Slow cookers. Do you leave them on and go out?

[Universal VR]

I'm trying to think of ways I can manage time better. I'm always on the go and it's getting me down. I had the (I thought, brilliant) idea of getting a slow cooker, setting it up in the morning and coming home from work with a hot meal ready for us. However, I've asked around at work and it seems a divided opinion on whether you should go out and leave one on. To be honest, if I can't leave it on while I'm at work, it's not worth doing as it defeats the object of giving me more time in the evenings. I'm out of the house for 11 hours a day (although OH and DDs come and go at different times). Are slow cookers safe to leave on all day?

[Lucyjane45xxx]

We do! Can't remember what brand ours is (it's packed away at the minute) but we prepare the food in the evening, chuck it all into the slow cooker in the morning before work, put it on a low heat with plenty of liquid, and then when we get home it's usually perfectly cooked, if not we just turn the heat up for 20-30 mins after we get in!

Never had a problem with it at all! We are usually gone from 8am-6pm

[LittleMissD]

I go out and leave mine on. I love my slow cooker, especially with a nice chilli cooking in it. It’s nice to come home to on a chilly day too.

[Midges17]

I use mine with a timer switch if I'm to be away longer than the food needs to cook, but yes I leave mine on when I'm at work, that's why I bought one so the tea ready when you come in.

[Colette-S]

They are designed to be left on. I have a crockpot and have two settings which usually take either 4 or 6 hours. They run in very low voltage so are safe to leave

[macadoo]

Yes I go out and leave mine on.

[dippiedawnie]

Yes we leave ours on. 😀

[Universal VR]

Originally Posted by Midges17

I use mine with a timer switch if I'm to be away longer than the food needs to cook, but yes I leave mine on when I'm at work, that's why I bought one so the tea ready when you come in.

See more...

One with a timer would be useful.

[Smilesonfaces]

I leave mine on all day. I thought that was the whole point in having one. Love smelling tea as soon as I walk in. Why don’t you save a bit of time and batch cook some meals too. It will take all day but you could have a couple of weeks meals in the freezer.

[Sandieb]

Yup, one of the nice things about autumn/winter nights, coming home from work to the smell of dinner all ready for you - chillis, casseroles, whole roast chicken (albeit very pale).

We put ours on a trivet so that the doesn't travel through to the worktops thought, as it can get quite hot - or on top of the cooker will do the job too.

And if you have the room, buy as big as you can find afford. You can make stew for 8 with seconds in ours so I tend to freeze half for another day.