Making home cooking simple since 1971.
In America in 1970, someone came up with a clever idea to cook beans: a glazed brown crock liner was encased in a white steel pot and topped with an aluminium lid to make a simple bean cooker. A little redesigning and in January 1971 the Crock-Pot slow cooker hit the American shelves, revolutionizing the way Americans cooked for their families.
In 2003 the Crock-Pot hit the UK market.
Did you know that? I didn’t know that until recently, when Crock-Pot contacted me. Until then I thought Crock-Pot was the US name for slow cooker, I had no idea it was the original electronic slow cooker and that the brand name was synonymous with the product, much like Hoover (I call our Morphy Richards vacuum a hoover even though it isn’t).
Slow cooking has many advantages: it can be healthy, convenient, cost-effective and more economical, using only a fraction of the electricity a traditional cooker does. It’s particularly good for turning cheaper cuts of meat into tender, mouthwatering dishes, and it’s ideal for busy families and working parents. Ingredients get chopped and dropped into the pot and away you go, only to return at the end of a working day with a steaming hot meal all ready for you to devour.
This particular model that I was sent to try out, the 4.7 litre count down model, has three settings: high heat, low heat and keep warm. It has a count down timer which lets you know exactly when dinner will be ready, but if you are late it automatically switches to the keep warm setting. It’s a medium sized round bowl which will feed a family of five, and with its stylish piano black finish it looks rather swish on the kitchen counter top. The cord detaches for easy storage and both the bowl and lid are dishwasher safe for easy clean up.
Retailing at £50 it can be purchased through many high street retailers including Argos, John Lewis and Tesco or online at Amazon and Lakeland.
Also in my Crock-Pot parcel was this adorable little Crock-Pot Food Warmer. Designed for desktop dining this miniature food warmer has a 600 ml bowl, heartily serving one for lunch. Pre-cooked leftovers get placed in the bowl which has a secure travel lid, and the bowl fits snugly in the pot with a lid and carry handle.
It takes 2-3 hours to reheat your leftovers and they’re just as good as when they first came out of the slow cooker! Piping hot soup or stew for lunch!
This handy little food warmer retails at £25.
So, after all of this, what did I think of it? I was late in discovering the wonderful world of slow cookers. I bought one two, maybe three years ago, mostly to cook roasts as my oven is terrible and I was fed up with dried up chewy roasts. The one I bought was larger than this Crock-Pot model, and oval in size, and fit a good sized beef roast, lamb leg or whole chicken quite comfortably with plenty of veg, but I honestly prefer this smaller sized circular one instead, especially with its detachable cord (making for easier storage) and smaller size. It’s not as cumbersome on the counter top either.
To test out the Crock-Pot I developed a recipe featuring plenty of local (to me) produce: a Shetland beef and ale slow cooker pie (click here for the recipe). Oh my goodness gracious me it was good! Slow cooking retains the natural flavours of the ingredients and lends itself really well to making stews and the like. I made enough for serve four, enough for my husband and I for two meals. The first night we had the pie and the second night we reheated the leftovers in the food warmer with great success. I can see I will using both of these products frequently in my kitchen!
For inspiration and recipes you can find Crock-Pot UK over on Facebook.
Crock-Pot has coined October #Crocktober – a month dedicated to all things slow cooked, and they have offered one of my readers the chance to win both a Crock-Pot 4.7 litre count down slow cooker and a Crock-Pot Food Warmer, worth £75!
HOW TO ENTER
For your chance to one Crock-Pot 4.7 litre count down slow cooker and one Crock-Pot Food Warmer, both pictured above RRP £75 enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Come back and tweet about the giveaway every day for more chances to win!
TERMS & CONDITIONS
This giveaway is open to UK entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 7 days of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.
The prize is offered and provided by Crock-Pot. The prize is one Crock-Pot 4.7 litre count down slow cooker and one Crock-Pot Food Warmer, both pictured above RRP £75. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winner at random from all the entries received. I will be verifying entries and any automated entries or those who have claimed they have made the mandatory blog post comment and really haven’t will be disqualified. It’s mandatory!
