Thinking about buying a Slow Cooker

[mummyinthevalley]

Has anyone got a slow cooker and what do you think of it? Hereforaday.com has a good offer on one today and thinking about buying but not had one before, would love to hear from someone who uses one

I bought one about a month ago and have used it about 7 times.

I love it, it's a good feeling knowing you've got the evening meal sorted and it smells gorgeous as it's cooking.
You can then eat it at whatever time you like.

The only thing I don't like is it's sooooo big and I have to leave it out as no room to store.
I bought the big 6 litre one even though there is only me and ds as I like to freeze leftovers and we'll usually eat whatever I've made for the next couple of days aswell.

I couldnt be without mine. I have two 3 litre ones (did have a six litre one but found it far too big for us - stuff barely covered the base]. Ive just got the basic cookworks ones from Argos [the small one is/was recently on offer at £6.25 or something]. I dont think you need to buy an expensive one - theres not much difference between them IMO. I prefer 2 smaller ones and often use them both together - main course and pudding or have 2 types of curries on the go.

Love mine. In fact, am about to put a beef and guinness casserole in ours today.

Get a cheap one.

Also making beef and guinness casserole. It's in there already.

I bought one before Christmas and have used it three times only. Each of the three meals had an odd sort of metallic, unpleasant taste texture and I gave up on it.

I got one for christmas & am pleased with it.

like boo says, it's a pita having to leave it out on the side (I got a 6l one too as I like to cook enough to freeze,but it is HUGE)

so far I've made bolognaise, chili, thai red curry, treacle pudding, sausage casserole & a few soups.

I don't think I'll ever be organised enough to put stuff in before I go to work, but on the days I'm at home I do love being able to make the meal at a time that's convenient for me & just leaving it until we want to eat it. I made the thai curry today while DD napped, then DH & I had it for our dinner as soon as she'd gone to bed.

Had mine 10 years or so and use it several times a week.

Useful for keeping things warm too if you want to cook something in advance to serve later - I often cook soup, blitz it and then stick it in slow cooker to stay warm til we're ready to eat.

Or use it to make up the meat part of shepherds pie early on in the day then just chuck mash on top later on.

I got mine for xmas and thought..... mmm not sure if and when I will use that.. I have had sooo much use out of it already

I have done stew, chicken casserole, chilli, meatballs and curry in ours

I work mornings only and have an hour between coming home from work and picking ds up from school

I prep the meal, chuck it in the slow cooker and it will be ready by the time hubby comes in at around 7pm

They are fab, I use mine all of the time. Stick in a whole chicken with a little water for a few hours then brown for 30 mins in oven to crisp up. You get fantastic moist chicken and an amazing stock.

Love mine and use at least a couple of times a week. When I have time I brown any meat first, but I have left the meat unbrowned and the results are just as nice. As it is a large one I often cook enough for two meals and freeze half.
Also excellent for cooking soups.

Love mine too. I have just prepped somerset pork ready to chuck in and turn on in the morning.

We have a 6L one as I like to cook enough to freeze a meal for another time. If it was just DP and I then we might eat the same thing a couple of nights in a row but with DDs we freeze instead.

It is great having tea ready when we get home after work. And it is great on other nights having homemade food from the freezer (although I defrost it in the day to just heat up when we get in.)

So far I have made: somerset pork, sausage casserole, chicken in red wine, mexican chicken, beef bourginon (sp?), and various stews when I just chuck anything in. I do prefer things with the meat browned.