A reader asks: “Will a slow cooker help me to eat healthily on a tight budget?”
Victoria Taylor, Senior Dietitian at the BHF, says:
A slow cooker can help with eating healthily, as this way of cooking doesn’t need much (if any) fat, which can help to lower the calorie content. It also intensifies flavours – which is helpful when cutting down on salt.
You might also find it easier to cook regularly, as you can start your meal in the morning and return to a home-cooked meal in the evening. Having something ready when you’re tired and hungry can help to reduce the temptation of a takeaway or ready meal.
If you don’t usually have time to make breakfast, you can give yourself a head start by making porridge in the slow cooker overnight.
- Looking for new porridge recipes? You could use a slow cooker to test one of these 14 delicious heart-healthy porridge ideas.
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How to use a slow cooker
Many of our favourite dishes – Bolognese sauce, curry, soups or stews – are easy to make in a slow cooker. You can find recipes online but it’s not difficult to make your own with a few changes and you’ll soon get the hang of the cooking times.
You need to add less liquid for slow cooking, since there’s less evaporation than with other cooking methods. As a guide, add about half as much as you normally would.
Remember that vegetables with a higher water content, like peppers, tomatoes, courgettes and cabbage, will release water as they cook. There might be some trial and error at first. If you find that your dish is too watery at the end, you can remove the lid and cook it on high until the dish has reduced to the consistency you want.
Slow cooking can be a good way to use cheaper cuts of meat that taste better after a long cooking time. To keep these cheaper cuts healthier, trim off visible fat before cooking and skim any from the surface before you stir the dish when finished. You can also add beans and lentils to these dishes, so you don’t need to use as much meat.
Healthy slow cooker recipes
With some adjustments (adding less water and cooking for longer), these recipes would work well in a slow cooker:
Is a slow cooker cheap to run?
Slow cookers typically cost less to run than an oven. They won’t necessarily save you money compared with using an induction hob, or even a gas hob. Making exact comparisons is difficult, because there can be lots of variables, such as the type of hob and how you use it.
If you’re thinking of buying a new slow cooker, bear in mind that it may take a long time for you to recoup the cost in lower energy bills. But if it’s going to be a convenient way for you to cook healthy meals from scratch, it may be a good buy.
You can also check your local BHF Home storefor pre-loved slow cookers, which will have been tested to make sure they work properly and are safe to use.
Meet the expert
Victoria Taylor is a registered dietitian with more than 20 years’ experience. Her work for the NHS focused on weight management and community programmes for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. At the BHF she advises on diet and nutrition.
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