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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not really see the point in a slow cooker?

260 replies

Hippodisk · 07/10/2016 16:00

I keep seeing slow cookers recommended on quick or cheap meal threads. I've also noticed that good food mag has started including slow cooker recipes.

How is it any quicker than cooking a casserole in the oven? You still have to chop veg, brown meat etc. Is the appeal that you can leave it on while you're out?

I will say I'm probably biased as I used one years ago to cook a casserole and it was bland and watery, I also cooked a whole chicken and ended up throwing it in the bin it was vile.

So did I try the wrong recipes, are they really that much of a time saver?

Convince me to give it another go Grin

OP posts:
OurBlanche · 07/10/2016 16:18

Soap + water --> add to mouth!

You can buy really cheap cuts of meat, which more often than not are far tastier than the more expensive ones, cook them for pennies worth of power and have meals that take minutes to prepare - I have never browned anything that went in one.

My stews, hob or oven, usually take more than 2 hours anyway and I have never really found a pressure cooker to be any use!

Maybe it's in your genes... sloco/pressure cooker... never the twain Smile

FlameGrower · 07/10/2016 16:19

I've got some ox cheeks in the freezer. I might try them in the slow cooker.

Original poster
Hippodisk · 07/10/2016 16:19

I see the appeal of having something to eat ready as soon as you get home, that's what suckered me in last time Confused.

I may have used too much liquid by the sounds of it.

Is it really safe to have meat warming and hanging around all day?

OP posts:
user1474627704 · 07/10/2016 16:23

See I can make a lovely casserole in about 15 mins prep time and just chuck it in the oven for 2 hours

Not much use if you're out all day.

But seriously, get an instant pot instead. 1000x superior to a regular slow cooker.

bruffin · 07/10/2016 16:23

I adore mine. But it is a sear and stew type one. It is a stainless steel one and zo much easier to clean than pots that go in the oven. Nothing is baked on.
I use it about once a week. Saturday made split pea and ham soup and i often cook whole chicken in it.

Cary2012 · 07/10/2016 16:26

I make lovely curries in mine, and bolognaise sauce and chilli, then all you have to do is boil rice/pasta just before you're ready to eat, so it can be used for stuff other than casseroles. So tonight, son who's going out but will eat later than us will just microwave rice and serve it up with the remaining chilli in the slow cooker. Saves using the oven etc.

TwigletsMakeMeViolent · 07/10/2016 16:27

I use mine all the time, for loads of different things - including making jam and yogurt and keeping mulled wine warm!

I'm not very good at cooking meat, so if I use the slow cooker I know the meat will be cooked to perfection.

My tips: don't use lots of liquid, and put seasonings in at the end (herbs, salt etc).

LittleDittyAbout · 07/10/2016 16:28

It's handy because you can just leave it, not pots boiling over, things burning/drying out in the oven. You put it on in the morning and forget about it.

formerbabe · 07/10/2016 16:28

I've got one but I'm not that keen on it. I recently cooked a whole chicken in it...I thought it was horrible...slimy and mushy...yuk! I find everything stays a bit watery and bland whereas a long cook in the oven makes things richer and more tasty. Still, it's useful if you're going to be out all day and need the food to be ready as soon as you get home.

LurkingHusband · 07/10/2016 16:28

Slow cooker roast chicken.

GrouchyKiwi · 07/10/2016 16:28

I'm a SAHM and find them useful because I have energy in the morning so can put together a nutritious meal and leave it to cook. By 3pm or so I'm usually shattered so the healthy meals don't happen as often if I leave them till then.

wasonthelist · 07/10/2016 16:30

I use mine for stuff like Lamb curries - cooking Lamb for a relatively long time slowly makes it very tender. To avoid the watery outcome, I take the lid off for a while at the end. I could probably get the same effect by bunging it in the oven for hours to be fair, but I like the slow cooker and I don't think it is a threat to world peace.

roseteapot101 · 07/10/2016 16:31

depends the dish yes chicken is not very nice in the slow cooker but pork shoulder is lovely.Just a onion,250ml hot water with a chicken oxo,pork shoulder low 8-10hrs.I take my slow cooker on haven holidays.Pop on before a long day out ,get some chips from a chippy on way back.serve in bread rolls with chips.Much easier after a long day out

also easy vegetarian food

vege chilli 2 cans chopped tomato's,can of red kidney beans,can of butter beans,2 courgettes chopped,2 carrots chopped,large onion chopped,couple cloves crushed garlic,table spoon oregano,1 chopped bell pepper,2 teaspoon cumin,2-3 tablespoon mild chilli powder,250ml veg stock low 6-8hrs

or rice pudding absolutely wonderful

gabsdot · 07/10/2016 16:31

The thing I like about my slow cooker is that the food will stay warm and ready to eat whenever you're ready.