Closing date is midnight on Monday 24 November 2014 (GMT) and the winner will be announced that day.
If you want to be kept up to date on my recipes, occasional craft tutorials, adventure stories and giveaways then please subscribe to my weekly newsletter; it gets sent out every Monday morning if there is new content. Your email address won’t be passed on to anyone, you will never be spammed and you are free to unsubscribe at any time, no questions asked. Make sure you confirm your subscription or you won’t receive the newsletter – if it hasn’t arrived check your junk mail folder.
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Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary was sent a complimentary Crock-Pot and Food Warmer for review. All opinions expressed are our own. This is not a paid post.
Sausage casserole
I would do chicken and chirizo paella! mmm
Beef Stew and Dumplings
A beef casserole
goulash mmmm
I’d make my chicken and spinach passata
I would cook pulled pork. It is my husbands favourite
chicken curry
soups, rice, sausage casserole, lamb shanks…
Beef casserole
Id do a chicken curry as it would be so tender cooked in this with the flavours enriching the meet due ti the ling cooking process!! Hmm yummy x
a beef and ale stew would be my first make.
Beef Goulash
I have friends who tell me they make cakes in slow cookers. Would love to see if i could pull it off! 🙂
I’d use it to make some vegetarian stews!
Beef stew
Butternut Squash soup
beef stew
A yummy, healthy veggie curry.
Pork in coke
Slow cooked vietnamese pork belly – it’s the best!
Beef stew 🙂
A big veggie curry
I love bean-based dishes which lend themselves really well to slow cooking. I’d cook bean stews, chilli etc 🙂 x
Homemade chunky veg soup.
Warming winter soups
A lovely beef stew!
Beef stew
Pork and apple cobbler 🙂
Goulash
Beeef stew and dumplings
A lovely warming Dhal
Beef stew and dumplings
A winter warming slow cooked lamb casserole
Chicken casserole
A lovely beef stew with dumplings
Youvetsi
hello there i would cook bbq pulled pork ! yumm
Beef stew with vegetables
cow face and bum stew (ox cheek and tail)
broth and dumplings, I’m pretty useless at cooking
stew!
A nice chicken curry
Beef stroganoff yummmy
I’d cook a beef curry with chick peas
Lamb shanks with red wine
Roast chicken
stew x
Pulled Pork
Chilli Bean stew
Chilli
A beef and ale pie mix
Stews, casseroles, slow roasts, curries…..the list goes on!
Sausage casserole
Casserole 🙂
A lovely beef stew
beef stew
lamb stew and dumplings, yummy!
Thai beef curry
I would love to make a traditional warming lancashire hot pot which is stewing beef with winter veg and potatoes in a thick gravy I think the meat would be so lovely and soft . You serve it with a lovely Crust and red cabbage
Lots of different casseroles
stew
Vegetable hotpot
lamb curry
Id cook beef stew and dumplings
Chicken Casserole with picked onion, carrots
beef stew and fluffy dumplings
Mixed game stew!!!
@smeethsaysfashn on twitter
fudge!
minty lamb casserole
Beef casserole
corned beef stew
My mum’s beef casserole and dumplings – I never have time after work!
A casserole
Chilli x
Veggie stew with dumplings
I would make a curry
Goulash x
anything I can get away with!
Beef stew and dumplings and an all day slow cook chilli
beef stew and dumplings, our family favourite!
A nice warming beef goulash with plenty of paprika
Beef stew 🙂
Pulled pork ~ yummy.
A beef stew
Beef stew
Malaysian chicken curry
Stew and Dumplings 🙂 x
chilli con carne
Sticky spare ribs yummy
Stew and dumplings
a beef and tomatoe stew
lamb stew
Chicken casserole
Tomato, vegetable and bean cassoulet
Leg of lamb with red wine, garlic and rosemary.
