We have launched our Slow Cook, Low Waste competition in partnership with Jewson Partnership Solutions. We invite our customers to share their top tips for reducing food waste to be in with a chance of winning a slow cooker.
Alison Knight, Community Connector for LiveWest, said: “Our slow cooker competition is very easy to enter, why not give it a go, as there are lots to win! Not only are slow cookers a straightforward way to cook, but they also reduce your cooking costs by saving energy.”
Annette Birch, who received a free slow cooker from a slow cooker course that we funded previously has shared with us how having a slow cooker has benefitted her.
Annette said: “I use the slow cooker all the time, it is really easy to cook with. I like cooking chicken, hot pots, soup, and all sorts. I find it cheaper as it uses less energy.
“I have a disability and find it easier as I don’t have to keep picking up and moving a saucepan.”
What are the benefits of a slow cooker?
With a slow cooker you can prepare food the night or morning before and leave it to cook while you’re out so you can come home to a readymade, hassle-free meal.
They also allow you to cook in big quantities so you can easily make dinner for the whole family, batch cook, or save on cooking the next day by having leftovers. You can freeze most meals you cook in your slow cooker, to enjoy them another day.
One pot equals less mess. Putting everything in one pot means you will have less to clean, saving you time doing the washing up!
Slow cookers are also a great way to use up leftover vegetables and the long cooking time makes them great for cooking cheaper cuts of meat that might otherwise go to waste.
Can a slow cooker save me money?
Even though slow cookers need to be left on for several hours, they still use less electricity than an oven does – and may even use less energy than a lightbulb!
The average slow cooker will use 1.3kwh of electricity over eight hours of cooking time. The amount that they cost to run will vary depending on the size of the slow cooker and the temperature of the recipe you need to cook it at, as well as the price you pay per unit for your electricity. However, a slow cooker will likely save you money if used instead of your oven.
A slow cooker is classed as an energy efficient appliance according to USwitch. Energy supplier Utilita say that on average slow cookers cost around 16p a day and £59 annually, compared to a conventional oven which costs around 87p a day and £316 a year, depending on your usage. So slow cookers can save you money on your electricity bill.
How do I win a slow cooker?
To be in with a chance of winning one of the slow cookers we are giving away, simply complete this form, and share your top tip for reducing food waste.
Winners of the competition will receive a slow cooker and will have their tip featured in our new Slow Cook, Low Waste recipe booklet which will be available on our website.
The Slow Cook, Low Waste competition will run from 26 September 2022 until 24 October 2022. The competition is open to LiveWest customers across the South West and winners will be contacted after the closing date.
Please read the terms and conditions before completing the entry form.
What is food waste?
The UK throws away around 9.5 million tonnes of food in a single year – even though 8.4 million people in the UK are in food poverty. Lots of food is still edible after its best before date and could still be used despite it not being as fresh.
According to the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, the average UK household throws away £60 worth of food every month. The most frequently thrown away items are bread, apples, potatoes, poultry and salads.
The food we throw away is sent to landfill, where it breaks down and releases carbon dioxide (CO2) – a planet-warming gas that causes climate change.
A lot of water is needed to produce the food we eat, so when we waste food we are also wasting water, causing even more harm to our planet.
By reducing your food waste, you will be fighting climate change, saving water, and hopefully reducing your energy usage too!
Find out more, or enter our Slow Cook, Low Waste competition now.