Slow cooker recommendations

MrSossidge

Despite my better judgement and my 'just make something the night before' attitude, I've decided that a slow cooker might be in order as I now need to have a meal prepared for my kids on Thursday night before the youngest goes to Rugby training.

I don't get home until 5.30 and need to feed him before I leave again at 6.10.

I'd like to be able to leave at 7.50am and he can eat at 4.30pm.

Are they all the same and the cheapest one is fine?

Needs to be big enough to cook for 4 with leftovers.

Also, could I just bung in some sausages, pasta, tin of tomatoes, chopped onion and garlic and get a tomatoey pasta type thing or do I need to follow some slowcooker type recipes?

Barbs77

Go back 35 year and by a 'slo cooker'. Mine is still going strong. I tend to put old trainers in and they come out very tender.

Not sure on modern ones but in mine if you add too much liquid it just doesn't work.

Put a piece of lamb, pork,  beef or a whole chicken and you can't go wrong. Best bit you come in from work and it smells fantastic.

MrSossidge

*Posts new thread "Time Machine recommendations"*

Good tip on the liquid front. I've noticed the same when I put the lid on my frying pan when doing meatballs or sausages on a low heat, the liquid doesn't evaporate off so I end up draining it towards the end.

IronGiant

There was a short thread last year with the same title

I've just joined the AVF Instant Pot club which has a slow cooker function but probably out of your budget.

IronGiant

this one:

Slow Cooker recomendations

MrSossidge

Similar, not the same. Subtle difference in thread title.

Although the one the year before was the same.

Lock if you want and merge.

nheather

Looked into this recently, prepared to pay £100  but what I wanted does not exist.

My wife and I are both out at work, slow cooking durations are normally between 4 and 8 hours, so we wanted something with a timer to come on at a certain time and cook for a certain duration.

Discovered you can get them with duration timer but not with a time of day start.

So when it came down to it we couldn't see any real difference between a £100 and a £20 one.  Ended up with a Cookworks one for about £20 - works fine.

Personally I prefer the type with a ceramic dish rather than stainless steel.

BTW it occurred to me that I could use a timer socket but every slow cooker I have seen states not to use them - can't understand why not though.

Cheers,

Nigel

Barbs77

If you find a time machine that works please let me know.
Pot on mine lifts out so straight to the table.

busterbenny2001

Looks like the instant pot can be programmed to start any time over a 24 hour period.

@IronGiant did you get 6 or 7 litre model I see the 6 lt is only £97 on amazon looks a good price.

balidey

I think I have posted in all the previous slow cooker threads.
We have a cheap one. We went for the larger capacity as we have a family of 5 (plus leftovers for two dogs).
My wife usually sets it all up, but apparently it is very easy. chuck stuff in, turn on, eat.
It must be one of the most used items in our kitchen.
Whole hicken, gammon joint, stewing steak, sausages, meatballs, chicken and bacon, plus veggies, stock, water. And the lift out pot goes in the dishwasher when done.