By Alice Cottam, fourth year dental student

Many foodies rave on about the pros of using a slow cooker. But are they really worth the hype? Here are four reasons to take the plunge and treat yourself to a slow cooker this winter.

1. Prepares a delicious hot meal with virtually no effort

One of the biggest advantages with a slow cooker is that you do not have to sit a watch it cook. You have the freedom of preparing all your earlier on in the day, leaving it to cook and then you can come home to a wholesome meal all prepared.

2. Best meat on a low budget

Having a slow cooker means that you can buy cheaper cuts of meat. The continuously low heat cooks it beautifully, so it is tender in your mouth, allowing you to fraction the price but not skimp on the quality.

3. Low energy

Slow cookers typically run on the same amount of energy as a light bulb. This dramatically undercuts the price it would cost to make the same dish as it would otherwise do in an oven, an appliance that is known notoriously consuming energy. So it also a way to cut down on this quarter bills.

4. The ultimate winter warmers

Slow cookers excel in preparing stews, curries and soups. These dishes are perfect to warm you through after coming home from a cold, long winters day. Here is a recipe for Hungarian Goulash.

Hungarian Goulash slow cooker recipe:

What you will need:

• 1 white onion
• 1 green pepper
• 1 red pepper
• 500g of passata
• 2 table spoons of paprika
• 400g diced beed/beef shin
• 1 Beef stock pot

Method:

1. Chop up the onion and fry with a small with a small amount of oil in the pan until golden and transfer to the slow cooker
2. Chop up the beef into small pieces, removing any fat, then fry the beef until the outside has browned and transfer to the slow cooker
3. Then dice the pepper and put into the slow cooker
4. Add passata and paprika to the slow cooker and season
5. Make up 500ml of stock with the beef stock pot and add an to the stock pot until the the mixture is a thick liquid
6. Stir the ingredients of the slow cooker until it has thoroughly mixed.
7. Leave to cook for 6 hours, serve with rice.

Featured image: Unsplash/sohel patel

Have your say about this article! Email us or comment below!