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Original poster

I'm thinking of buying a slow cooker

28 replies

ChirpyGirl · 30/12/2007 15:30

as I a finding it really knackering to cook 2 meals at the end of the day when the only prep time I get is nap time so would like a couple fo days a week off, there's a cheapy one in Argos
I want to be able to put food in during naptime (2ish) feed DD1 at 5ish and then DH and I at 8ish, would this work?
Any good recipes?

OP posts:
LuckySalem · 30/12/2007 15:32

That should be ok for that but ideally you want to leave it in as long as you can.

Recipes? I'll ask my DP when he gets up but he tends to make stews. So chucks some meat and alsorts of veg in (stupid o'clock in the morning) and we eat at 6/7 ish. It's always really nice!!

JackieNo · 30/12/2007 15:33

Not sure it would be ready to feed your DD at 5-ish - I suspect things would need more time. But I'm not terribly well-versed in the ways of slow-cookers, so don't necessarily trust me. May also depend what you're cooking/how big the lumps are.

Cappuccino · 30/12/2007 15:37

there are a lot of US recipes online - I just did a quick search

I love mine

I would say that 3 hours isn't enough for many recipes - tbh usually I fling things in at 8am and leave it on low for up to 12 hours

you can take portions out before but most recipes I use tend to need 6 hours minimum

ginnedupudding · 30/12/2007 15:37

I don't think 3 hours is really long enough. It would be better if you could get it in first thing in the morning.
They are great though. You can use really cheap cuts of meat and slow cook them all day and it goes lovely and tender.
We use ours to do joints of boiled bacon too - just leave it in water for ages and it just falls apart.
I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Cappuccino · 30/12/2007 15:38

for example recipes here

Original poster
ChirpyGirl · 30/12/2007 15:39

What about chucking it in at breakfast time then? I normally have a spare few minutes then before we go out, so that would be in at 9ish.
Would that not be too long for DH and I? Does it not dry out?

(Can you tell I have never even seen one of these magic slow cookers everyone always bangs on about!)

OP posts:
Original poster
ChirpyGirl · 30/12/2007 15:40

Oh is that what a crock pot is?!

OP posts:
LuckySalem · 30/12/2007 15:41

No that will be fine, put loads of water (or gravy or whatever recipe calls for) put it on low and leave it to do it's thing.

You can always turn it up a couple of hours before dinner time if you need to.

JackieNo · 30/12/2007 15:41

YOu always add plenty of liquid, so as long as you keep an eye on it, it should be fine.

Cappuccino · 30/12/2007 15:42

again it depends on the recipe, but a lot of recipes will just keep going

certainly I've had things in mine for 12 hours no problems

if you fed your dd at 5 and it looked to be getting a bit dry you could just add a bit more stock/ water (tiny amount) so it would still be okay for you and dh

but it is unlike a normal oven in that you need far less liquid as it doesn't evaporate off - if you used the same amount of liquid that you used for an oven casserole it would be far too wet in a slow cooker

Original poster
ChirpyGirl · 30/12/2007 15:43

Ooh, like the recipes there, I thought you could only make stews and soups hence only using it a few times a week, but that says you can make roasts and cakes?!

OP posts:
Furball · 30/12/2007 15:44

it's got 'warm' knob, so switch it to that after 5pm

Lucycat · 30/12/2007 15:46

ooh yes you have to get one _ i love mine!

I do a bolognaise type mixture in mine - leave it on low all day so the mince is really tender - serve the dd's at 5ish then chuck lots of tabasco / chilli and a tin of kidney beans in and dh and I can eat a couple of hours later.

Lucycat · 30/12/2007 15:47

rice pudding is just gorgeous in the slow cooker.

Cappuccino · 30/12/2007 15:47

I must admit I am a soup and stews girl, but I do think I'm not getting enough out of it - I know you can make puddings and cakes in it, and apparently it is really good at mulled wine

Lucycat · 30/12/2007 15:49

This is a good website from Martin Lewis and as most of the recipes are from UK contributors there's none of that American conversion business!

Original poster
ChirpyGirl · 30/12/2007 15:51

'it's got 'warm' knob'

[snigger]

sorry.

Am liking this idea more and more!

OP posts:
Eeek · 30/12/2007 15:54

Lakeland do a good recipe book for slow cookers: imaginatively called The Slow Cooker Cookbook for about £10. I do a huge stew one night and freeze batches

Lucycat · 30/12/2007 15:57

These threads become very popular in january when everyone realises that they have a tenner a week to feed their family on.

So get in early!

Furball · 30/12/2007 16:09

Chirpygirl - I know! sniggered myself whn typing it, but I'm a lady don't you know

MrsWeasleysmagicmincepies · 30/12/2007 16:17

great minds etc I just treated myself to a lovely big Slow cooker! I cant wait to try it out!

Original poster
ChirpyGirl · 30/12/2007 18:32

hOW BIG IS BIG THEN? (child pressing buttons!)
Is 3.5 litres enough for 3 of us?

OP posts:
Tapster · 30/12/2007 19:00

I'm so confused over size/brand. Is an advantage of a crock pot you can brown the meat on the hob. Head hurts from looking at the options...

Furball · 30/12/2007 19:28

I have a crock pot - I never brown nowt, just chuck it all in and switch on. Love it, so easy and makes the house smell scrummy, especially if you've been out all day. Really good home cooked tasty food

lennygirl · 30/12/2007 19:30

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