It took me a long time to get one. I don’t know why. Now that I have one, it’s like this thing is a no-brainer. I can’t believe I didn’t have a slower cooker when I was working. It would have saved so much time, arguments, and we would have had delicious nutritious hassle-free meals. But now I have one I am realising the many benefits of my slow cooker. These are the 10 things I have learned since using my slow cooker.
10 things I have learned since using my slow cooker
1. With a slow cooker I can cook hassle-free meals
Yes, there’s no racing home thinking crap what shall I feed the kids tonight (OK meal planning was not my forte back then). But with the slow cooker, I have to plan and shop for what I am going to cook for the week. It’s turned me into a meal planning ninja! And that’s great because I’m not charging around the supermarket thinking …argh need more fish fingers.
Nope, with the slow cooker, there’s a chicken curry waiting ready to be dished up. All I need to do is pop on some rice. And no more moaning kids, they eat whatever that darn slow cooker cooks!
2. I can cook cheaper cuts of meat
This is a good one. Because the cooking is long and slow I can buy and cook cheaper cuts of meat. The slow cooker works its magic making the meat soft and succulent. I love a bit of slow cooked pork belly, or a beef curry made up of stewing cuts. This week I am trying beef massaman curry.
3. When I get home, there’s a hot delicious meal waiting for me
That’s the beauty of the slow cooker. I prep in the morning, chopping, slicing and dicing and a bit of browning of the meat. Then I pop all ingredients into the slow cooker. Put the lid on and set the cooking level. Usually low or if I’m pressed for time, medium to high. Flick the timer on and get on with my day. And in the evening – there it is a super, slow cooked meal.
4. A slow cooker is economical. I can double up quantities. Eat and freeze
With a slow cooker I can cook more and save more. I can double up on quantities and freeze the extra portions. When I haven’t had time to cook, there’s usually a Chilli con Carne to be found in the freezer.
5. It’s energy efficient, less of a drain on the electric
That slow cooker is economical and efficient. It uses far less electricity than our electric fan oven. More pennies saved. Kerching!
6. The long, slow cooking does amazing things to food flavours
I have converted my chicken curry recipe for the slow cooker and after six hours of low, slow cooking, it tastes divine. The pungent spices have penetrated deep into the chicken, the sauce is full of zest, that chilli trips of the tongue. Oh and the meat, it just falls away from the bone. No more moaning about chewy meat!
7. There is less washing up with a slow cooker
Hurrah! Oh so much less washing up, especially if I’ve opted for the one-pot recipes. I am a big fan of any meal that can be cooked in a single pot! Anything to keep the washing up to a manageable, in my case, non-existent level.
8. It’s easy on my purse
The slow cooker is giving me extra wriggle room in my purse. Less stress on the electricity bills, using cheaper cuts of meat, and meal planning which I have finally got my head around, means we are saving money on our weekly shop!
9. It’s saving me more time
Slow cooking saves time, by redistributing time.
I either prep in the night before or in the morning after the school run. Then the food is tipped into the slow cooker, switch it on and return when the food it is done.
My slow cooker has put an end to the evening kitchen frenzy of cooking something, anything for starving, grumpy, tired kids, and then something for us.
I know, almost four years of cooking two sets of meals. You don’t have to tell me. I am still kicking myself!
If it’s slow cooker night – we are all eating it!
10. I can just pile it in then walk away
And that’s the beauty of slow cooker cooking, pile it in, switch it on, walk away! I love my slow cooker!
I need to use mine more. Every day I end up panicking about dinner at 4pm. I only really use it for fudge. Oops! Thanks for joining us this week! #bigpinklink
Louise Pink Pear Bear recently posted…Family Friendly Festival wishlist. Plus win Geronimo family ticket worth £100!
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Yes do! It stops the 4pm panic, it really does!
My rice cooker is also supposed to be a slow cooker, but I haven’t quite worked it out. Everything seems to be cooked within one to two hours! I do need to use more often though and properly plan my meals, I’m spending far too much time in the kitchen. #KCACOLS
Mummy and the Mexicans recently posted…40 Things I’m Grateful for at 40
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Give it a go, it’s pretty awesome when you get going with the slow cooker and there are some fabulous meals!