At this time of year it would be comfort foods,casseroles a nd hearty stews,it also looks good and it would look great in my kitchen xx
a hearty stew
CHICKEN CASEROLE ITS OUR FAVOURITE AND WE PUT IN ALL OUR LAST BITS AND PIECES OF VEG
A beef stew with dumplings
Brisket of beef in ale.
A really good Beef Bourguignon for the enjoyment of the whole family!
Beef stew and dumplings
Meat Curry
I would make overnight porridge for hubby all through the winter, so I know he would be going out to work warmed from the inside!
chilli with sweet potatoe
pulled pork.. well the missus would do the cooking.
Beef casserole would be lovely and tender in a slow cooker I’d imagine!
Veggie Chilli
great for have the dinner ready comeing from work
a love beef stew
A warming beef stew!
I would have a nice stew, or something with pastry in
A lovely thick beef stew and dumplings
I would use it to slow cook my Christmas ham in Cherry coke. Yum
I would use it to slow cook my Christmas ham in Cherry Coke. Yum
Pork and bean cassoulet
Chicken Curry
A chicken casserole
Beef stew.
Slow-Cooker Lasagne
Beef stew
beef stew
A hot and spicy chilli con carne
I’d do a Lamb curry, cause curry always taste bettr the longer it’s cooked
sausage casserole my fave!
A pulse and vegetable stew- rich and herby.
beef stew
Lamb stew and rice
I would cook beef stew.The meat just falls apart when it is done in a slow cooker
I would cook beef stew & dumplings
I would cook a lamb and veg stew
Beef stew
I would make a delicious beef stew.
a nice juicy gammon
A chunky winter warming beef casserole
Pork, onions and mushrooms cooked in cider
Stews, curries, soups
beef stew
Cassoulet yum x
Goulash to start with but I’ve got lots of things I would like to try.
sausage casserole
Vegetable stew
With extra cream
A crunch and a bite
a sheer delight
pea and ham soup
A chunky veggie stew
bbq pulled pork!
Chocolate and Aero Mint bubbles cake. I tried it in my own slow cooker, and it was ok, but I think it would come out better in a crockpot. I like the Shetland ale in the picture, as that’s where I Live 🙂
I would cook a lovely lamb stew
Chicken and paneer curry
Desktop crock is a fantastic idea! Working where I do this would be amazing. Og to the net to check it out. Thanks
sausage and bean casserole
lancashire hotpot
I’d cook a hearty stew.
Beef stew.
I’d cook beef curry,
I’d cook a joint of beef
beef stew and leek dumplings, mmmmm
stew
Lamb curry!
A traditional bolognese and BBQ pulled chicken!
Lots of yummy casseroles 🙂
chilli con carne
Beef stew
Everything – beef bourginon, soups and stews and i would love to try a pudding or two!
A chunky sausage casserole
Lamb shank
Pulled pork (Slimming world recipe)
Pulled pork
A nice beef stew
spag bol 🙂
Chicken casserole
Stew and dumplings! Was always my nans favourite!
a beef casserole mmmmmmm
Stewing steak from butchers
Chicken and Chorizo stew!
Pulled pork 🙂
A nice hearty stew
a good old fashioned hearty stew… yum xxx
I use my old slow cooker all the time – I would love a new one. Anyone tried a full English breakfast cooked overnight? It’s delicious, easy and so nice to wake up to!
I’d make a chilli, perfect for the colder evenings now.
a nice soup x
The food looks so yummy
Veggie stew!
potoato ash x
Braised Ox Cheek in a red wine sauce.
pork stew with paprika
chicken stew with dumplings
Seafood stew with smoked paprika 🙂
sausage surprise
IRISH STEW
I would have to cook a Beef Stew, with Dumplings, yummy! 🙂
Bolognaise
Thai, Indian, Malaysian, Indonesian, Vietnamese and of cause Great British food.
what wouldnt i cook? that pie looks nice though!
our Sunday roast; ham joints
A chunky lamb stew
A nice big pot of beef stew. And a big beef joint slowly cooked. Delicious! Would love one of these!
