Good Food: Slow cooker favourites

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With so many different slow cookers out there, choosing the right one for you can be confusing. Here are a few questions you might want to consider. I have the BBC [Good] Food Slow Cooker Recipe Book, which has some nice and simple recipes in it.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Pilot12) Our verdict As a slow cooker fan herself, our writer Gemma is always on the lookout for family friendly meals so spent time hunting down the best slow cooker recipe books currently available, making sure to cater for all tastes, needs and budgets.

No liquid escapes from a slow cooker, so when adapting a recipe not specifically written for a slow cooker, reduce any added liquid by a third. Finished results: the tenderness of the meat and vegetables, the consistency of the cooked sauce and the heat of the food when serving Slow cookers are one of the most energy efficient kitchen appliances as they are designed to cook slowly and over a long period of time. In fact, they use only a bit more energy than a traditional light bulb. What is the best slow cooker recipe book in the UK? You don’t have to brown your meat first, so if you're in a hurry, you can throw your ingredients in and you’ll still get a tasty meal out of it. However, if you have time, browning is better for adding more depth to your dish. You will get more rich, complex flavours from frying off your meat before cooking it in the slow cooker. Are slow cookers energy efficient?Size: With sizes starting at 1-litre through to a whopping 6.5-litres, choosing the right size for you is imperative. The smallest sizes are suitable when cooking for one or two. 3-litres to 4.5-litres (one of the most popular sizes on the market) serve four, and the large 6-6.5-litre models are super for families and batch cooking. It's also worth bearing in mind that the capacity stated on the sales blurb is the size of the bowl, not the working capacity, which can sometimes be half that. Slow cookers are designed to cook for a long time so you can keep it on low overnight or all day while you’re out as long as you follow the directions and the manufacturer's instructions. However, consider what it is you’re cooking. Most recipes suggest six to eight hours on low, so if you want it on for longer, it is best to keep an eye on it to ensure you get the best out of your recipe. Do you need to brown meat before slow cooking?

I would not normally write a review but think this may help some people to not buy incorrectly as I have. If you don’t know where to start, there are loads of great slow cooker recipe books around to inspire you in the kitchen. From vegetarian-friendly dishes to tasty curries, there’s a cookbook to cater for every kind of taste. There are photographic guides for helping you prepare the meals, with tips on how to use up cheaper and leftover cuts of meat to help you cook on a budget and reduce waste. It also provides advice on different cooking methods, so this will be a great book for someone who wants to broaden their cooking skills. Readers note that some ingredients need pre-cooking in a frying pan or a saucepan though, which requires more effort than just throwing it all in the slow cooker and leaving it to cook.Every book in this series has so far been a little gem and this one is no exception. Now the only problem might be what slow cooker to buy so that one may try out properly what one might have been missing! Functions: additional functions on the slow cooker including browning, reheating, reducing and whether it is hob or oven-safe Is there anything better than coming home to the smell of your dinner already cooking? Even better if you’ve only had to spend ten minutes in the morning throwing some ingredients into your slow cooker. This slow cooker book has a good variety of main meal dishes and recipe ideas. Covering a range of tastes and cuisines. With a large and clear photo for each slow cooker recipe. Each recipe also includes helpful tips. For example, where recipes can be halved or doubled. And a very useful guide to the nutritional information for each recipe. And compared to the other slow cooker books I’ve used. This has a very good range of fish and seafood slow cooker recipes.

I got this book a while ago and it’s bloody brilliant, have got lots of recipes bookmarked. I bought a second-hand copy which was in good condition.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Furries) Our verdict Rice and pasta dishes work best cooked on high for the shortest time possible. Always use easy-cook rice, rinsed well first – the more starch you rinse from the rice, the better the finished result.

4. Best vegan slow cooker recipe book: The Super Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Cookbook by Toni Okamoto

A lot of the recipes involve preparing parts before hand, for example: making mashed potato first to add to the meal and they also involve a lot of ingredients too. Perfect for busy families, the best slow cooker can provide a tasty home cooked meal with minimal mess and fuss. What’s not to love? While stews and soups are the most common recipes for slow cookers, there’s loads you can do with them – from slow cooked meat and tasty sauces to desserts and even bread. Slow Cooked, by Miss South. Based on an excellent blog, that's sadly now unavailable.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user DogInATent) Our verdict

The Bored of Lunch cookbook is really good. Only bought it last month and it’s already one of my favourites (and I’m a cookbook addict and have way too many!!).” (Vetted by Mumsnet user Sammysquiz ) Design: Are you looking for a simple, budget-friendly option that just slow-cooks (but does it extremely well) or something more versatile that sous-vides, pressure cooks, bakes and roasts too? Do bear in mind that the more technological the slow cooker, the higher the price. Heat retention: how the cooker holds heat for safety on the worktop and whether the food catches or burns BBC Good Food Slow Cooker Favourites, Pinch of Nom Comfort Food, and 200 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes by Kate Bishop.” (Books loved by Mumsnet user Skyeheather) Our verdict I would not normally write a review but think this may help some people to not buy incorrectly as I have. I bought this book for my son and his girlfriend.This book, part of a very broad series, provides 101 different tried and tested recipes that will please a wide range of tastes. There is a lot more to slow cooking than a variation on a stew, that is to be sure and through this book you cannot fail but find a few more favoured recipes If your family likes to try new things, this could be the book for you. With a mixture of family favourites and dishes that are a bit more adventurous, Whole Food Slow Cooked helps you put delicious meals on the table with different options for cooking, depending on how much time you have.