Jamie Oliver HomeCooker from Philips – Review

I made granola in the HomeCooker, very simple, healthy and yum.

Look if Jamie Oliver says an appliance will help in the kitchen, I’m listening.

I’ve had a soft spot for Jamie since he was just a naked young chef. It’s been great to see him develop over the years and I admire his campaigning for real fresh food.

Especially for real in food in British schools. The school dinners of my childhood were SO different from what we pack up for the kids here in Sydney.

Good on Jamie for taking on the huge job of sorting out the Great British School Dinner.

I’m terrible for burning nuts and pine nuts when I try to toast them in the oven. Hey presto, they worked a treat in the HomeCooker.

Anyway, Jamie Oliver has worked with Philips to develop a benchtop appliance which can chop, cook, stir, saute, stirfry, and lots more.

The HomeCooker is a stand-alone device, nothing to do with your usual cooker.

It’s handy for any mum or dad who isn’t an octopus.

Because, let’s face it, we all need at least eight arms when trying to cook dinner and wrangle kids at the same time.

I was sent a HomeCooker to review and have been given one to use as a giveaway on the blog.

Why should I have all the fun? You guys deserve a turn too!

Ingredients all ready for my Pea and Mint Risotto.

HomeCooker – Great Points

It’s a large pan with a heating element which you can set to very exact heats.

There’s a stirring attachment, you can leave the food to cook and stir itself – genius.

There are steaming inserts and a pasta cooking insert.

There’s a timer, so you can leave it to cook meals and switch itself off – fantastic if you tend to forget food and then smell it once it’s burnt.

The food can then be kept warm.

For me, the ability to stir is the best thing about the HomeCooker. I write as someone who has ruined a million risottos and burnt everything from beans to barley.

If you’re distractible (hello children) then it’s so helpful to have a device that can stir and will switch itself off. Which my beloved gas cooktop just can’t.

Philips HomeCooker Chopping Tower

The version I tried has a chopping tower as well which chops, slices, shreds and grates all manner of foods. It’s designed to stand alongside the HomeCooker itself so that the veggies, cheese or whatever can pout straight in.

Read heaps more about the HomeCooker and check out some videos on the Philips website here.

HomeCooker- Any Drawbacks

I was pretty intimidated when I first saw the huge box and began to unpack all the bits and pieces.

In fact, I decided I better give it serious time and I waited until the evening when the twins were in bed and my brain could fully engage.

Luckily, the instructions are very clear, and there’s also a Jamie Oliver HomeCooker recipe book included. I started off following just these recipes until I felt as if I knew what I was doing.

Did I mention that I am not the world’s most confident (or competent) cook? You can register online and get more recipes too. And of course your favourite dishes can be made in the HomeCooker.

The price of the HomeCooker is not to be sneezed at. The HomeCooker with Cutting Tower costs $529.95 and without the Cutting Tower it’s $429.95.

It’s an investment, a workhorse; something that deserves a permanent place out on the kitchen bench top.

Click to see my delicious Simple Pea and Mint Risotto Recipe, cooked in the HomeCooker.

Stand by for the granola recipe, coming soon!

Philips HomeCooker Giveaway

Thank you Philips for letting me share the love with regular readers of Sydney, Kids, Food + Travel.

This is a terrific prize and hopefully the winner will come back and let us know how they get on with the HomeCooker.

To enter, you must be a subscriber to my weekly email updates.

To subscribe click here.

Then simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

Are you a kitchen appliance lover like me?

Like me, do you use them all?

And would you love to try the HomeCooker?

Happy Cooking,

Check out the best of Sydney for school holidays here!