Pulled pork.
A beef stew 🙂
Oh, I hope I win lol.
Everything from stew to cakes
I have a number of things I’d normally cook, but that beef and ale pie looks incredible so I think I’d have to give that a go first.
I’d make a lamb stew!
lamb stew
A nice lovely stew 🙂
Chorizo Stew
Id have to cook a lasagna i think. Its the kids favourite!
My mums Chunky Chicken Casserole
Chicken casserole and dumplings x
Chicken stew!
I’d make a steak and ale stew
Beef stew and dumplings!
Corned Beef stew yummmmmmy
Good old-fashioned beef stew, can’t beat it 🙂
Beef Bourguignon is the first thing I would make, followed byChicken stew.
Anything and everything!
A nice wintry beef stew.
Country Chicken & veg casserole
chicken and cider stew with dumplings
Stew and dumplings.
a spicy beef stew
A huge pot of chilli! YUM
porridge to make a good morning start
i would have to try to learn to make lovely casserols and stews for the winter
A lovely rich beef casserolle
A lovely hearty stew!
brisket of beef and vegetables
overnight porridge
chicken stew
Pulled Pork <3 Maybe in a BBQ SAUCE
Asian Beetroot Stew – I just discovered the recipe a few weeks ago and it really is delicious.
Favourite meal to cook in a slow cooker is BBQ Pork and Pineapple.
A lovely vegetable stew with dumplings, perfect for this chilly weather!
Love a nice hot chicken stew on the autumn
A sort of casserole stew type thing with vegetables and vegetarian sausages.
beef curry
Stew would be delish!
Slow cooked pork
Slow cooked Pork.
Heard these can help make some great family meals.
i’m starting to learn to cook at 31!! And heard these can help make some great family meals.
I always use my slow cooker to make corned beef and potato hot pot
braised steak & carrots for my lovely homemade steak pie filling
Curry! And I’d leave it cooking for at least a day to let those flavours infuse too.
A nice warming winter stew with dumplings.
Lancashire HotPot
I would cook a chicken casserole
STEW LOADS OF STEW
Winter Vegetable Stew x
Slow cooked beef in red wine
A nice hearth stew and dumplings mmm
I would make a sausage casserole
Lamb tagine
Shoulder of lamb
Shepherd’s pie! 🙂 and some really tough pieces of meat because they would come out all beautiful and tender!
Sausage and bacon casserole
a nice rich sausage casserole….yum yum
A nice beef stew with dumplings
Lamb stew and dumplings 🙂
beaf stew.
beef rendang – a nice treat after a long day at work!
I would make beef goulash to start with. Yummy.
corned beef hash
I would make Gratinee of Eggs Basque
Bread
there are many but a vegetable hotpot is nice done in a crock pot
a really nice sausage casserole or chunky veggie stew with dumplings
A Beef stew,Cheap cuts of beef taste more tender if cooked long & slow.
Beef casserole
I would slow cook, sausage and bean casserole, an absolute must in my household 🙂
I use my current slow cooker to cook a sausage dish with tomato sauce & hidden veggies that goes well with potatoes or even pasta, so guess it would be that 🙂
i would make an oxtail stew which would be delicious and falling of the bone cooked in this crock pot
A delicious chicken stew! 🙂
Venison stew with mushrooms, red wine & parsnips in it
Chicken Casserole x
A nice winter stew
sweet & sourer
A delicious vegetable stew!
Lamb Stew with Dumplings
Burgundy Beef
Beef stew
Beef Stew and dumplings of course!!
lamb casserole and beef stew 🙂
veg stew and dumplings
Paprika chicken probably.
beef stew mmmm
A nice sausage casserole x
I would cook lamb stew
It would have to be a thick and scrumptious beef stew and dumplings mmmm mmmm mmmm
Chicken casserole
I would cook Scouse!!
