Should I get a slow cooker?

[TrulyMadlyBeefly]

I am thinking about getting a slow cooker to cook meat in at Christmas, to free up oven space for the more important veg dishes.

I'm just not sure what else I would use it for. I don't cook much meat, so worried it will just take up space.

So, do you have a slow cooker and what do you cook in it? Is it worth the investment?

I also use it a lot when we have friends round - I can make dinner in it and just leave it to keep puttling away quietly until we're ready to eat, with no temperamental reheating or tantrum when someone is late (inevitable with my friends) and the meal is ready. Slow cooked stews etc with a fast cook last minute carb are lifesavers when feeding a pile of folk.

Another vote for a multi cooker (pressure cooker + slow cooker combo) Best of both worlds. Use mine multiple times (3-5x) a week at least (cooking for family of 5). I have a crockpot multi cooker (instant pots not avalible in Aus). They are very very safe these days - multiple safety functions inbuilt. Nil chance of exploding organs 🙈
Curries are amazing using the pressure cooker function.
I absolutely wouldn't be without one now. I am a avid cook and this gadget makes my life so much easier!

Yes! Like someone above I use it more for batch cooking, eg soups, stews, bolognese. It's also great for when I'm out all day as my toddler and I can eat at 5 when we get home then my partner eats later on then I still have leftovers for the freezer and to take to work.

We have sear and cook one (I think it's called that) so I can use the slow cooker dish on the hob then put it in the slow cooker which saves on dishes. Makes baby and toddler food nice and tender. Sometimes I just do a couple of slow cooker meals a week and a couple of easy, quick meals and that's the week done! Saves me cooking everyday.

Not keen on slow cookers. Everything turns into watery slop and I've found the inside has kind of taken on the flavour of previous fillings. You couldn't make hot chocolate in it unless you like it a bit onion flavoured .

Mine doesn't Drcoconut as it is stainless steel.
Also add something like pearl barley to a beef stew and it thickens really nicely.

I love mine, slow cooked ribs is a favourite, as is honey mustard or honey lemon chicken.

Have had my slow cooker for years used it a lot whilst working but don’t use it since I got my halogeon oven. Now apart from big family occasions I don’t use my main cooker at all. Ideal as extra oven for Xmas.

Thanks for the replies. Seems to be more for meat cooking, so probably not worth it for me.

I made a black bean stew the other week which was lovely OP

If you're veggie OP, then an electric pressure cooker might be worth looking at. I use mine a lot, it's great for dried pulses.

Slow cookers do not make great food. Everything is overcooked. Yes the meat comes off the bone but it is tasteless. I've just given mine to charity.

Someone on a similar thread once said slow cookers are for people who aren't foodies. I agree! Literally everything I ever made in mine could have been done better in the oven on a low setting.

Another one for electric pressure cooker. I've got the pressure king pro, it's amazing. Slow cooker functions but can also brown things/cook rice/stews etc. Beef stew in 35 minutes that melts in your mouth.

Definately an instant pot.

I second getting something like the Pressure King Pro where you have both slow cooker and pressure cooker functionality.

I’ve made lovely slow cooked chillis, casseroles and cakes as well as quick rice puddings and risottos in the pressure cooker. I’m still experimenting and planning ahead for slow cooking at the moment but it’s proving to have been a good investment so far 😁