Gday all. My partner is pretty keen on getting both a toasted sandwich maker and a slow cooker.
Requirements:
toasted sandwich maker - crispy edges
slow cooker - big enough for 3 people
Noel Leeming seems to have decent prices on both through CSC. Sunbeam Big Fill Toastie 2 Up for $46.44 looks alright.
Any brand or model recommendations? Both for under $200 seems doable.
Thanks.
Heathcotes currently have ex-display stock for $138 + shipping, mine all up cost $144 shipped to Dunedin.
https://www.heathcotes.co.nz/products/rhpc1000-russell-hobbs…
Good reviews. I was going to grab a Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-Cooker CPE200 from Amazon because they have one for $75aud + shipping (around $116nzd total) in their warehouse with "Large cosmetic imperfection(s) on top, front or sides of item" but then I saw the one at Heathcotes that had better overall reviews for not a lot more money so grabbed that instead. Hopefully it arrives quickly so I can have pulled pork sandwiches for the weekend.
We have that same toasted sandwich maker - does what it says on the box; so surprises. And yes it creates crispy edges :D
Re the slow cooker; I have a real low rent one from KMart (https://www.kmart.co.nz/product/5l-slow-cooker/2694802). Does nothing flash, but does the same thing that others far more expensive do - ie cooks low and slow.
I have nothing negative to say about either :)
Used to have a slow cooker, replaced it with a pressure cooker, would never go back.
We use this one - https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/living-co-digital-pressure-… Plenty big enough for 3, we even cook "roasts" in ours.
What are the advantages of a pressure cooker over a slow cooker? 5 minutes of research tells me speed and taste?
Speed certainly - taste will entirely depend on what you are cooking of course.
We have a combined pressure / slow cooker, so you can use whichever makes sense for what you want to cook, without having to have two separate items taking up space.
For something like a pulled-pork for example, a slow cooker will be best (eight to ten hours is ideal, so put it in first thing, and eat in the evening), whereas if you want something cooked quickly, then a pressure cooker is fast - they get the water up to about 115 celcius I believe, so things cook much faster than on the stove top).
What Alan wrote.
Basically a pressure cooker can be a slow cooker (Just put the lid on without pressure and let it simmer), but a slow cooker can't be a pressure cooker.
Taste (texture) and speed for sure, it's also reassuring not having to leave something running all day, when it can produce better results in half an hour.
It seems to more cook "cheap" cuts of meat better too, things like chuck steak in a stew. I recall the slow cooker wasn't bad with such cuts, but it was quite inconsistent.
It can also replace a steamer and a rice cooker.
Just be mindful that the modern electric pressure cookers are much different to the old school ones, I wouldn't recommend getting an old style stovetop one.
Thank you both for your input. Pressure cooker might a goer long-term then. More flexibility.
@Wakrak: Not all pressure cookers can be slow cookers too - if you want a combo, make sure you check what option(s) it has.
Running a pressure cooker without the top on, is not the same as a slow cooker - it would be more akin to putting a pan on the stove on a low setting.
Beef checks are amazing in pressure cooker. A maze ing.
I reccomend the Breville the Big One Toasted Sandwich Maker. Can add heaps of filling if you're into that!
If you want to go for the big boy then Heathcotes have the Big Fill for 4 for $72.
Pricematched at Briscoes you could get it for $64.80.
Not as cheap but twice the capacity!
If you don't have a Sous Vide already, you could look at the Russell Hobbs Master Slow Cooker and Sous Vide. I have seen it as low as $120. I like it because it doesn't take up any more cupboard space than a slow cooker would, so the Sous Vide is kind of a bonus appliance.
Thanks everyone for your input so far. Think I'll wait until the first week of May to get the sandwich press. Might be getting a Mitre10 giftcard and they have quite a few available (will do a pricematch). They all seem pretty similar besides press style, mould size and the amount of sandwiches that can be made at once.
I'll need to do a bit more research when it comes to pressure vs. slow cooker and all the extra gizmos. My partner might know more since she's the chef out of us two.
Mitre10 has a lot of slow cookers and just the one pressure cooker. I don't need to buy from there but definitely an option since I'll have a giftcard.
One thing to double check toasty machine is the sized bread it takes.
Some are smaller which is a pain, and some are too big so it doesn't crimp the sides properly
Try Instant pot. Stainless steel pot, no teflon bs
https://www.harveynorman.co.nz/home-appliances/kitchen-appli…
We have it and its awesome
We got the original silver version of this a few years back for under $100
https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/p/russell-hobbs-express-chef-d…
I've used it for slow cook and pressure cook and does great either way. I've used it to bottle my own sardines in oil as well. :)
The guts I think are the same as the popular instant pot since the melody is the same when you open/close the lid.
And if you need inspiration there are a ton of instant pot videos on youtube, some channels even dedicated to them.