I love love love my slow cooker for the time saving and the fact that it feels like such a cheat to just walk in the door to a delicious meal – I get so smug at myself!! #kcacols
Devon Mama recently posted…The Soundtrack Of My Life
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What? Cheating? No way! It’s still cooking!
We love our slow cooker too but I’ve not used it for ages! I must dig it out again.
Thank you for linking up to #KCACOLS and I hope to see you back again on Sunday x
Maria recently posted…Pulp Wine subscription box
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Go on, find it and cook with it!
I couldn’t live without my slow cooker – it’s the most used thing in our kitchen! #thelistlinky
Crummy Mummy recently posted…Breastfeeding friendly wedding guest outfits
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Mine too, I love it!
I love our slow cooker! We had sausage casserole from it last night, and the smell that filled the house was amazing! x #KCACOLS
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That’s what I love about it, food smells good and tastes so good!
Oooo some really good tips
Thanks for linking to #foodiefriday
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Thank you!
I love my slow cooker, but I only discovered just how versatile it was last year. Slow cooker quiche is my favourite!
Thanks for linking with #KCACOLS, do link again on Sunday.
Rachel George, Ordinary Hopes recently posted…Time for Change.
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The slow cooker has been my best investment of the year!
I have to be honest when my MIL gave me a slow cooker as a house warming gift 13 years ago, I smiled and said oh how lovely while in the back of my head I was thinking what is this s£&@ ! But now I couldn’t imagine not having one! They are so versatile, and there is nothing better than walking in the front door after a hard day at work and smelling that delicious slow cooker smell!!!
#foodiefriday
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Yes high five! That’s how I feel about my slow cooker, I just love it!
I’m the Mum dishing out last minute fishfingers for tea – perhaps this is the way forward! #marvmondays
Tabitha Siklos recently posted…The Cartoon Conundrum
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Oh I have been there way too many times! You need the slow cooker kitchen saviour!
So need me a slow cooker!
Honest Mum recently posted…Brilliant Blog Posts 30th March 2017
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No joke it has changed my life!
I don’t use my slow cooker enough, mostly because my husband is not a big fan of the kind of food I do in the slow cooker. I’m going to give it another try after reading this, though. My friend always says ‘it’s like someone else has cooked dinner for you!’. #SharingTheBlogLove
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It sure is! I love the whole pile it in, switch it on and walk away!
I needed to read this! I’ve had a slow cooked since January and I’ve not used it yet, I keep meaning to keep myself organised and do it. This is my final kick, I will start with next week’s shop. Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
Laura – Dear Bear and Beany recently posted…Introducing #CraftyCorner…A New Linky!
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Yes do it! It takes a slightly different mindset, and a little bit of organisation, then you are good to go!
I’ve always been tempted but never quite got there. Maybe it’s time to revisit! #KCACOLS
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Oh you should give it a go! It’s my kitchen saviour!
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Give it a go! You won’t regret it!
We love our slow cooker, although I don’t use it enough, not sure why! You’ve inspired me to make more with it, thank you 🙂 #bigpinklink
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Thank you! It’s takes a bit of planning, but once that’s done it’s easy!
That’s it, I’m buying a slow cooker! Love all the points you’ve made, sold.
Nicola Cassidy recently posted…Sickos and weirdos – my Netflix obsession
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Woo hoo! Join the slow cooker fan club!
I need to get a slow cooker. I think i need it.
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You won’t look back!
We have a slow cooker but I hardly use it! Really need to start, especially when I’m back at work. Off to look up some recipes! Thanks for inspiring me! #KCACOLS
Kelly | and Jacob makes three recently posted…Thinking of breastfeeding? What to know before birth
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No problem at all. It’s a live saver, and time creator when you are working, just takes the hassle out of an evening!
I love our slow cooker 🙂 always on the go in the winter x
Sarah – let them be small recently posted…The First Day of Spring?
