Can anybody who has a slow cooker offer sone advice. Confused over which one to buy

[EleanorRugby]

Hello
I have a 25 Amazon voucher and want to buy a slow cooker. We are a family of 4 so I would like a 3.5 litre one.

I have seen a Morphy Richards one which has an aluminium pot so you can sear meat in it on the hob and then just use the same pot in the slow cooker. Iwould love to know from those who already use a slow cooker if this is a useful feature or not really necessary.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00888X55S?cache=e2985f3bfd426ff2856afef80f3ecb8c&pi=AC_SX110_SY165&qid=1402597064&sr=8-4#ref=mp_s_a_1_4

The other cheaper one I like the look of is this one:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00C7S9YU0?cache=e2985f3bfd426ff2856afef80f3ecb8c&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1402597064&sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2

Both have good reviews from Amazon

Thanks

I got a £10 one from Tesco years ago and it hasn't let me down yet.

I've got the one with the pan that is suitable for the hob, I can't compare it to a different one as it's the only one I've ever used but it's so easy, plus much less washing up which is never a bad thing .

My only gripe is that it's really light so I have to hold it tight using an oven glove or tea towel to stir otherwise it moves all over the hob.

I have a whopping 6L Russel Hobbs one. I love it but it is a very minor PITA that you can't sear stuff in it. I think this is outweighed by how big it is - love that I can fit a nice big chicken or joint of meat in there with no problems.

However, I haven't cooked without liquid, as my instructions say not to. if I was buying again I'd look for one that doesn't always need liquid - crock pot is one brand I think.

I have 2, one I can cook a leg of lamb in, the other just does small portions. The bigger one also cooks at a higher temperature.

I don't brown anything but I have sometimes transferred the contents of the sc to a pan to boil off excess liquid so one that could be used on the hob would be good.

Also look at the shape if you do things like steamed puddings. My original one (back in the 1980s) was round and I could put a bowl in to steam a steak and kidney pudding for 4 people, my current one is oval and so can't take such a large round bowl/dish.

I have just bought a Breville 4.5l one and I love it (though have never had a slow cooker before to compare it to). We are also a family of 4 and I thought that the 3.5l size was a little too small. It doesn't sear meat though, but I don't mind that. The oval ones should be able to take a loaf tin.

I have just started recording my slow cooker recipes in a blog: www.mrsjonesandtheslowcooker.blogspot.com

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to go for the Morphy Richards. An added benefit is that its lightweight. I probably won't have room on my kitchen worktop to keep it out all the time so a lighter one will be easier to get in and out of a cupboard!
Excited now to get it and start cooking with it!