General Chat

We have the cheap Tesco one, brilliant! We never faff around with any preheating just seal the meat in a pan, then bung it all in and leave it.

Well that got me thinking, I have a Tesco's 3 heat electric slow cooker,

That is usually loaded up with the joint and liquid gravy, and slows cooks for a few hours sometimes on a timer........never had a failure with it........also have a couple of " crock pots" that would go in the oven

what's the difference?

Island, you've described what I would call a slow cooker - and the way I use it. :-D
I've never even thought of putting the crock bit on the hob - but then I wouldn't put a casserole dish on the hob either.

I've got two slow cookers.
The 'normal' size, which involves me, after 2 days of eating the same food, putting what is still in the pot into the freezer, for later consumption. This meal comes under the banner 'Brown stuff, hopefully curry - probably stew'

I now have a 'single person' slow cooker, acquired when my ex husband's elderly aunt died.
I still find I do too much, but don't end up filling the freezer with brown 'stuff'.

I'm veggie, never heard of preheating or using it on the hob, I've had one for years and just plug it into the mains and switch on when it's half full of veg then add the rest of the veg and a stock. Slow cooking keeps the veg firm and tasty.

Am I calling something entirely different a slow cooker? :-S

i never pr-heated mine either Ann, or sealed the meat.. it all just went in with some stock and that was it until it was ready... unless i added some dumplings for the last 20 minutes. :-D

In the winter particularly we use ours all the time, wouldn't be without it now. And, I can tell you, I am lazy, I don't preheat mine, or pre heat the liquis, or fry off the meat and I have never yet had a failure.

daughter as the newer variet, she can use hers on the hob first and it is lighter than the ceramic one I have. She is on her own now and finds she uses it a lot.

I have bad memories of meals cooked in a crockpot in the 1970s....... that put me off!

I'm told that the slow cookers are a "New & Improved" version of a crockpot.

Steamed puds? Sounds good.

I guess they could be used to make soup?

lol........... a Facebook page, just for slow cookers? :-D :-D :-D

I use mine a lot make all kinds of meals in it.

This group on Facebook is great for advice & suggestions:

Slow cooked wonders :)

They're terrific for making Christmas pud

Didn't know about the steamed puddings.

I have one that i no longer use. partly because the crock is too heavy for me to lift out to clean ( disabled hands) and partly because i am vegetarian.

I used it a lot when i ate meat and i loved that way of cooking, the food was lovely, especially in the winter months. :-)

Hello LadyScozz

I have a slow cooker and use it regularly. I agree with Sharron about not leaving it on the hob, however I think some of the latest models are designed for you to do this.

Makes great casseroles, curries, Chill, One pot dishes, and fantastic steamed puddings. Really useful for when we are out for the day and can come home to a delicious dinner.

I would recommend.


:-D :-D :-D :-D

Hi Scozz....I use mine all the time....Ideal for casseroles, curries etc.....I have an old one that belonged to my Nan.....really old fashioned but still does the job..... :-D :-D

Worth its weight in gold :-D

Don't leave it on the hob when you turn it on,

I can tell you they don't like it!

Also, from experience, you can't heat the bowl directly on the hob.

You do have to get it hot before you put the food, which should also be hot, in it.

Now I have broken that many slow cookers and made that many balls-ups I can say that they are useful but mine doesn't get used much.

I have never bought one but have always had them given to me which might indicate something about how useful others find them.

Who has one?

I'm thinking of getting one (now that winter is almost here), but not fully convinced.. yet.

Are they worth it?


:-)