Slow cookers Are you a slow cooker convert already, or have you never sampled this cheap, easy way to produce delicious, nourishing pot roasts, casseroles and stews? Slow cooking isn't new. In fact, it's a centuries-old technique, but with ever-improving advances in equipment, it's never been so simple to give your family seriously good home-cooked grub. Unlike pressure cookers, which cook food fast, or thermal cookers which use the heat of the food you put in them to cook without any external power source, slow cookers do as they say and cook over longer periods of time at a lower temperature for a greater flavour. Why should I use a slow cooker? Using a slow cooker will save you both time and money. For a start, you can buy cheaper cuts of meat. As the moisture is kept inside the pot, it’s constantly basting, so it doesn’t lose any flavour and makes cuts like beef brisket or pork shoulder so succulent and juicy. They’re great for cooking joints of beef, lamb or pork mid-week, but the options don't end there. Alongside vegetables, herbs, spices and your favourite ingredients, you can try seafood too. With loads of tasty crock pot recipes around, you'll be spoilt for choice. Just prepare and throw the ingredients in the pot in the morning, set it to LOW, then dinner will be ready when you are at the end of the day. What size slow cooker should I get? There are different sizes of slow cookers to suit your family’s needs. If you get one that’s too big then you’re paying for extra energy that you don’t need to run it. Too small, and you won’t fit enough in to feed everyone. The compact Lakeland 1.5L slow cooker is ideal for individuals and couples with small kitchens while the 3.5L slow cooker is perfect for making meals for two to four people. When it’s time for those big family get-togethers or batch cooking to freeze meals for later, then the 6L slow cooker is the one you need. If space is an issue then have a look at our multi-cookers. Most have slow cooking functions, but can also be used for roasting, steaming and some can even pressure cook. So slow things down and discover just how simple it is to produce delicious, nutritious meals or even mulled wine for a festive treat. What can I cook in a slow cooker? Practically anything. Although they’re traditionally used for casseroles and stews, we’re always discovering new ways to use these economical and efficient cookers to make our new favourite meal. Try mouth-watering, melt in your mouth BBQ pulled-pork, lasagne, light and fluffy cakes, and even chocolate fudge! How long does a slow cooker take? Most slow cookers have a LOW and HIGH setting. It depends on what you’re cooking but LOW is best for when you need to leave a large joint of meat to cook all day (8-10 hours is fine), and HIGH for when you need it to be ready a bit quicker than that, but still have a while to go before it’s time to eat (say about 4-6 hours on average). Some also have an AUTO setting to start off on a high temperature and cook your meal to perfection, then automatically lower the heat to keep it warm and ready to dish up. So however big your family, and whatever you want to cook, we’ve got the right slow cooker for you to dish up deliciousness whenever you’re ready.
