Going to buy slow cooker- recommendations please & recipes!

[comebacksummer]

Hi all
I've read so many posts from slow cooker fanatics and as one has just said on the "how much do you spend a week on groceries" thread that it saves her a lot of money and time I am definitely going to get one for Christmas- question is, which one, how much will it cost, where do I buy it and what do I do with it once I've got the thing?? Thanks

Best slow cookers I've found are made by Morphy Richards (I replaced my first long-lived Morphy with a Tefal at first before I actually got rid of as it was so crap - meat wasn't cooked through after EIGHT HOURS cooking... never again - replaced with another Morphy which is brill).

I have the 6.5L one but they also do a 3.5L version if that's too big for you.

Regarding recipes, I don't really have one. I just brown some meat and fry some onions, chuck it in with whatever veg I have in, some stock and maybe throw in a glass of wine for extra flavour. Switch on medium and cook for around 7 hours or so.

A chilli con carne takes quicker (the recipe I use is the one from the manual that comes with it), so I'd probably put it on low for the first 6 hours then switch to medium after I've put the kidney beans in. But exact timings aren't really crucial (which is the whole beauty of it).

I have the same one as Georgina and use it for stews and soups. Because it is so big you can cook a double quantity and freeze some. I can spend 30 mins. before I go to work preparing veg, browning meat etc and chuck it in with some stock - set it for 7 hours and taht's it! I plug mine into a timer so it switches off after the required cooking time. On Georgina's link Amazon have a recipe book which i also have - it''s good for ideas.

I'm so glad you recommended that one GeorginaA, I've just bought one! Not tried it yet but am planning a cookfest for tomorrow.

Thanks guys! Morphy Richards it is by the sound of it..doesn't 7 hours' cooking cost the earth in electricity? And, sounds silly, but it's definitely safe to leave it in the house while you're out??

Thanks for the link too GeorginaA; I notice there's a digital timer one for a tenner more.. is that worth getting? Does the other one not have a timer function? If so does it just carry on ad infinitum?

Don't have a timer on mine, have never ever missed it. Just turn it off when you finally get home and dish!

Oh, top tip, if you like the sauce in the casserole to be a bit thicker, mix some (I use about 1 tbsp for a meal for 2 adults/2 kids) cornflour in a tiny bit of water (until it's all mixed in) then pop in the slow cooker and hour before you're due to dish up. Thickens it up lovely

Slow cookers are very efficient, they use very little electricity over the 7 hours - especially compared to heating up an oven.

and hour = an hour doh!

thanks for that- what kind of recipes do you do? and what kind of meat do you buy for this sort of cooking?

I read somewhere they use the same amount of electricity as a 100 watt bulb.

chicken... braising steak... sausages... whatever I fancy really

You can often get away with cheaper cuts than you normally would buy (although I hate with a passion any fatty meat, so doesn't quite work that way for me!) as the longer cooking time makes the meat more tender.

OK, I've ordered it! We don't hang about here... I trust you all implicitly you see! Btw, if you're cooking chicken in it, do you just add chicken stock or something more exciting? I make a lot of stews on the hob for my two, but with another babe on the way to keep me even busier (read disorganised) I'm hoping this will lead to fewer burning dry incidents...ho ho.. It is, I am afraid, untrue that Le Creuset casserole pans are indestructible..

Chicken stock, dry white wine and cornflour in the later stages (as described previously) in our house. We're an unadventurous lot

For beef usually use beef stock, tin of tomatoes, red wine and cornflour in later stages.

Sausages, funnily enough, I've never got the flavour quite right. Pork stock tastes funny somehow...

I have this one if you fancy a change from silver... This is the only place you can buy it from but if you visit the moneysavingexpert website you can get codes for at least £10 off.

I got a code for £10 off plus I got a free mini b/w TV!!

Can I reveise this thread please? I've just bought the Morphy Richards 6.5 ltr one.

I'd like to try a veggie/Irish stew sort of thing to start with. I'm worried I'm going to make it too liquidy. How much stock should I be using? Or better still any nice recipes out there please.

I don't mind being brave and bunging stuff in, but I need my hand holding the first time!

I'd recommend about half a pint at first, I've discovered that it's better to start off with a bit too little and add some later if you need it. Lots of liquid comes out of vegetables.

Try here for loads of good recipes.

btw I paid a tenner for my slow cooker from Argos and it's fab!

Thanks Lucycat!I can't wait to have a go now.

I was given fab recipe book by a slo-cooker addict. "new recipes for your slo-cooker" by annette yates. some lovely meals...and naughty looking desserts!

My cheapo one can go in the dishwasher (after a bit of a soak) I tend not to use it for the freezer as well because a) we rarely have enough food left over - gannets my lot b) my freezer isn't huge so it wouldn't fit in c) anything I put in the freezer goes into a tupperware type pot so i can defrost it in the microwave!d) I'd want to use the slow cooker again before I'd eaten the other food iykwim.

any clearer.......or not?

One of the best kitchen appliances I have imo. My mum and dad bought me one when I first moved out. I still have it and it cooks meat so well, it just falls apart and has the best flavour! I was told that you shouldn't cook chicken in them. I got a small leaflet with mine that had a handful of recipes in, but I think you can actually get a recipe book specifically for slow cookers.

I have just replaced my very old (about 15yrs) i had it second hand, and most of the new ones have a seperate pot that can be put in the dw.