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Yup ours just chugged away over the winter months – just fab!
I love our slow cooker! It makes life so simple, especially when you have food at the ready when the toddlers are screaming for dinner! I love using it during the Winter too! Thanks so much for sharing with #Blogstravaganza, hope to see you again next week! xx
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Thank you! I love ours too. I just don’t know why I didn’t get one sooner!
Oh, I really miss our slow cooker! Ours packed up about a year ago and we’ve not replaced it. But I love how tender the meat gets in it – I’m not always a fan of red meat, but I love it from the slow cooker. And it’s all just so easy! I think I’m going to request a new one for my birthday! Thanks for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
Katy – Hot Pink Wellingtons recently posted…The Pregnancy Diaries: Week 28
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Yes time to get a new shiny slow cooker, especially with baba number 2 on the way!
I don’t have a slow cooker yet but I’m coming round to the idea.
#blogstravaganza
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I think you should! It’s a great investment!
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I tell you, you won’t regret it one bit!
I love this post and we love to use the slow cooker too! I think it is great for trying new recipes and cooking meat which is more tough in the oven.
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Yes you are so right! It’s a brilliant little kitchen invention. Total life saver.
I love doing my meal planning and prep ahead of time, and then throwing something in the slow cooker in the morning before school. And it makes the house smell AMAZING!!
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I know, I just love the smell of a cooked meal when I walk in the door!
I love my slow cooker! I don’t use it as often as I think I should, though! I used it today, Fridays we have a swimming lesson at 3.45-4.15 and by the time we’re home I’m too knackered to think about cooking! Lifesaver for sure 😉 #foodiefriday
Claire recently posted…Why We Need To Apologise To Our Children
I only used my slow cooker for the first time last month and I can’t believe it took me so long to use it x
I wasn’t just talking about this with my friend today! Wondering if it’s a bit retro mum. But my friend sais her slow cooker is a life saver. Where do you get your recipes though? That’s the only thing putting me off, having to think of new things to put in there. But something has to change! My cooking and shopping routine is a mess.
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I have a couple of BBC books which are fab. And there’s a great facebook group called slow cooked wonders https://www.facebook.com/groups/slowcookedwonders check them out!
I think Chris brought a slow cooker with him when we moved in together and even has a recipe book but I’ve never used one. Time to investigate!
Laura Beresford recently posted…For Chris: the definitive guide to my pizzas
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You have to get that cooker out and get with the slow cooking programme! It will change your life!
Yes to this! I am a massive fan of slow cooking for all of the above reasons. Literally my saviour in life! Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely xoxo
Talya recently posted…Mum truths #3 with Ellamental Mama
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Life saviour and life changer!
I love all those things about my Crockpot! Sometimes it is pain in the bum to prepare things early in the morning, but the prospect of coming home to food ready to eat is amazing. The only thing I don’t like about it is that the sauces never reduced down and you need to thicken them!
Tracy recently posted…A British Bakery Favourite: Belgian Buns
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I know what you mean, but knowing it’s all cooked when you get home makes the prepping a minor inconvenience.
I love our slow cooker but I don’t use it nearly enough. I need to learn more things to cook in it.
Lyndsey O’Halloran recently posted…Little Squirrels Play Forest, Norwich
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Yes, do! It’s just so amazing! It’s been brilliant for curries, no more hovering and stirring the pot!
Ooh I love a slow cooker too. I only ever get it out in the winter though. I need to think up some Spring recipies to use in it! #Brillblogposts
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I so love this kitchen contraption. Yes spring time recipes would be brill … better start checking some out!
Loving the idea of just piling it in and walking away – I’m not much of a cook but maybe this is the way forward for me. And less washing up – got to be a winner! #coolmumclub
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Yes it really is the way forward. Changed my life!
Every reason above is why I love my slow cooker; Did you know, you can cook amazing baked potatoes in your slow cooker??? I know, amazing! #brillblogposts
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Baked potatoes? My daughter is going to be over the moon!