PhilomenaCatLover · 07/10/2016 16:36

Tried to RTFT so sorry if someone has already mentioned it, but slow cooker would consume much less energy than having the oven running for 3-4 hours. Plus I'm happy to leave slow cooker running overnight whereas oven only runs when I'm awake and at home.
I bought one 6 months ago and get massive use out of it. I'd suggest buying one with a removable insert that can go on the gas. Sauté your veg and aromatics before on the gas, then just fry your meat on gas for a couple of minutes and then move to slow cooker. I make lots of pulled chicken, stews, curries, and have been consistently taking in a packed lunch 3-4 days per week (also saving a lot of money in the process). Not meaning to brag - just saying slow cooker really helping here!

StrawberryQuik · 07/10/2016 16:37

I've never used mine...BIL gave it to us as he bought it for uni then used it only once.

We just cook quick things/use short cuts on weekdays or sometimes I'll prep and chop veg while DS is napping.

Squirrills · 07/10/2016 16:38

I'm a recent convert.
I don't go out to work, when I did I could never dream of chopping onions first thing in the morning.
DS1 got one at uni and raved about it so I got one myself.

I have always cooked a lot of casseroles - pork goulash, pork with chilli and peanut butter (we call it satay but I know it's not), beef carbonnade, curries etc. I have found the slow cooker does all these better as well as large hams and pulled pork.
We all like loads of sauce so I just thicken accordingly.
We have no gas so cook electric, having the oven on for hours for one casserole is less economical than a slow cooker.

In fact I bought another small one in Asda yesterday for £7.

It's also very forgiving. It can be ready after 6 hours or left for 8 if you like.

formerbabe · 07/10/2016 16:40

pork with chilli and peanut butter

Ohhh...that sounds nice? How do you make it please?!

wasonthelist · 07/10/2016 16:40

Is it really safe to have meat warming and hanging around all day?

Ha ha ha that is funny. No of course it isn't, we've all died from it - a lot.

needsahalo · 07/10/2016 16:41

make a lovely casserole in about 15 mins prep time and just chuck it in the oven for 2 hours

But you can't do that if you are out of the house for 10 hours and want to deed your children within 20 minutes of getting in. That's the joy of the slow cooker.

Sallystyle · 07/10/2016 16:42

The quickness comes from you not actually being there while it's cooking, you can just put it on however many hours before that you like and it'll be fine, unlike the pressure cooker

You can do that with new pressure cookers as well.

I'm not sure how great it would be having meat sat around for a long time though.

rookiemere · 07/10/2016 16:43

I have to say I have one and am not awfully keen. Everything seems to have a slightly off taste to it. having said that it's useful when you have lots of people to do a pot roast or meatballs or something and still have all the room left in your oven.

Notso · 07/10/2016 16:44

They can be handy if you are out all day and want to come back to something 'ready'.
My favourite is one of those random roasting joints of beef with half a glass of wine, some carrots, leeks, onions and a small mug of stock. It's delicious.
I wouldn't do a whole chicken as I don't see that as a slow cooked food.
As PP for mulled wine or cider they are essential!

MissBattleaxe · 07/10/2016 16:46

Is it really safe to have meat warming and hanging around all day?

It's at boiling point i.e a low simmer. The liquid is bubbling which means it is at 100 degrees, therefore it's a safe temperature. It's more dangerous to leave it at room temperature.

It's a great feeling to get home and know a hot, home cooked curry is just minutes away from being in your belly.

LifeIsGoodish · 07/10/2016 16:46

When I walked in just now, I was greeted by "What's for dinner, mum? It smells fantastic!"

Dinner was prepared in about 15mins flat this morning, while chivying supervising children getting ready: sliced leeks and spring onions, couple of bay leaves, couple of pieces of dried lemon grass, pinch of whole peppercorns, laid chicken thighs over, laid fat slices of mushroom over the chicken, glugged a generous amount of crappy white wine (don't ask!) over, then poured stock cube dissolved in 1/2 cup of hot water over everything.

8h on low. Probably took longer to type it.