Spiced lamb, tomato and chickpea stew its amazing
I would make braised beef
A beef and ale stew
I would love to have a crock pot for making chili!
Your Morrocan inspired slow roast lamb recipe would be lovely on a dark winter evening. If only I had a slow cooker to try it in….!
I would love to try a nice warming stew 🙂
chicken cacciatore
A hearty beef stew and dumplins 🙂
Beef stew
lovely yummy soups
A lovely casserole
A sweet n sour pork stew
I love slow cooking! Whole chicken, jambalaya, curry, stew, casseroles, hot pot, rice pudding, cakes, bread! They are amazing 🙂
The first thing I’d cook is my family’s favourite- beef in guiness stew! 🙂
A hearty beef stew with dumplings
I love to cook a whole chicken in my crockpot
beef stew with dumplings
I’d cook a curry. I find the flavours get good and strong after a day in the crock pot! Yum!
A beef stew – great for winter!
My partner cooks the best chilli
A yummy beef stew
Lamb Shanks, our families favourite!!
I’d try your pie recipe, and then my all time fav casserole -Lancashire Hotpot
bbq slow cooked chicken
chicken stew
Pork and chilli bean hotpot
a nice piece of gammon
beef and lamb stews
I would prepare my beef and ale for a pie in it first.
A rich beef stew
beef stew
Coq au vin x
Pulled pork…or chicken stew and dumplings 🙂
A nicely warming beef stew with potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and lots of garlic 🙂
Beef casserole…nom nom 🙂
A lovely lamb stew 🙂
chicken and mushroom casserole
a gorgeous spicy curry
chicken stew
chicken casserole
Some lovely risotto and stew with all the pumpkins I’ve got in my allotment.
I would make roast chicken.
chilli
Slow cooked steak in ale with carrots and mushrooms! I like to finish it off in the oven with a puff party topping. It might not be the most original but it is COMFORT FOOD AT IT’S BEST!
I would make pulled pork, it will melt in my mouth… nomnomnom.
Lamb stew with butterbeans
A beef stew.
a Jersey Bean Crock
Beef bourguignon
Chicken & Chorizo stew xx
Crockpot bread
A lovely warming spicy lentil stew, vegetarian but flavourful.
Beef casserole with lots of root veg and herby dumplings
Beef and ale casserole 🙂
stew and dumplings
A beef stew. Yum!
Sausage Casserole!
A lovely warming Beef Bourguignon, I think – perfect for cold days!
stew
I’d make white chili and spaghetti sauce – thank you.
irish stew
Gammon in cococola
A lovely stew!
Hot pot
corn beef hash =)
Rabbit Stew
Lamb stew and dumplings
Chicken casserole
I would cook a delicious Boeuf Bourguignon!!
ooh La La!!
I call it mummy’s jumble. It usually consists of baked beans, chopped tomatoes, stock, vegetables and either meat or pasta. Whatever variation I do the children always say it’s their favourite. Empty plates = happy mummy.
Stews and casseroles to start off with before trying out new recipes and ideas
Beef and ale stew.
A beef chilli.
Gammon Joint is good – melts in the mouth when cooked in slow cooker
I would like to try the Crème Brulee
I’d cook a lamb casserole with rich garlic and rosemary gravy and herby dumplings!
Curries and stews
Pulled pork
Sausage and bean casserole!
Chicken Chasseuse
Sausage casserole slow cooked in cider, my OH’s favourite – makes the house smell wonderful too!
Chicken stew and dumplings
Some sort of soup…yup, that’s as specific as I can get.
A vegetable stew
A beef stew and dumplings
Sausage casserole!
curry and chili con carne!
Beef Goulash
A spicy chilli con carne….mmm!
Pulled pork!
Beef Stew
Vegan stew
Beef in beer
lamb hotpot
Gammon
I would cook a nice beef stew
it has to be a stew
a tasty lamb stew
Beef Chilli
Pot Roasted Beef
Corned beef hotpot
chicken stew
Your Shetland beef and ale slow cooker pie – It looks amazing 🙂
Lots of lovely stews
Belly of Pork
Boeuf bourguignon 🙂
Chicken Casserole!
