Slow cooker?

For those that got a slow cooker, do you recommend it? Is it worth to get? I am deciding whether or not to get one. How exactly does it work? What do you make in there? Thanks!!

Re: Slow cooker?

I love mine. They don't have to be a big investment- I have the crockpot brand which was about $30 at BBB.

I just wanted one with a timer, not just a dial. I make stews in it, but should branch out more.

Just put the ingredients in, set it and that's all. I was home the first time I used it to get used to the timing and how hot it gets.

Re: Slow cooker?

I love it. Whether I used it cause I was working, or now as a SAHM & a meal from scratch in the kitchen for an hour+ straight isn't always an option, or being out all day & knowing the hot meal is waiting for you....it's convenient.

I'm using it tomorrow for split pea soup.

I don't get into all the heavy fat, canned soup recipes, because it helps keep out healthy eating on track less urge for take-out since it's already made. On a norm, I make chili, soup, pulled pork, chicken. Even roasting a chicken is great cause you can use the meat for another dish. Pot roast, stews, so many options depending on your preference.

Re: Slow cooker?

Yes. I use mine at least twice a week.

Slow cooker?

I like it, but I do get bored with it. I make pot roast, pulled pork, shredded chicken for tacos or beef for enchiladas, spaghetti squash with meatballs. Skinnytaste has some good recipes to check out. My sister and her bf who's a chef just got one for christmas so I'm really hoping they'll give me some new, yummy ideas!

Re: Slow cooker?

I was always on the fence about a slow cooker, but I got one as a gift a few years ago and I LOVE it. I would estimate that I use it once a week.

I have a Crock Pot brand Smart Pot -- it has high, low, and "keep warm" settings, and you can set the digital timer in half hour increments. If your time is up, then it just switches to "keep warm," which is great because it is sometimes hard to plan when we are eating. DH often works late, sometimes I am showing houses in the evening, or DS has a sport or activity.

I think the main benefits are that you can make dinner early in the day and not have to deal with prep and clean up (doing dishes and washing pots) after dinner. Most slow cooker recipes are easy and many are pretty healthy, which is great because I try to watch what I eat during the week. I also like that most recipes make big batches of stuff that stays well, so if I make a crock pot dinner one night, I can get leftovers out of it for lunches, another dinner, etc.

You can make lots of things in it -- anything that you would make in a Dutch oven type pot and cook for awhile, or anything you would slow roast in the oven. So I've made pot roasts and whole chickens, as well as things like soups, stews, risottos, chili, pulled pork. You can even make lasagna and desserts (cakes!). I use it to make certain appetizers, too, like cocktail meatballs.

I would say the meals that come out of the crock pot are not fine dining... not so visually appealing and flavors do tend to meld together (so sometimes I add in fresh herbs or lemon or something at the end to "brighten it up"). I mostly use the crockpot for easy weeknight meals, not so much for entertaining.

There are SO many online recipes you can research (pinterest and blogs devoted to slow cooker recipes), and there are a lot of good slow cooker cookbooks out there.

I wouldn't use it every night, but I think a crockpot is a good tool to have in your kitchen.