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Slow cooker advice please.

(25 Posts)
kittylester Thu 05-Jun-25 19:10:41

I haven't used a slow cooker for years as my last cooker had a 'slow' setting. My new cooker doesn't so I am thinking of buying a new slow cooker.

Any advice would be welcome. It would mostly be used for just DH and I.

woodenspoon Thu 05-Jun-25 19:15:54

I’ve had several over the years and find I can’t manage without one in the colder months. I’m currently using a Morphy Richard’s one which has AUTO, HIGH, LOW settings. It’s big enough for just us two plus I can make enough to put some aside for another day. You can get Aldis own make, my daughter has that but it’s bigger.

Grandmadinosaur Thu 05-Jun-25 19:27:24

I had a digital Lakeland one bought online during Covid that I loved. There was plenty of room in it and used it constantly even in summer. Sadly it broke a few weeks ago.Lakeland don’t do this model any more. Searching around I couldn’t find anything as good but reluctantly ordered a Crockpot from Amazon. It isn’t as large as my old one but one feature I like is at the end of cooking time it automatically goes to a keep warm mode.

I also have one at our holiday lodge. This is an Asda own brand cost about £20 two years ago. It’s adequate enough.

Never thought about Aldi woodenspoon I might have a look at that one.

Grandmabatty Thu 05-Jun-25 19:30:46

I love my Crockpot. I used it regularly and it has a low setting and a high setting. I bought it from Tesco a couple of years ago

Allsorts Thu 05-Jun-25 19:32:07

Love mine but not quite as much as my air fryer.

woodenspoon Thu 05-Jun-25 19:38:47

When my daughter was setting up home I bought her the same as ours. Now there’s more of them she wanted a bigger one grandma dinosaur so her Aldi one is quite big but suits her and her family. Both my daughters have a low cookers, as they’ve grown up seeing me use mine, so they use theirs all the time.

cornergran Thu 05-Jun-25 20:40:02

We’ve got a small Tower slow cooker. Settings are low, high and keep warm. No timer which I’ve not found to be a problem. It’s in use (with a throw away liner - no washing up) a couple of times a week when the weather is colder, maybe once a week when (if!) it warms up. Big enough to use for batch cooking for two or a meal for six. I’d not be without ours.

AmberGran Thu 05-Jun-25 20:46:20

I also have a Morphy Richards one. I use it mainly for making huge curries, stews, goulash, etc. so I can eat one meal and freeze two. There are only two of us most of the time. In the winter I use it to make porridge overnight from pinhead oats. When DH was working he could have his porridge at 6.30 while I was still in bed and switch it to warm until I had mine.

Salti Thu 05-Jun-25 21:50:33

I really like my slow cooker. I use it for stews, casseroles, chicken stock, chutney, mincemeat at Christmas, and I can't think what else. It's a Morphy Richards and I can use the internal "pot" on the hob to sear things before putting it in the slow cooker housing. I have had it for several years and bought myself a new "pot" this year.

Jaxjacky Thu 05-Jun-25 21:58:21

I have a smaller one I use for the two of us a lot, particularly in the winter and a larger one, used for whole chickens, gammons, bulk cooking or when we cook for more people.
I love my slow cooker and have had one since I first married many years ago.
They both have low and hi controls, favourite recipes, for two or more is slow cooked pork shoulder in bbq sauce - pulled pork, delicious.

WelshPoppy Sat 07-Jun-25 13:57:12

I've got a small Crockpot. I only use it for me, hubby isn't keen on all in one pot, and occasionally I do a chicken lasagne for my daughter. I batch cook for the freezer. The Crockpot serves me very well.

Mojack26 Sat 07-Jun-25 14:25:56

Morphy Richards 3.5L Sear & Stew Slow Cooker, Shatter Resistant Aluminium Pot, 3 Heat Settings, Hob Proof, Easy Clean, 163W, Black, 460012 amzn.eu/d/7XJPJIW

Mojack26 Sat 07-Jun-25 14:26:45

I have this one,love it!Amazon

accountcat5 Sat 07-Jun-25 14:28:10

I have a crockpot and I love it. Low, high and keep warm settings and a timer which automatically switches to keep warm when it’s finished. I usually make large quantities and freeze what is left. And I have a yummy Christmas pud recipe for it.

cc Sat 07-Jun-25 14:39:23

Some airfryers work as slow-cookers, I have a large Ninja that does the lot, as do some other brands.
There's a smaller Ninja on offer at the moment: ninjakitchen.co.uk/product/ninja-foodi-mini-6-in-1-multi-cooker-4-7l-op100uk-zidOP100UK
That will Pressure Cook, Air Fry, Slow Cook, Bake/Roast, Sear/Sauté and Steam.

4allweknow Sat 07-Jun-25 16:16:16

I have a Crockpot at least 20 years old. Only has low and high settings which I've never had an issue with. Originally for two, now I can cook and freeze a portion. Used mainly in the winter as is my soup maker.

MollyNew Sat 07-Jun-25 17:12:15

Our slowcooker is on now, curry tonight! We use it more in the winter, particularly when my partner is at the footie. It's so useful when you don't know what time you're going to be eating as the meal doesn't spoil or dry out. We use it for batch cooking too. We also now have an air fryer so the "big oven" is used a lot less often.

Franski Sat 07-Jun-25 17:24:54

Been cooking a big batch of curry in my slow cooker..best invention ever! My easy lazy best dinner is put a whole chicken in skow cookee..add a squeeze of lemon and dried thyme. Salt and pepper. Throw in any veggies. Literally cleaned but unpeeled potatoes, carrots. No water required. Put on slow for 8 hours and you have a hot tasty one pot dinner. No need for gravy if you can't be bothered...al the juices are there. Yummy.

RosieandherMaw Sat 07-Jun-25 17:29:40

The one “silver lining” to this weekend’s cool drizzly weather is that I can use my slow cooker and have a proper hot meal #sickofsalad!

Diffuser Sat 07-Jun-25 17:36:15

I've just bought this one from Dunelm. I've had a slow cooker since I got married (long time ago) and found it invaluable when the children were at home and I was working.

I wanted a decent sized one to replace our old one as I like to freeze a couple of portions.

I think I'll leave this one on the counter as it matches my kitchen🙂

Stansgran Sat 07-Jun-25 17:38:03

I have an ancient Morphy Richard’s one. It has only one setting. It’s stainless steel so I can fry in it and just add things . I love it. The recipe book which came with it is excellent and still very much in use.

grannybuy Sat 07-Jun-25 18:30:45

I have a thirty odd year old Swan one which is still working. I have occasionally looked at others, as I often think that, due to its age, it may soon need replacing. I’ve been puzzled by the fact that some have a small hole in the lid. I always thought that it was keeping the moisture in that was one of the main purposes of the slow cooker.

Patsy70 Sat 07-Jun-25 18:50:31

Mine’s a Russell Hobbs with 3 settings. My daughter bought it for me many years ago and I find it invaluable, particularly during the colder months. I must try the pinhead oat porridge, AmberGran.

Mamma66 Sat 07-Jun-25 21:20:43

I use mine at least weekly in the colder months. It’s great to quickly prep in the morning and after work dinner is ready. They are available in a variety of sizes, so perfect whatever the size of your family. I do all sorts; stews, casseroles, slow cook leg or shoulder of lamb, bolognaise sauce. I wouldn’t be without one. I am on my second one, the one I have now has a non-stick liner, so not only is it light, but meat can be browned on the stove first. I also do dumplings in the slow cooker too - a favourite with DH.

Shelflife Sat 07-Jun-25 21:58:30

I love my slow cooker!