Economical? - 12p for 10 hours cooking! (Prima Slow Cooker)

Member Name: Redhillmum

Product:	Prima Slow Cooker
Date:	01/10/01 (7300 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Economical, Easy to use, Inexpensive to buy

Disadvantages: None

We all know what(or most of us anyway) a slow cooker does, let's face it, if you are reading this opinion you have either just bought or are thinking of buying one.

Well, for those who don't know how a slow cooker works or what it does, let me enlighten you.

Food is cooked for long periods of time usually between 8 and 10 hours in a crockery pot which fits inside a metal housing. This housing is heated by elements which cook the food from the bottom.

Even though the instruction manual may say your food won't burn you may have to stir a couple of times to stop the food from
scorching. I have read that each time you raise the lid you should increase the cooking time by 20 mins but as I use mine overnight I don't tend to stir it as I'm usually in bed!

The extended cooking times mean flavours mingle better than cooking in the normal oven or pan and food tends not to stick as it would if left in the oven.

Food is also a lot more tender because of the long cooking process.

Some people worry about the temperature food is cooked at but even on the lowest heat setting it reaches well above 140 degrees which is the minimum temperature at which bacteria is killed.

The Prima model PSO350 which I use is is one of the new shape of cookers on the market today in that has an oval crock pot instead of the usual round one.

This makes it easier when cooking larger items of meat or poultry and also looks a lot nicer if you want to take the dish to the table.

Basically if you are using any slow cooker remember to brown off fatty meat first in a frying pan and pour off the excess fat, otherwise your nice cassserole or whatever will be swimming in grease.

If you are using chicken then it is best to discard the sking first also the same applies to pork etc.

Ok, if you are cooking in a conventional oven then leave skin on as it prevents the joint/poultry from drying
out but you won't have this problem with a slow cooker.

There are basic rules to follow when using ie.

Don't preheat the crock before adding food.
Don't place crock in the freezer.
Don't place crock in the oven.
Don't place the lid in a microwave although you CAN place the crock in (if you can fit it in, it is quite large).
Don't place on a gas burner or electric hob.

Most meat and veg will need between 8 and 10 hours on the Lo setting, 4 - 6 hours on HI and 5 - 7 on AUTO.

I know this sounds scary when you think of the time scale you think of the cost but don't worry it costs less than you think.

I rang the electricity energy efficiency line to check, and basically if you are on a normal tariff it will be about 12p to cook over a 10 hour period.

If you are on Economy 7 like myself then it will cost less than 5p !!!!!!!!!!!!

So, don't be tempted to turn off your cooker an hour earlier to try and save on your fuel costs as they are negligable.

The main thing to remember is not to keep taking the lid off whilst cooking, when the steam is released it will take longer for your food to cook, just take it off to stir and replace as quickly as possible.

Slow cookers cook cheaper cuts of meat best so don't go out and buy the most expensive joint in the supermarket go for a nice cheap one. Try something that you wouldn't normally buy.

One of the best ones I have recently tried was a massive Turkey Drumstick from Tesco at 99p each.

I have bought these in the past to roast and they were absolutely foul (oops!) like leather and full of tendons.

Not in the slow cooker!

Place a mixture of veg (small pieces cook better than large ones) in the crock, place the drumstick on top and cover with a sauce of your choice. Now, as Homepride cook in sauces are usually on a buy one get one free I used the barbecue one.


Switch the cooker on LO and leave for 9 - 10 hours.

I promise you that you will not believe how tender the meat will be and how easily those nasty tendons fall off the meat and bone.

Another good piece of meat to try is the Bacon Hock joints from any butcher (Dewhurst sell them for £1.49 each). The only thing to remember as with most bacon they are quite salty, so leave them to soak in a bowl of water to remove the excess salt (best overnight if possible).

Any foods that should be avoided when using a slow cooker?

Fish and seafood tend to break down to a pulp so if you are using them in a recipe add them towards the end of the cooking period.

Milk will curdle if cooked over a long peiod so stir in double cream at the end of the cooking period.

Natural cheeses will break down during long cooking periods so either replace with processed cheese or add near the end.

I bought my cooker from Currys recently for just less than £22 and it has been worth every penny.

Just think, you are saving money on fuel, saving time on the cooking preparation, saving money on buying cheaper cuts of meat and saving time on preparing the food.

At the end of all this you are left with a wonderful filling meal for all of the family for a handful of money.

Go on, if you haven't bought one yet, give it a go, you won't regret it.

Happy cooking!

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