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 have a Morphy Richards big oval one and it is great I love it and it makes enough to freeze leftovers also.
Very handy when people are visiting I just fill it up in the morning before they get here and it's done in the evening - no hassle.
And never had anything greasy out of it.

I also have big morphy Richards one. Its my favourite thing. Never had a greasy thing out of it. What are you using in it?

Stews me and DH find very greasy - after browning I'm going to kitchen roll the meat I think next time to get rid of the excess fat. I hope it will come useful in the next couple of weeks when DD at pre-school in the mornings and I need to batch cook before baby no.2 arrives. I haven't been overwhelmed by its usefullness to be honest could just bung it all in a casserole and stick in oven instead.

I have a crockpot, and find it invaluable when the children are doing dance/beavers/cubs/scouts in the same day, as I can whack in the dinner in the morning, leave it all day cooking, and then just dish it out as and when each child needs feeding.

makes wonderful stews and casseroles, and I also make bolognaise and chilli in mine, then just needing to cook the pasta or rice when we get home.

I LOVE mine

Could someone pretty please recommend a good slow cooker recipe book? We got one for Christmas and I am trying to get into the routine of putting it on at least once during the week so that there is something hot (and good and cheap!) to eat as soon as everyone gets home.

i'd like a recipe book too pretty please!

Are they any good for vegetarians?

I tend to cook big chillis/curries/pasta sauce type things at the weekend & freeze, but having food ready when we get in sounds good.

I bought the Tesco one today for £12.98 and am planning to use it tomorrow. It has 3 settings low, medium and high but says that low and medium are for re-heating or keeping things warm. I leave for work at 7am every morning and don't get back until 5pm ... is that too long to leave stews etc on high?

Mine was bought with nectar points so def. worth the money
It has low, med and high too - I cook most things on med for the whole day, putting on about 9am and eating 6pm.
Am very pleased I bought it... handy for sausage casseroles, veg and meat stews.
Have a veg slow cooker book, which I keep meaning to try more stuff from.

jingsjosie .. does it say your medium settting is for cooking or just for keeping things warm?

lots of recipes on moneysavingexpert.com

or easier to navigate recipies here

Says it's for cooking.... just takes less time on high, more time on low. Can't see how yours would be different as they are all low voltage anyway.

Give it a try? Can always finish off in the oven if it doesn't work. Can you link to which one you bought?

this

Well, it's higher voltage than mine, so I think you should be able to cook on med setting... strange.

thanks jj will try tomorrow - fingers crossed!

aaah psychobabble you are right .. just checked!

Is it any good pb?

sorry to be a pain but can you tell me whether you need to add enough liquid to cover the meat to keep it drying out? You can tell I am new to this can't you? Have bought some beef for tomorrow and looking forward to trying it. Also, are you meant to stir it from time to time or leave it without opening it at all?

thank you .. I look forward to tucking in to a nice bowl of beef casserole tomorrow night in that case!

Yes, if I get it wrong it's always that I've added too much liquid. I made a bean casserole last week which was fine if served with a holey spoon, and the leftovers became soup!
I think you can put meat in 'dry' as the cooking creates steam.
Best not to open the lid, as in mine manual it says each time you do this add 15m to cooking time.

ok ladies i purchased my slow cooker today, going to use it in the week so i will let you know how i get on x