Slow Cookers?

[purplepansyem]

Hi, I've been thinking of how to cook for my family and myself (once I can eat normally). I don't want to make separate meals and was wondering if slow cookers are beneficial to weight loss and healthy meals in general, as I've never used one before?

 

[los in it]

Ive had a slow cooker for years great in the winter months they are as healthy as the meals you decide to cook in the stews are great in them leave them long enough and the meat just melts away I use loads of veg and pluses so its thick too

 

[WeightlossDreamer]

i love my slow cooker its just a cheap one from tesco but it works brilliantly! from one slow cooker i can get five or six meals out of it depending what were having. The slow cooking process also intensifies flavours yums!

 

[Llora]

I was thinking myself if its worth investing into one.. because i love stews and so

maybe i'll ask santa as i was a good girl!!

 

[Kar8858]

I agree, winter they are amazing! A lovely stew...mmm and its all so soft. Minus the dumplings though! Boo!

 

[Butterfly_lady]

I cook all meats in my slow cooker, I did pulled BBQ pork last week had it with salad (O/H had his in wraps)

 

[Bear]

I've had one for years, but had always associated it with heavy winter stews etc. Bought a new cookery book the other day as both dh and I love fish! This book had a whole section on fish recipes and soups in the slow cooker! To be honest, post op, I think it'll be a godsend. The amount of soups that you can make and then freeze - it'll be ideal for lunches etc.

 

[HelenAngelfish]

In on soft food stage and I'd be lost without one.

Chilli
Lamb and callaoo spicy stew
Brown stew chicken
Beef and spinach stew

Basically any meat and veg combination I can think of! One batch is lasting me 5-7 days xx

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[Butterfly_lady]

I also make jams and rice puds in my slow cooker

 

[purplepansyem]

For those people who already have a slow cooker, what size would you recommend for a family of 4 (including myself)? I've seen ones starting at 1ltr and going up to 6ltrs.

 

[Butterfly_lady]

I'd say start smallish maybe the £14 argos 3.5l one, if you get on with it you can get a bigger/dearer one, often Tesco has a value one for around a tenner too.

 

[purplepansyem]

could you cook rice and peas, Jamaican food and indian food in a slow cooker?

 

[HelenAngelfish]

could you cook rice and peas, Jamaican food and indian food in a slow cooker?

Yes!!

I love Caribbean foods and most of what I make is based on them xx

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[lauren25]

We use ours all the time, roasting joints are amazing in there makes it very tender!
I'd go bigger so you can put joints in there any left over meat we freeze in gravy then cook it in a glass oven dish! Then it's twice cooked meat yum yum!
But stews, roasts, glazed gammon, chilli, spag bowl, soups you name it most things can go in there!

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[kurstywursty]

I am actually about to do a stew in mine this morning ..purée stage

I have two. A big oval one and a smaller round one. If you would like to bulk Cook, the bigger one. If you want to make soup, the bigger one. I also cook whole chicken in mine so I use the bigger one.

Today I will use the smaller one as I am only cooking 1lb stew

The smaller one is great for chilli etc

I love to have the two as if I have friends or my hubbies kids round, I cook the food in them, keep it warm and along with my rice maker, means I am not slaving over the cooker when folks arrive


Thinking, even for a family of four you could use the big one fir 4 chicken breast etc. there are only two of us so sometimes the big one is just too big

 

[kurstywursty]

Great for currie, especially lamb as you can cook it for hours. Do the prep and start off on the cooker top then xferred it and leave it. Magic!

 

[Paula Garner]

I roast all my meat in mine. It's so tender and full of flavour. No added fat needed either and the juices make amazing gravy.

 

[sharon2014]

I have a slow cooker and much like everyone else it's great for meats , chillis etc!!! Can't wait to use it, may use it Friday for Saturday !!!

It's just smaller one but well worth money, if family, I'd get bigger one you can freeze everything xx

 

[purplepansyem]

I've read nothing but good things about the slow cooker so I went and bought one from Argos and it should arrive on Thursday

 

[Bear]

Mine is one of the big ones. TBH up until now,it's been too big for a standard family of four meal! For example, when using one of the Schwartz packet mixes and following their ingredients amounts - it's only about a third full! Think I might treat myself to a smaller one too, even it's just to experiment with.