What is the best Slow Cooker to buy?

I thought I would start a thread, then combine everyone's answers on the slow cooking chatter thread. If you know how much you paid for it and when, include that too!

I was given a gift of a Breville Meal Maker about 1-2 years ago :)

I was given a "Prima" slow cooker for my birthday last year. I've since seen them in the shops & they retail for about $49.

I have a 5ltr Black and Decker SC that I've had for a year now. I got it from K-mart for $49.99 but it was on special but I can't remember how much is was before. Mine also has a removable insert, glass lid and is stainless steel and black like Fletchie's. I love mine too and am about to spend the next week cooking our dinners in there, yummy!

I have a Breville meal maker I think it is a 5 litre and it cost about $70.

Bon

We have a Sunbeam Stonewear Crock-Pot........it is plain white, but with a glass lid.

At this time of year I literally use it every day.......as I speak I am smelling Italian Meatballs.............LOL

From memory it was around $60. It has been in constant use for about 3 years......I wouldn't be without it. It is also a dream to clean.

I picked one out for my birthday last year, and my mum picked it up for me. It's a Russell Hobbs 6 Ltr oval SC with Removable Stoneware liner and a glass lid. Liner is black and base unit is "Classic Satin" according to the booklet!

Can't quite remember pricing, my mum got a discount on it as she knew the salesperson. I think it was around $90, but I think mum paid around $70 for it? Can't quite remember now :-k

Nic

ive got the ronson 5 or 5.5 litre which was on special 2 weeks ago at target fir half price $49.99 :)

p.s stainless steel with black porcelain removable insert and glass lid :)

I have a Russell Hobbs Classic Oval Slow Cooker.... 3.5ltr, glass lid aswell.
My sister bought it for me for Christmas and I bought her one for Christmas, LOL.
It only cost $45 but that's because my sister works at Retravision and gets a family discount... bargain!

I love, love, love mine but I can see myself wanting to upgrade to a 5ltr SC as I use it more and more.

I also have a Breville Meal Maker that I got when I redeemed my Flybuys points!!!

I also have a Breville Meal Maker, 5 litre. I got it last year for Mothers Day, it was on special for around $70. We also got my mum and Dp's mum one too. I love mine, but sometimes wonder if they come any bigger. Hey, I have a big family.



Take care
Trish

I have a Morphy Richards oval slow cooker, 6.5L, stainless steel. It has a glass lid too.

It was a wedding gift from my dad's mum's brother and his wife. I've only just started to think about using it, so will buy some food to put in it this weekend and see what I can make Monday (DH was out for dinner last night else I would have used it yesterday).

I also have the Breville Meal Maker 5.5kg which I purchased for $52 from The Good Guys approx 3wks ago.

It also came with a bonus thermal carry bag so you can take it with you to parties if need be.

Mine is exactly like Danni's - a Ronson silver one with black insert. I have no idea what mine cost... mum gave it to me as she wasn't using it and my cousin gave it to her as she wasn't using it. So I got it 3rd hand but brand new!

I have a Breville Avance Meal Maker, the brand spanking new one :)

That's the one i am looking at Sarah they also do a banquet one as well for the same price.
DH has said i can get one in a couple of weeks.

Woo hoo, Michelle! Good idea to get a nice, big one too!

Ok Girls, I am taking the plunge and heading down tomorrow to buy a slowcooker and need some advice. I have a pretty large family and am wondering what size i should get. Would a 4L be enough or will I need a 6L??
Thanks in advance.

I would say a 6L one would be better for a large family.

I've got a 6.5L one and it's great you don't have to fill it all the way up of you don't want too.

yes bigger is definitely better :D

So what is a good size for a 4 person family? Just wondering as KMart & Big W both have some slow cookers on sale this week but they mostly seem to be about a 4L cookers.

Get the biggest. I have a 6.5L one and I could cook for 8-10 in there, but I also cook for 3 some nights with no leftovers. (Well, cook for 2 with one meal leftover for DH's lunch the next day.)

I did for 6 in it on Sunday, I think it was only half-full with that. The advantage of a larger SC is that you don't have to cook for so long if you don't have time, so I can put on my SC at 8am and have a big SC lunch at 1pm if I want, or get dinner ready in the afternoon when I'm in a baking mood, not have to run around doing it in the morning when I want to be sweeping and vacuuming.

(Aagh, not want, need. Or "have to". Who wants to clean?)

Yep, bigger is always better. And with the size of your family Rayla you'll need the bigger one, even if you have leftovers they can be frozen and used later on.

Go bigger for sure. I have a 5 litre one and at times I find it's not big enough. With 4 males in the house. Sure one is only 4 but the teenagers sure make up for it.

