SLOW cookers are a must-have for money savers.
They cost less to run than an oven and make even the cheapest cuts of meat delicious.
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You can prep your meal at breakfast time, pop it into your slow cooker and a steaming pot of delicious food will be ready when you need it later in the day.
Here are my tips for getting the most out of the nifty kitchen appliance.
BAG A BARGAIN: This is the perfect time of year to get started with a slow cooker, as it comes into its own when cooking hearty winter casseroles and warming curries.
It should soon pay for itself, but it is still worth finding a great deal. The Tower 5.5litre oval slow cooker from The Original Factory Shop is down from £29.99 to £25 and will feed a crowd. For smaller households, Crockpot’s 1.8litre cooker is £17 at Argos.
MEATY DEALS: Cooking meat low and slow means a slow cooker is ideal for cheaper cuts such as beef brisket, lamb shanks, stewing steak and ham hocks.
Love pulled pork? You’ll love it even more simmered in the slow cooker, and at £4.08 for a 1-1.2kg pork shoulder joint at Sainsbury’s, it makes a thrifty meal.
SPICE IT UP: Slow cooker ready-made recipe mixes are an easy short cut. With all the herbs in a packet, you just add the fresh ingredients.
Schwartz Slow Cook packets of seasoning, including BBQ Pulled Pork, are £1 at Tesco, or Clubcard holders can pick up four selected Schwartz sauces for £2.
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VEG FEST: Slow cooking is a cheap way to cook vegetable curries and stews, Mediterranean dishes such as ratatouille or veggie lasagne, as well as smoky bean chillies and comforting macaroni cheese.
Batch cooking on a big scale and freezing individual portions will also help you save.
SLOW COOK TO CHRISTMAS: Using a slow cooker at Christmas is great for freeing up oven space and saving you time. It’s a brilliant way to cook ham, like BBC Good Food’s gammon in cola recipe, as well as slow-cooked red cabbage and even cranberry sauce.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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