slow cooking virgin..... which slow cooker should i get?

[ClareVoiant]

hello,

I finally decided I'd like a slow cooker for my birthday. MIL has said she'd get one. I was just kinda expecting it to turn up wrapped, but she wants to know which one i want. It puts me in an awkward postion cos I'd be happy with a tesco value one at a tenner.iyswim having never had one before. Though she sent me a link for a croc pot (60 quid! - i really dont want her to spend that kind of money) and a tefal 4-in-1

so which slow cooker do you have/is best? does it need to be programmeable, or be able to make you tea in the morning (you know what i mean).

thanks for you help.

Get the biggest one you can. Also Costco had one for about £30 that you could also use in oven and on hob am tempted to drop the lid of mine so I will need a new one think its a good idea to be able to use in oven , hob and as a slowcooker

I have a crockpot (a £30 one though) and I love it. It can go on hob, in oven/fridge/freezer/dishwasher too. Only thing is you have to make sure it is really really dry after washing it before you put the lid on because the smallest bit of moisture and the inside of it grows fur.

i saw the crockpot in costco (actually am just off there this afternoon, so will see if they still have it).

ah yes i can see it being useful to go on the hob etc (less washing up).

do you use yours much? are they economical to leave on all day?

Used to have a slow cooker but eventually got rid of it. I found that cooking the meal up the evening before (for 2 hrs against all day slow cooking) and letting it cool properly, then reheat (once) to eat, did actually enhance the flavours. Agree with soremummy, tbh they were always too small to hold the portions that you needed. [greedy grin]

I use mine loads. Have it about 15yrs now. Think that costco one is programmable but lo was trying to run off so didnt get make/model no of it.

I just got Asda's Smartprice one for £9.47 and a looooooove it! The crock pot bit comes out for really easy cleaning. Ok, it's not programmable and has only 3 settings (4 if you count "off" ) but it is absolutely brilliant. I got a slow-cookwer cookbook from amazon too and am amazed what you can do in one!

lol soremummy, I have that problem in costco. don't know about your lo, but ds always heads straight for the toys
I checked it out today and its the same as the john lewis one thats £60, but £35 in costco.
hi stubbleonchin, am hoping the slowcooker will be more economical than puting the oven on for 3 hours or so for a slow stew or lamb shanks. also don't really like going out of the house and leaving the oven on as oven doesn't have a timer.
iklboo, glad you like yours and get a lot of use from it. part of me wants a simpler one for ease of use. does it have timer?

Clare, good point. Luckily we have a timer on the oven (and slog, its chopping/frying/simmering time before bathtime) then oven for stewing, then story etc etc. Not condascending. Its just what suits at the time and for yourselves. Tbh, I am gonna watch the thread to see what the MN Which (am i allowed to name!) reckon to be the best to see if my judgment may be swayed!

Am I the only tired person who scanned the active convos list and read "slow cooking a virgin..."