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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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

OP posts:

OurBlanche · 09/10/2016 15:58

Violetta mine often stay in for 10+ hours. You might have to add a little extra water, but that is all, really.

Even if a recipe says 6 hours at high, mine gets 10ish on low and all is well.

If I am not sure I turn it up for an hour, get showered, changed etc and then eat.

A sloco is very much a blunt instrument

Konyaa · 09/10/2016 16:00

We wouldn't make things work without our TWO slow cookers. Two full time jobs and a1 yr old.

bruffin · 09/10/2016 16:32

Mine only stays on for 8 hours then goes onto a keep warm for 2 hours.

Ebbenmeowgi · 09/10/2016 16:40

We stick in ribs with bbq sauce mixed with hoi sin sauce, so amazing! It was the best reason ever to have a slow cooker.

ViolettaValery · 09/10/2016 17:24

Thanks Blanche, that is good to know! I do not have an automatic keep-warm setting though bruffin, I would have to do that manually, this is the downside to the 12.99 from Aldi deal. That and the knob keeps coming off .

gillybeanz · 09/10/2016 17:40

How can it be cheap when it's on all day?
It takes about an hour to cook a casserole.

My friend likes it as she can buy cheap meat and it comes out far better than the oven.
I just buy proper meat, cook it in the oven and it tastes lovely.
I can see the point if you slow cook because you are out all day, the money you earn covers the extra utilities cost.

CaveMum · 09/10/2016 17:46

It's not an extra cost though as slow cookers use about as much energy as a light bulb, so much cheaper than having an oven on for the same length of time.

gillybeanz · 09/10/2016 17:48

Ah, I see. I thought it would just be normal wattage.
You wouldn't have a casserole on for 10 hours though if you cook in oven it's done in an hour.

Marynary · 09/10/2016 17:49

How can it be cheap when it's on all day?

I think it uses much less energy than a traditional oven if it is on for eight hours vs. one hour.

pinkunicornsarefluffy · 09/10/2016 17:52

I use mine 2 or 3 times a week. I cook soup in it every Friday when I work at home, all I have to do is chop everything up and chuck it in and by lunchtime there is some yummy fresh soup. So far I have done leek and potato, carrot and coriander, and tomato. I use it during the week and will put it on in the morning so that when I get home, tea is cooked. I chuck in the meat, veg, sauce whatever and just leave it.

For me it makes all the difference between eating a proper meal and not eating one, as I can't be bothered to cook when I get home sometimes. This way, all I have to do is serve it up.

AliceMum09 · 09/10/2016 18:01

I have just put a boned shoulder of lamb in ours. It is sat in the sloco pot, in the fridge, marinading in a cup of red wine, shallots, red currant sauce, black pepper.

I didn't think you were supposed to transfer the slow cooker pot straight from the fridge to the cooker in case the change in temperature made it crack? All the recipes I've seen have said to use a separate bowl if you're prepping the night before.

I have two slow cookers and have never managed to make anything spectacular in them! Thinking of ditching them for an Instant Pot, which I've never heard of but just went and Googled after reading this! Is the Instant Pot really as good as all the reviews say?!

Dixiechickonhols · 09/10/2016 18:05

Timer plug is an option too so you set it to turn on at 11am so it cooks for 7 not 12 hours. Just one of those you can plug lamps into.

Dixiechickonhols · 09/10/2016 18:07

About to have steak suet pudding from ours today. I wouldn't make on job - have to keep eye on pan so it doesn't boil dry. Half full sc with boiling water and leave in all day.

ViolettaValery · 09/10/2016 18:07

Oh Dixie good one!

Dixiechickonhols · 09/10/2016 18:08

In winter it should be fine to leave food for a few hours at room temp before switch on.

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/10/2016 18:58

Mines round so I put ready made pies in their foil trays in there for an hour.

Aldi beef joints cook well in there too. I've got a treacle pudding in there now. 3 hours on high and it will be lovely.

NicknameUsed · 09/10/2016 19:03

Doesn't the pastry go soggy Fluffy?

Gonetothebeach · 09/10/2016 20:21

It was a friend's birthday last Monday and I left what I thought was a nice present (Jo Malone perfume) by her front door. She would have looked for it as I told her the day before I would drop a gift off...Since then, I have heard nothing from her. No acknowledgement. No thank you. Nothing. Not even a one line text. AIBU to think her very rude and to feel quite hurt. Wish I hadn't bothered now. Or should we give gifts freely without expectation of gratitude? But surely thanking a friend for a gift is common courtesy? I feel sad and cross :( AIBU?

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/10/2016 20:23

The pastry crisps up. No sogginess.

RandomDent · 09/10/2016 20:28

My slow cooker is a bit fast, but I switch it on at 5 or 5.30 and it's ready by half 8.
My freezer is full of bags of ready to go meals, including lots of vegetarian ones. Pinterest is a godsend for these recipes. No pre cooking required.

Wallykazam · 09/10/2016 20:34

I love my slow cooker for convenience and tenderness of meat. I make meat curries, sauté onions etc on the stove and rather than simmering on the stove I can then place in the slow cooker and forget about it, go out the house, tend to the kids, carry on with house chores etc... i find that slow cooked meat makes it especially tender and absorbs the flavour of all the spices better, especially goat and lamb, I also find turkey tastes better slow cooked as it absorbs flavour much better, else it's just bland... meat can cook fast, I don't dispute that, but slow cooked you get a much better taste as flavours are better absorbed, and the slow cooker facilitates that process!

LeopardPrintSocks1 · 09/10/2016 20:59

Gonetothebeach maybe you should've got her a slow cooker. Probably cheaper too

MadisonAvenue · 09/10/2016 21:03

I love mine, we've been out all afternoon today and come home to a lovely chicken casserole.

2kids2dogsnosense · 09/10/2016 22:20

I love mine - make loads of stuff on it - as Cavemum said - don't put too much water in

2rebecca · 09/10/2016 22:26

Our pulled pork was very good and very easy. Slice 2 onions, put a rolled boned shoulder of pork on top. Mix a few things in to a paste and smear them on the pork. Put the lid on and leave for 8 hours.
An easy dinner in home made rolls with rocket salad

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