(uk) Do you own a slow cooker (crockpot). What model is it? Is it any good? What would you change about it?

Question

Exactly as the question says!

Ive not owned a slow cooker before and there are so many makes and models out there - metal ones crock type ones ones that go on ovens and hobs ones that clean better than others ones with medium settings ones with timers sizes.

So which one do you own - what do you think of it (and yes I know slow cookers are good but I want specifics here!) and would you add anything to it if you could (ie the medium setting / timer / microwavability etc...)

Answer 1

-I do.

-It's a Rival and I love it!

-It's a digital one and it has different settings so that you can not only cook food, but just keep it warm afterwards, which is great for large dinners!!

- The only thing that would be nice is if it could go in the microwave! Oh and if it was self cleaning!!

Answer 2

go to chefs.com they have great products.

Answer 3

yes, Its Presto, I don't know the model but it holds like 8 quarts I think, I rarely use it unless I cook a roast

Answer 4

I have a Morphy Richards 3.5 lt slow cooker.

I like the oval shape and see through lid.  

There are 3 settings - high, medium and low, the only odd thing is from Off it goes High, then Low, Medium.  

There's no timer or auto.  

The inner ceramic pot is a bit heavy.

Answer 5

I think mine is a Rival.  It's pretty large.  I like that it has a ceramic "croc" rather than a metal bowl.  The ceramic creates very even, gentle heat.  It only has four settings: 4 and 6 hour "high" or 8 and 10 hour "low".  After the set time, it automatically drops down to "warm" and stays there until you turn it off.

The ceramic croc is also very easy to clean.  Sometimes it looks like a complete mess with baked on stew and such, but a little water and it comes off easily.

My only complaint would be that it could use more customized settings and that it is hard to store.  Takes up a lot of cabinet space.

Answer 6

I am a former chef and the majority of answer you will recieve are from American or Canadian answer's, we have electric one, starting at 3qt or 4L, 5 qt 6L or the larger 7/8 qt 8/9L, not alot of stove top ones here you may be thinking about dutch ovens.

Slow Cooker here and in the UK are a clay base in an electrical cooking cylinder with several heat settings from low, high or warm, some have electronic settings and timers, even a probe to measure the heat inside the pot.

I am a former chef and do alot of vegetarian cooking now, currys, stews, braises and sauces can be done in them, make it up in the morning and let it go all day while you out at the shops, work, at the mall. You can do all kinds of meat and just about any traditional British dishes like Lancashire hotpot, mutton stew and gammon steaks with beans. They do not go in the microwave they sit on the counter, plug in like the kettle or toaster.

Answer 7

I own an old Tower one, with only 2 setting: high and low. No timer to speak of, but if I've never needed one.

The way I time the meals is this way: If I'm setting it in the morning and I'm not coming til the afternoon, I set it on low, but if I know I'm coming back in a few hours I set it on high.

The inside pot of mine is made of some kind of ceramic and a bit heavy, for that reason I've been reluctant to use it in the microwave, as I worry that such heavy pot plus contents will burn the turning motor of the microwave, so I always put in a pyrex jug what I want to reheat.

I make the usuals: curry, stews, bolognese, chili and rice pudding to die for :-)  and sometimes in winter porridge overnight for the morning.

Mine is a 3.5 litres (about 6 pints) and makes enough for 3 people and some, but I'm thinking of getting a 6 litres one so I can freeze half of it.

I recommend you buy a second hand one to start, to see if you find it useful.