Slow cooker yay or nay?

It's a "yes" from me. Bought one last winter, an oval one very cheap from Tesco, and use it every week. I am a lazy cook so find the preparation of the veg tedious but it is well worth the half hour or so's effort to come home when you are tired and do not feel like cooking, to a meal that is ready and just needs serving up. I have cooked all different joints and a variety of veg, different herbs and spices, just throw it all in and walk away. The added bonus is plenty for freezing as well if you so desire.

I do like mine a lot. Even as a vegetarian, I find many uses for them - one big, one small - especially for soup and sauces - the good old Neapolitan tomato sauce is delicious after cooking for a long time. And for cooking for carnivores it is great, because I don't have to faff round too much with the meat.

(Yes, I do cook it for them - no need to foist my ideas on anyone!)

Funnily enough I've just bought one. I got a really big oval one and in the last week I've used it twice, once for a lamb joint and today for a venison casserole. I am very pleased with it - although I'm taking bets as to how long it will be before I chip the casserole dish or smash the lid, they're both quite heavy.

You can have mine - only used it once and doubt if I shall ever use it again.

Yes, I find mine so useful, and economical. If I was in the market for a new one, I would choose one of the oval ones as you can put a whole chicken or joint of beef, leg of lamb etc in and so a sort of pot roast.

The one I have is round, so a bit limiting in that respect. Still use it on a regular basis though.

There are some very good recipe books on Amazon (other on-line retailers are available) that cater just for slow cookers and aren't expensive, around £1.99 last time I looked.

I have used mine for many years at least until I got my current range cooker which has a slow oven and I use that instead, but of course it is the same principle. I agree about needing a bit of forward planning (browning meat, by preference and having all the ingredients cut up and ready, although that could be done the night before) but being able to come home to a slow cooked casserole was a joy. It also helped that things really could not spoil - once we got back from DH's chemo in London several hours later than I had hoped and the cassoulet I had going in the slow cooker was still moist and perfect. I also use my pressure cooker at least once a week again for tender casseroles. Both methods save energy and produce excellent results.

If my house was on fire and once the family and animals were safe then I would rescue my slow cooker. Wouldn't want to be without it.

No, no, no! Just given mine away. I prefer to cook stews, etc on the gas hob, slowly. I find meat doesn't 'let down' in the same way in a slow cooker. As I'm at home a good part of the day I can watch how things are progressing.

Yes, if you can be organised enough to plan ahead!

I have one, but have since bought a new pressure cooker when I realised what a faff it was to get everything prepared and set up for the slow cooker before I went to work!

Saves energy as well. Cheaper than using the oven.

Yes yes yes !!!

Yep I agree , love mine and its just so comforting when you come in the door and there is that smell of dinner already to eat..

Yes, I really miss mine. I keep thinking that now I am not at work I don't really need one - but I have more energy in the mornings for cooking, so i shall get one eventually. I make lots of pot roasts at weekends, it would make sense to buy something that uses less power, as we don't have gas here.

Love mine , such lovely meals, with very little fuss !

Yes yes yes! They re wonderful and I use mine all the time. Just stick a bit of meat, a few veg, potatoes, some water and some seasoning in in the morning and come home later to a delicious meal. I think they are brilliant. Lakeland do a small one for small households if your children have left home.