Which SC did you end up getting Natalie ?

Hi all,
I can't help but notice how many of you rave about your slow cooker - I think I need one too! What is the best brand to buy and how much did you pay?

Many thanks
CC

I think any are good, I got a big one but I tend to coiok in bulk anyways as I buy in bulk & freeze meals for the following week/s...
But I dont think any are Not good????

I have a Russel Hobbs 6.5L. Its a bit bigger than we need at the moment so its never very full when I cook a casserole etc but its just the right size to roast a lamb leg in so I'm glad its not smaller. I figure that as the boys grow up they're going to eat lots more so in a few yaers it will be the right size for our casseroles too.
I have noticed that it seems to cook a bit faster than other peoples and another Russel Hobbs owner has noticed the same thing.
It was a gift so I'm not sure how much it cost.
:)

*bump*

Hi ladies
I am most intrigued by the passionate slow cooker following on this site (and others) and am thinking of buying a slow cooker to try.
I would love your feedback as to what I should be looking for in a slow cooker what you love or hate about yours?
TIA Belinda.

Timer switch is handy - I wish mine had one.
A big capacity, so you can make double and freeze some (I do this all the time!)
Two heat levels (most have this)
Think bowl to evenly distribute the heat.
Sturdy lid - I've heard that fragile ones can break easily (esp if you are clumsy like me!)
Also make sure the bowl can fit in your fridge as I often assemble the night before, leave in fridge overnight and then cook in the morning.

I use my slow cooker weekly at least and my hubby loves anything I make in the slow cooker!

PS. Shop around - mine was $30 cheaper at Myer than Target at the time!

Check out these threads too - www.bellybelly.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=14458 and www.bellybelly.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=19121

Hi Everyone!!!

I really really want to buy a slow cooker and have been doing some research on brands etc. At the moment there is only 2 of us so I guess we won't be needing a big bumper slow cooker.

I have heard that you can get ones that cook risotto as well - that would be a bonus.

Any tips of brands, what to look for etc. I've read that it's best to get one that is stainless inside instead of ceramic, and that it's a good idea to get one that you can programme manually. However I have seen a lot that have only 3 settings - low, high and auto. Also George Forman has just released one in Oz, but it seems super cheap - like $38. I would really appreciate any info anyone can give me as I'm ready to make a purchase so I can get cracking on some of these yummy recipes and also make my life a bit easier in terms of cooking dinner.:D

Hi all :)

Am seriously thinking about getting a slow cooker and actually using it. I have a had a quick read in the slow cooker general chatter but cant seem to find any answers to my questions so thought i may start a new thread. So here is what id love to know-

* Can or do you leave your slow cooker on during the day while you go to work or out? I am a little worried as we have a feathered family member who lives inside and i wouldnt want anything to happen to him just coz i wanted dinner ready when i got home.

* What is a good brand slow cooker? I dont mind paying more if it is better... ie cooks better, more durable, easier to clean etc

* A question DH had which i think is rather odd but here goes- Does the meat taste "stewed" ? I dont really understand it but um he likes tender meats such as the beef in monogolian beef from the chinese restaurant but doesnt like when i cook say stroganoff and the water comes out then it cooks in it coz he says its "stewed" (maybe he should just eat chinese every night heheheh)

* Does it make, making dinner easier? I know there is still the preparation but then at least there is no stirring etc..

Thanks in advance, am looking forward to reading replies and talking and explaining to DH why we really need one :)

* Can or do you leave your slow cooker on during the day while you go to work or out? I am a little worried as we have a feathered family member who lives inside and i wouldnt want anything to happen to him just coz i wanted dinner ready when i got home. I leave it on while I'm at work. I'm only away at the most 8 hours but yep.

* What is a good brand slow cooker? I dont mind paying more if it is better... ie cooks better, more durable, easier to clean etc ours is a Sunbeam 4.5ltr and we've had it 5 years now.

* A question DH had which i think is rather odd but here goes- Does the meat taste "stewed" ? I dont really understand it but um he likes tender meats such as the beef in monogolian beef from the chinese restaurant but doesnt like when i cook say stroganoff and the water comes out then it cooks in it coz he says its "stewed" (maybe he should just eat chinese every night heheheh) honestly, sometimes yep it can taste stewed. The thing is not to shy away from adding flavour.

* Does it make, making dinner easier? I know there is still the preparation but then at least there is no stirring etc.. I couldn't work an 8 hour day with 2 kids without it. Or I could, but we couldn't eat healthier food options.

*I leave mine on during the day also. My brother in law who is a fireman gives me a rap across the knuckles when I tell him this but everyone I know that uses them has never had any problems and I figure you leave your fridge plugged in all day so it can?t be that different.

