

Nottalotta

Buy some cheap meat, brown it, chuck some veg in, chuck some stock and red wine in. Leave it for 8 hours. Eat the most tender gorgeous caserole. Job done!

GillyBillyWilly · 24/10/2013 07:54

I think that's the whole point of a slow cooker!!!!
Go for it and enjoy! Grin

GillyBillyWilly · 24/10/2013 07:56

I make a lot of chilli in mine.... Delicious Smile
Come home from work, chilli is done and then I just shove a couple of packs of rice in the microwave and maybe some garlic bread in the oven quickly.
Mmmmm

JennieR60 · 24/10/2013 08:02

Did u mix the sachet with water? In which case it should have been fine. I love my slow cooker I leave mine on all day.

Xxx

JeewizzJen · 24/10/2013 08:06

MrsTerryPratchett GrinGrin

MammaTJ · 24/10/2013 08:08

Much better to leave it on while out than be tortured by delicious smells all day!

zebbidy · 24/10/2013 08:11

OP i can understand your concern.

For the people saying do you leave your tv on standby, set box etc. Its not a good comparison, because a slow cooker contains a heating element which the others dont. You wouldn't leave an iron or a pair of hair straightners on all day so i can understand where your coming from.

In my line of work we conduct PAT testing, anything with a heating element is already considered a medium risk, then there are others factors that come in to account etc.

GillyBillyWilly · 24/10/2013 08:22

I will add that I do understand your concern as well. I'm quite obsessive about making sure everything is off when I leave the house... Don't even leave the tv on standby!

However, the one thing I'm happy to leave on is the slow cooker. I guess i just feel like it's designed to stay on for hours so doesn't make a difference whether I'm at home or not.

Never had any issues and I know lots of people who do the same Smile

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread