Slow Cookers

[Tynedale]

Who uses one and which one do you use?
I love my slow cooker but it's 20 years old and the lid is chipped and I need to buy a new one. My slow cooker is a Tower Slow Cooker and I have tried to find a replacement lid but as it's so old they don't make them anymore!
I started work at 6.45am this morning with a break for breakfast at 11am and then worked through until 2.30pm.
At 2.30 pm I had a quick break to put the slow cooker on and came back in just after 6pm to smell a chicken curry cooking nicely.
I need a new one but not sure which one to go for, any suggestions?

[stricegill]

Mine is ancient too, but they seem to go on and on. It is such a good way to cook in winter and I put a stew on with the potatoes in it too, so the whole meal is in there. Let me know what you get as I really should get another one - mine has started sticking on the bottom.

[jaycee]

I have a Tower slow cooker that was given to me as a wedding present 35years ago. I have never really used it because the recipe book says brown and seal the meat before placing in the cooker. I found this to be too much of a nuisance! Tell me, how do you use yours? Perhaps I could be persuaded to start using mine.

[harveydales]

I think they are brilliant! A real life saver for those of us with busy lifestyles but who like to eat good "real" food. I've got a Tower one too and now also have my Mum's newish one (not sure which make)but having 2 is even better than having 1! Re the browning etc, I rarely bother. I just chuck everything in and that's it.

[Tynedale]

Pam which other one do you have?
I don't pre cook or brown anything, everything goes in and cooks fine.

[cadeby]

Can't help because mine is ancient too. It was a "going away to Uni present" from my parents 30 years ago!! I'm another who is too lazy to brown anything. All the ingredients just get thrown in and then it's abandoned until tea time. If the result is bad, out comes the Worcester Sauce

Let us know which modern one you get Barbara

[harveydales]

The newer one I've got from Mum is a Morphy Richards. Really like both and use them loads - often have both going at the same time.

[Tynedale]

Will have a look at reviews on line. I love mine in the winter.

[stricegill]

Chuck the meat in a pan for a few minutes to seal it, add the sauce etc, bring to boil, then chuck in the slow cooker. Seems to work for me and only takes a few minutes to do.

[jaycee]

You have all tempted me to get my cooker out and give it a try again! Forgot to say though, I do use mine to cook Christmas pudding, saves all that topping up with water and steam in the kitchen, really easy way to cook them.

[valerie n scout]

Mine was a morphy Richards too....I couldn't bear the meat smell slow cooking, so gave it to my mam she loves it x

[heathera]

I have a slow cooker but don't eat meat. I struggle to find veggie recipes that are much different to just cooking on the stove.

What I'd love is to be able to throw stuff into the slow cooker at 7am and come home to a ready to serve soup or stew at 7pm at night.

Any ideas anyone?

[Tynedale]

I spent a bit of time browsing the other day and definitely need to get a larger slow cooker, mine is 2.5 litre and I think I need about double that so I can cook and freeze half or more.
Today I made lentil soup in mine, haven't eaten yet but tastes lovely. Started it about 2pm and used my microwave to help things along but it's cooked now and I've made some good old north eastern stotties to go with it!

[dalesnfellfan]

Please enlighten me as to what a stotty is, I lived in the north east 40 years ago and remember the name but can't remember what they are.

[maggie]

A stottie cake is a round, flat loaf, traditionally baked on the bottom of the oven Andrea. It tends to have a closer texture and stronger structure than a standard bread, so is ideal for dunking in your soup.

My slow cooker is a Swan, it is pretty ancient, but has always worked well although I don't use it that much. Perhaps I ought to, your ideas have inspired me.

I noticed when I was in Morrisons today, they had their own brand of slow cooker in and another by Breville. They were both £15, so worth taking a chance on.