*I also use a sunbeam. I would recommend you go for the oval shaped one rather than the round one. That way you can fit in a whole leg of lamb easily. The round one makes it a bit of a struggle. And the pot part that cooks the meat lifts strait out and into the sink for easy washing.

*I guess it can taste a little stewed depending on what your cooking and what your cooking with it. As mentioned above we do a leg of lamb with a little rosemary in it all the time and everyone always raves about how tender it is. Just falls off the bone. Shanks are also great or Osso Bucco. Depending on what your cooking you can also just through your vegetables in there also. It also keeps your shopping bill down as slow cooking is better with the cheaper cuts of meat.

* They are great when you are cooking for a lot of people. You can just chuck it all in the pot and forget about it while you run around the house panicking that the house is a mess and all that. It is also so nice to come home from work on a winter night and smell something delish cooking as soon as you walk through the door.

I think most brands are pretty much the same, just make sure you get one big enough to do anything and everything. Once you have tried it your will want to use it a lot in the winter months.

Lolly

We have an oval Ronson 6 litre and i love it!
We go out and leave it on and never had a problem
Sometimes the meat tastes a little stewed, but as Christy says, experiment with flavours so it tastes better
It makes dinner in our house alot easier, meaning we actually get some ;) and it's homecooked and healthy.

I also put legs of lamb and roast beef in mine and it tastes alot better than any roast i've put in the oven, the meat just falls apart and melts in your mouth!

I am looking for one too!! I want one that is programmable, have only found one so far, the others all only have the three settings as you were saying. And the one with the programmable setting has a ceramic bowl...do you know why they say the stainless steel ones are better?

I can't remember the name of the one that I am thinking of buying (today!!), but it costs $85 so I don't think it is a cheap and nasty brand, and it is at David Jones, I don't think they sell cheap and nasty. hee hee. I liked this one because it is programmable, 6.5litre capacity and the bowl is dishwasher safe....a must!!

Good luck in your search, hope you find one you are happy with. I am about to go and get mine, and will probably use it over trhe next few days. Will let you know if it is any good or if there is something about it I don't like (hopefully there wont be).

My next search is for some good recipes!!

I'm another one looking to invest in a slow cooker. However while doing my research I found this: (explains why stainless steel is better then ceramic)

Disadvantages

Vitamins and other trace nutrients are lost, particularly from vegetables, partially by enzyme action during cooking. When vegetables are cooked at higher temperatures these enzymes are rapidly denatured and have less time in which to act during cooking. Since slow cookers work at temperatures well below boiling point and do not rapidly denature enzymes, vegetables tend to lose trace nutrients. Blanched vegetables, having been exposed to very hot water, have already had these enzyme rendered largely ineffective, so a blanching or sauteing pre-cook stage will leave more vitamins intact. Green colors are retained better when vegetables are cooked quickly as plant cells are less likely to lose acids.

Kidney beans, and some other beans, contain a toxin, phytohaemagglutinin, which is destroyed by cooking at boiling point but not at the operating temperature of a slow cooker. They become safe to eat after boiling for a minimum of ten minutes, or if they come from a can. Such precautions must be observed if kidney beans are included in slow cooker recipes, as the relatively low temperatures in a slow cooker will not destroy the toxin adequately, and serious food poisoning may occur.[4] Kidney beans can be as much as five times more toxic if cooked at 80 ?C than if eaten raw, so exposing them to a high temperature for an adequate time prior to slow cooking is vital.

Slow cookers do not typically provide sufficient heat to compensate for frequent additions and removals of food in perpetual stews (pot au feu, olla podrida); nor do they cook quickly enough to cook newly added food thoroughly before the next withdrawal becomes likely. This relatively slow recovery of temperature after an addition or withdrawal may cause safety problems. Removal of the lid lets heat and moisture escape, prolonging cooking time and giving microbes the chance to grow.

Like some other kinds of pottery, some slow cookers crocks are glazed with a formula containing lead.[5] Lead is a toxic metal, causing neurological and developmental damage in even small quantities, and it is not easily cleared from the body, so its dangers continue.

Hi everyone! I'm not sure if I should have started a new thread or asked in the slow cooker chatter thread, but I have asked DH for a slow cooker for Mother's Day. Can anyone recommend a good brand? What should I look for? How many litres should I get? I don't want a small one, I want to be able to make big batches so I can freeze meals.

TIA!

Hi Trish, i've just merged your thread with previously posted threads on the smae topic. You might find some tips in the posts above yours.
I have the Russell Hobbs one that is the big size.
I think bigger is better.
They make some now with 2 pots in one cooker - sounds good to me but I can't justify a new SC when I have a wonderful one already.