Slow cookers

I like the smell of cooking so it doesn't worry me Natasha. If you look in the food and drink section we've got a discussion going there about slow cookers.

see here

Thanks Brue just had a read through, lots of ideas.

No one mentioning the smell though, the smell coming off ours is not the mouth watering aroma of food roasting in the oven it's something very pungent. 

Maybe something wrong with your cooker, used various ones for years and have never experienced any smell other than what is cooking, similar to the actual cooker but maybe a bit stronger.

Perhaps there is something wrong with the heating element?

Oooh no, that smell doesn't sound right. Our slow cooker just used to smell of what was cooking too, often the small was better than the taste. We did find that it was best for strong flavoured foods like curry and chilli; blander meals we found just used to taste of slow cooker. We got rid of ours when OH retired, as he loves to cookand now has the time to do it, and he never liked the slow cooker anyway.

Only get smell of food cooking on ours, sounds as if you may have a "problem" slow cooker

Electrical insulation overheating/burning perhaps. can you get it checked out at a suitable electrical shop?

Oooh no, that smell doesn't sound right. Our slow cooker just used to smell of what was cooking too, often the small was better than the taste. We did find that it was best for strong flavoured foods like curry and chilli; blander meals we found just used to taste of slow cooker. We got rid of ours when OH retired, as he loves to cookand now has the time to do it, and he never liked the slow cooker anyway.

I agree I think everything I've cooked in it so far has had the same slow cooker taste.  OH not impressed ....oh how I wish I could get him to take an interest in cooking.  Beans on toast is his limit. 

I use three slow cookers (for different things). Does yours have a removable inner?  There might be something stuck between it and the element.  Certainly mine only smell off food - but when girl friend boiled langoustines overnight I thing I would have prefered the plastic insulation smell!

Natasha2, quick question. Do you brown your meat off first. I know in some books it just tells you to put everything in the pot and switch it on, if you brown the meat first it not only speeds up the cooking time but it adds flavour and you get a nice cooked smell like if you do a casserole on the hob or in the oven.

Would agree with others to check it out as it shouldn't have an unpleasant smell, just the nice smell of cooking food. I love using mine, going out then coming home to the kitchen smelling of yummy food.