slow cookers...worth the money?

[gemmummy]

hi all. I've got 50quid in vouchers for debenhams and i'm thinking of getting a slow cooker. i work full time and like the idea of chucking stuff in and it being ready when i get home? What would you reccomend, if at all, and have you any good recipes? Help much appreciated, thanks!

I love mine,you can do loads of stuff in it.
I have done stuff from bolognese,chilli,curry,casseroles and a pork joint.Very useful

If you search the recipes/food bit of mn I am sure there will be many slow cooker recipes.

i want to get one too, but i am confused by the sizes. what size should i get to cook for 3 - with big appetites?

nancy75 you read my mind, that was my next question. and does the brand make a difference or are they all about the same?

I was desperate to get mine but haven't used it yet, had it for about a year

Mine is worth it. I have a family of six, so I have a big one. It is great for busy days.

I'm interested too, but are they big enough for a family of 5?

x posts there, ByTheSea. so which is yours, if you don't mind me asking?

does anyone want to recomend a good slow cooker?

BFST, it's a big oval morphy richards one and feeds my hungry family of six including two almost teen boys.

Thanks I'll see if I can find one, I think it would be very useful.

Sorry to hijack a bit, gemmummy!

no worries, i've just been searching the debenhams website, they've got a morphy richards on for 35quid. think i might invest.

I have a smallish crockpot one.

I bought my mum an Ainsey Harriot one for Christmas,it is BIG and looks as if it could feed the 5000

Try Tescos - saw a Morphy Richards for half price - about £12.50....

Mine is a 3 litre one which easily feeds 4 of us, and I only ever fill it to about halfway.

I use mine alot, casseroles mainly, or a bacon joint, but I am ashamed to admit that I prefer to use mine for puddings. Nom nom!

lovemydog, my vouchers are for debs!

I've got a Morphy Richards one. Well worth the money. I use mine at least twice a week. I cook stews, joints and soups in it.

Oh - sorry.

Unless youre feeding an army I think the big ones are simply too big - the stuff barely covers the bottom.

yes they are worth it.. I have a big one for a family of five.. Including a hungry dh and a teen!

I have a big one and on balance I think a small would have done. It is useful, cooked the xmas pudding in it, no worries re pan boiling dry, and made stock and caseroles in it. I go through phases of using manically

Can you use them to batch cook for the freezer,if they are that big?

Defo worth the money. I've got a big 3 litre and that feeds 8 of us including hungry dh and 10 and 12 year old dss. Make sure you get one that will suit the size of youre family as they are hard to fill. Morphy richards are a good make. Most of the people i know who have one its a mr.

yes bigf you can

I have a large (redundant!) one but also have 2 small ones (cheapish ones) and often use both at the same time. Its great to be able to do prepare 2 courses - main in one and soup or pudding in the other. I did look into the 2 partition ones but read reviews that the flavours transfer from one to the other compartment. I use mine all the time. Tonight was curry and I have just prepared a soup for tomorrow.

Everybody raves about it on this site so I bought a Morphy Richards one - but I find the stews too greasy and the food a bit too soft for my liking. Will try again next week but disappointed so far.