Beef Casserole
Beef and Ale stew
A lovely pork casserole
Chicken cacciatore
Chilli Con Carne
A Veggie Casserole
Morroccan lamb stew
A lovely chicken curry
I would love to own these items please. So many different things, I could cook in it, stews, pulled pork, to name a few. Thank you
Chicken casserole.
Lots of different curries
Beef Stew
Good old beef stew with dumplings.
Beef stew and dumplings. Mmmmmmmmm. Xx
A slow-cooked lamb curry.
Corned beef hash Lovley with Pickled beetroot & Red cabbage!!
Beef casserole
beef stew with homemade dumplings xx
A nice chili con carne
chilli con carne
I would cook a lovely Stew or curry
Guinness stew and cheesy dumplings 🙂
I’d love to give the crock pot chocolate cake a go
Beef stew <3
lovely warming winter stew
Probably a beef stew or a casserole
Lancashire hot pot
Casserole and dumplings
Lamb stew
A slow cooked beef stew, perfect for this time of year xx
Lemon roast chicken
Beef Stew
I would cook a Beef casserole with dumplings
Beef mushrooms in gravy with dumpling topping
A slow cooked chilli – plenty of spice
I’d start with a lamb hotpot
I love Chilli so it would have to be that!
slow cooked veg and lentil soup
Lamb stew and dumplings 🙂
Slow cooked spaghetti Bolognaise
Pulled pork and jacker spuds. Yum
Hot Pot-delicious!
Goulash would be my favourite
Lamb stew
Slow cooked lamb curry.
a chicken casserole
Braised steak and vegetable casserole – nothing beats taste and the kitchen as a wonderful aroma . thanks x
Beef chilli
A hearty Beef & Ale stew.
I’ve always wanted to try a crock-pot cake!
I would cook Lamb Tagine
irish stew 🙂
I would cook a nice big chilli
Hearty winter stew
Beef casserole x
A steamed sponge pudding with blackcurrant jam
Sweet potato and chickpea curry 🙂
Gumbo! 🙂
Beef Stew & Dumplins
beef stew with massive dumplings
veggie chilli
Beef casserole with lots of delicious winter vegetables or maybe I’d give venison a go!!!
A chilli con carne, great for a cool autumn evening
Pulled pork! I have had it once from a slow cooker at a friends house and it was amazing!
Vegetable Tagine
beef stew
sausage casserole
a nice hot chilli
Beef stew and dumplings
lamb casserole
A lovely steak casserole
Lamb casserole
lamb stew
FIrst thing would be veg stew and dumplings, and then maybe a mushroom stroganoff!
Beef stroganoff
Would love to make my grandmas mince stew! <3
Rice pudding
A whole chicken on a bed of potatoes and veg, the chicken just falls apart it is gorgeous.
Stew – perfect for winter!
beef stew and dumplings just right for a cold day
A chunky stew with dumplings, real comfort food the while family can enjoy! xx
A hearty spicy lamb tangine
A lovely, chunky, beef stew complete with vegetables and dumplings! Mmm 🙂
would be a fab chicken curry – delicious x
A lovely and tasty veggie stew 😉
Chilli…a firm favourite in this house
lamb stew
Pulled Pork 🙂
Chicken Balti
Beef stew and dumplings
A spicy tagine.
Beef stew!
sausage caserole
A lovely lamb stew
A nice stew
Beef Stew
PULLED PORK
Chilli is my fav but might try making steak pie filling today
First thing I would try is to cook a joint in one, I’ve heard so many awesome results with cooking joints would love to give it a go.
Chicken casserole.x
red wine beef stew
Beef stew and dumplings. x
Courgette, sun dried tomato risotto very yummy and a firm favourite with my daughters
Sausage casserole
Beef stew
Stew and Dumplings
I love brisket done in the crockpot…makes a lovely gravy.
Beef Stew