i would like to get a slow cooker....

[lcg]

but know absolutely nothing about them. are they as good as people say and how easy is it to bung stuff together in the morning and have a meal ready when you come home? also, are there any websites that make slow cooking easy? i burn coffee/cornflakes, btw and am NOT a good cook. i think i need some help as i would love to get one.....what size do i need to feed three people generously? any help, comments and suggestions would be most warmly received....thanks x

[atalanta]

The most modern slow-cookers all cook far too hot for you to leave something simmering all day. The old ones had a very low setting, so porridge would take all night to cook but the newest ones cook porridge on lowest heat in about an hour and a half. See if you can pick up an old-style one (Kenwood , maybe) on freecycle if you want to leave food to cook really slowly

[237SJ]

They are all right if you like cooking stews that contain red meat. I`ve found that if I cook chicken in my slow cooker, it dries out. They are pretty good but I don`t think they can do anything that a casserole (on a low heat) can`t do.

[woofgang]

I cook just for me and have a small slow cooker which is wonderful. chicken makes a superb stew in it, as does beef. I also make soups in it. I wouldn't go out all day and leave it on or leave it overnight though. I use it instead of the oven to save on energy costs. Maybe get one and use it with a plug in time switch?

[humbersloop]

lc, imo

are they as good as people say and how easy is it to bung stuff together in the morning and have a meal ready when you come home?
Yes and very - try this

http://www.amazon.co....d-Right/dp/0716020475


also, are there any websites that make slow cooking easy?
I'll come back to you on that tomorrow, tea time here now which, and I'd disagree with atalanta about modern ones, is venison that's been on low for twelve hours.

what size do i need to feed three people generously?
depends if you want to double up and freeze or not, but I'd suggest at least 2.5 litres, 3.5 is probably better.

[lcg]

lovely....thanks guys. humbersloop, that book looks great and i'll definitely be buying one as well as the actual cooker. i'd never thought of getting a cookbook so thank you for getting me started x

[B00]

Lotta recipes here, as well as tips etc, alot of reading though :-)

http://forums.moneysa...t=slow+cooker+recipes

[humbersloop]

here you go for starters lcg, and it's worth following some of the links

http://busycooks.abou...pes/a/crockpot101.htm

the basics are really simple though. Layer of veg on the bottom (supermarket economy bags of casserole veg work fine if you're not confident, or as idle as I am sometimes), meat on top, enough liquid to cover the veg completely and fill the pot to about a third, add herbs or spices about two thirds of the way through cooking time and don't take the lid off otherwise. Browning meat or sweating veg beforehand or not is down to choice, except minced meat, which is a must.

Get one that has high, low and warm settings; you can pick one up for about fifteen quid from the chain supermarkets. Trial and error will guide you after that. I only ever use low and warm with mine; four to six hours on low will cook most things, although I cook bolognaise sauce and oxtail on warm for 24 hours, rice pudding for twelve.

Enjoy.

[lcg]

thanks, humbersloop, loads of helpful info. i am going to go looking next week on my lunch break from work. i always like to do a little research before buying and peoples experiences are always central to that. i'll let you know how i get on x

[friedgreentomato]

I love my slow cooker!! I literally chuck stuff in in the morning and leave it on low all day when I come back home I have a tasty beef stew or morroccon lamb pork and cider and any other number of goodies waiting for me I use mine all winter

[ummmm]

I've only used mine twice.

[friedgreentomato]

Really ummm? Given the amount of time you spend in front of a computer I would have thought it was a godsend lol!!!!

[ummmm]

Lol...I just use the hob during the 6 hours I have spare ;-)

[humbersloop]

Do that lcg - other threads sound like your're having a rough time, so doing something creative with a pot might be good!

Love mine too, so if ummm's is going spare...

[ummmm]

I just bought a cheapy from the supermarket. It was on offer for £20.

The reason I don't use it is because I'm home all day.

[friedgreentomato]

Pmsl