What is the point of slow cookers?

[TuttiFrutti]

I keep seeing these in the shops, but surely they are just like ovens? So if you already have an oven, why would you want to buy one?

I get the point that they cook food really slowly, so you can put a casserole on at lunchtime and it will be ready in the evening, but couldn't you just do that with your oven on a really low setting?

Lots of people have bought them though, so I must be missing something...

They are extremely economical - they use less electricity than a light bulb (apparantely!) and as they cook so slowly they use very little liquid so the food doesn't stick or burn.

I do love mine - I have no problems with leaving my slow cooker while I'm out at work - not sure I'd feel that way about my gas cooker tbh.

Get one!

We got rid of ours very quickly. Hated having to prepare food before chucking it in. And the food tasted wrong somehow. I accept we might have been hasty but saved no more time than casserole in oven and took up work top space.

I love mine. Agree with all LucyCat says. In addition, somehow things come out tasting better so you need to do less/use fewer ingredients. Also, you can keep things going in a slow cooker a lot longer than in the oven. I wouldn't be without ours. Tinker, not sure what you mean. If you want to make a casserole, you have to do some preparation whatever cooking method you use. I made a pork stew yesterday. Chopped a leek, fried with diced pork to brown, added stock, carrots, herbs, garlic. Preparation time:

That's what I mean - prep time still the same but lost worktop space

I just bought one today! It was £7.00 from asda and I thought I would give it a go.

People do rave about them but for me I will struggle to do prep in the mornings and plan to prepare last thing at night when DD is in bed and cook through the night .

I just think it's more flexible than cooking in the oven, and cheaper. Ours doesn't take up too much room so we put it away between uses.

To cook things more slowly. Without using an oven for hours on end. Wonderful things. I broke the casserole that fitted in mine. Need another one....

my mum had one in the 70s. it was to save time cooking once you got in from work. but you had to prep everything in the morning.

and whats thepoint of PRESSURE cookers too pliz

to steam puddings (well my mum only used it for the christmas pudding)

I LOVE, LOVE, LURRRRVE my SC. For me, it fits in with my life style. For example, I can defrost a joint of braising beef, or a whole chicken overnight, and before work pick it up, shove it in, stick some stock in, go to work, come home, and there it is. House smells yum, and you can do your veg whenever you feel like it.

It means I am not tied to a time to eat, or that I have to stay in cos I'm cooking.

I choose easy recipes, which don't involve any frying.

I also like it if we are having someone round for a meal, because the preparation of the main part of the meal is tidied away and washed up hours ago.

Slow cookers are great. You can bung everything in and it'll cook slowly all day and you're not committed to eating at a set time. The food is always beautifullly cooked, and of course it's such a doddle after a day out to come home to a slow-cooked meal.

Best of all is using it for mulled wine. We always do this on Christmas Eve so that when we get back from church it's ready and waiting .

I have another larger slow cooker full of beuf bourgignon too (Christmas Eve tradition in the Pesto family)

Viva slow cookers!!

Prep in the morning? No no no! Prep veg day before, at your convenience - then store in 'fridge in placcy bag, with a tbsp of water. Where's the hardship in that? I think I've even browned meat day before in the past, and chucked it all in next day.

I mainly use mine if we're going out for the day at the weekend - it's great to come home to, and we can eat when we're ready to.

Actually you are converting me... I can see the benefits of coming into a house with a meal just perfectly cooked ready and waiting. Almost like having a stay-at-home wife myself!

if oyu haev to brown meat first thn ocutn meout

I keep mine in a cupboard, so no work unit issue, either.

Most recipes say brown meat first, but I don't always. But don't you have to brown meat first for most casseroles, regardless of how cooked?

Oh Tutti - sorry to disappoint you, it doesn't iron, unload the dishie or know the whereabouts of Spiderman!

I don't bother to brown meat and imo it tastes just as good, especially for something lke beef casserole.

The smell when you walk into your house when you get home from work is unbeatable!

And the taste, some casseroles just taste so much better after being cooked slowly all day.

Now confession to make, I haven't actually used mine since I became a SAHM (almost 4 yrs ago)...

No idea why, must get it out again...

There's loads of good recipes to be found on line too.