Have slow ccookers replaced hay boxes?

[sandyRoe]

Did they perform the same slow cooking function?

[granny grump]

Granddad G says that hayboxes were for transporting food and keeping it warm - not for actually cooking - well in the RN anyway

[didoatwork]

I have heard of hayboxes, but never used them. I have just bought a slow cooker and they cook things very slowly on low heat, but I think not as low heat as a haybox would.

[vallaw]

I have used a haybox in the past - when I was at university in the 1960's and you couldn't hog the one gas ring. My steak and kidney was famous. Slow cookers are more predictable and it's difficult for us urban types to get decent hay (and I don't fancy pet-shop stuff). The principle is the same - you bring the ingredients up to temperature and keep them there.

[Buenchico]

Hayboxes retain the existing heat within a casserole (or similar), which will it allow it to cook slowly:
http://www.instructab...-box-cooker/?ALLSTEPS

Slow cookers provide an external source of low heat.

So they're not the same (but the end product is).

Chris

[JonnyBoy12]

Whilst we are on the subject can anyone here recommend a good electric slow cooker for us all cooks?

[vallaw]

They're all pretty much of a muchness - only the size varies. I was after a really small one as I only cook for me so I found the cheapest I could at Argos - it works like a dream.

[Buenchico]

I also use the Argos cheapo one. It does the job for me:
http://www.argos.co.u...1&searchTerms=9367847

[askyourgran]

That stands to reason grannyg, I've only tried it once (after removing the gerbil) hayboxes were not 100% reliable. My slow cooker is Ok.