Using a slo cooker
geecee77
Posts: 149 Member
I've recently bought a slo cooker, but haven't got any recipes, or know the length of time various meats and veg take to cook.
Any recipes or cooking guidelines would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Gill x
Any recipes or cooking guidelines would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Gill x
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Replies
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Slow cookers are great for cooking joints of meat in. You just add a little water (a tablespoon) and put the meat in on low heat for 6-7 hours. The house smells glorious as the meat starts to heat up and cook, and it's ever so tender when you take it out of the cooker, like falling off the bone tender. This is mainly what I use mine for.0
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go to cheep book shops you can pick up recipie books for £1 x0
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There are loads on here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=490232&postcount=9
& http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?p=1332010
I love my SC haven't used it for ages though0 -
We use our slow cooker a lot. Great if you're out at work all day. Just bung some meat & veg in and a very little liquid and set to auto. Switch on as you go out the door in the morning and when you come home in the evening dinner's ready.
Because of the way it cooks, you don't need oil or fat and indeed the liquid from the meat & veggies will multiply into a lovely gravy.
Simples!0 -
i cook veg soups and stew, curry, whole chickens, and i am posh i have 2 slow cookers.. my oldest is massive brill for big family size dishes, the other is a pan that sits on a hot plate. love them both.
rice pudding is very nice in it too.0 -
Thanks for the ideas folks, will be trying then out
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I love mine! I just shove everything into mine, with less liquid than you think (you can always top up!) and leave it be.0
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Mine is in the cupboard somewhere, got to dig it out...
Used it several times when I got it but... now living by myself, it is a normal size, 6 litre thingy so....0 -
...So you make extra and freeze it! :happy: Saves you cooking when in a hurry/cba0
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Yeah... got to dig it out first though
And how on earth do you calculate calories while using a slow cooker? Add everything you chock into it and divide in portions?
By the way, this is very good, each receipe has a full colour photo - great.. hate trying something new when there is no photo of what it supposed to look like
Only £3.59 on Amazon0 -
Yeah, I guess so? Same as if you were cooking a meal for 4. I mainly use mine for soups and casseroles but you can cook a whole host of things in there.0
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I know I know.. give me few days, just digged my stepper out from the sme cupboard only yesterday
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you can work out kcal per serving using recipe section of diary, just add all your ingredients and the number of portions you'really gonna divide it into, I label the recipe in 'my recipes' with the date and write this on the tub for the freezer with a CD pen, then I just add to diary when I eat it. perfect portion control.
I portion it up straight away when it's ready so I'm not tempted to just sneak a bit more!0 -
I've recently started using a slow cooker so I can fit the gym in after work and not worry about cooking before going out again to my evening activities. I live on my own so end up freezing it in individual portion sizes. Only thing I've not worked out yet is how to reheat for best results, as it is cooked using less liquid than normal recipes it is much drier when you defrost it. Any ideas?0
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Are you microwaving it to reheat? If so, just bob a teaspoon or two of water in there with it when you reheat it. Usually works OK for me. I know some people put a shallow cup of water in the microwave with the food to hydrate the air as it were whilst microwaving too.
I just stick to soups and casseroles :laugh:0 -
Hello - I love the slow cooker, so nice when you get in from work and it is waiting for you.
This weekend I made this soup : http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/crockpot-butternut-squash-soup-recipe.html
The picture isn't too good, but it made 6 portions at around 200cals a portion (according to MFP recipe function).
Last week I had a joint of Topside of Beef (from the reduced section of the supermarket, trying to be frugal). I cooked down some onions in a pan, and browned the meat. Added a can of guiness and some stock and let the alcohol burn off on the hob . Then in the slow cooker put turnip, parsnip, carrot, cabbage all around the meat. Again, made about 6 portions and pretty healthy. All the veg already cooked as well as the meat.0 -
Are you microwaving it to reheat? If so, just bob a teaspoon or two of water in there with it when you reheat it. Usually works OK for me. I know some people put a shallow cup of water in the microwave with the food to hydrate the air as it were whilst microwaving too.
Thanks for that
Last night it was a chicken casserole and I reheated it on the hob in a small lidded saucepan. I put a little bit of water in but it made the flavour a bit blander. What do you reckon to putting a tiny bit of chicken stock granules in with the water? Is microwave a better way of reheating frozen slow-cooker meals?0 -
I usually microwave to reheat as I prefer to make sure everything's hotter than the sun right through to the middle :laugh: (and it's quicker and you don't lose as much moisture as you do when heating on the hob)0
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I'm thinking of buying a Slow cooker, so though I would bump this thread.0
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Do it - you can make properly yummy casseroles, roasts etc - and freeze loads for quick meals so you can fit more exercise in, we know how much of a slacker you are with your exercise - haha ;-)0
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That was kind of the plan, to cook bigger quantities and portion up and freeze. Shame I only have a fridge with small freezer section at the top *sigh*. Might invest in a slow cooker from Argos, I found. Breville one for £16 on sale....0
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OK - I am now the proud owner of a 3.5l Breville Slow cooker!
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Wouldn't be without mine! I Have mutton that I picked up from a farmers Market in chorley that I'm going to pop in my slow cooker in the morning for a lamb curry..mutton, onion, tin of toms, bit of stock n plenty of spices...pepper thrown in during the afternoon then hey presto yummy curry. Just what is needed when the weather in horrible outside.
I think most meats work in the slow cooker, you just need a bit of confidence to experiment. Pea n ham soup this week- I'll be cooking the gammon in there first (just bought a joint for 1.39 on the bargain shelf in morrisons, love a bargain meal)0 -
OK - I am now the proud owner of a 3.5l Breville Slow cooker!
Congratulations! lol Mine only cost £20 I think, same size and had it a few years now. I think it's a cookworks one.0 -
OK - I am now the proud owner of a 3.5l Breville Slow cooker!
Haha that was quick Ant !!! It's great to come home from work to the smell of a meal ready cooked!0 -
OK, N00b question:
What happens if I am out from 6:30am - 5pm? That's too long to leave it, right? Assuming I will come home to find the kitchen on fire or something...0 -
I've left mine on day before
There's loads of Q&A here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=271457
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=116983
Also a book of recipes you can download http://www.floodle.net/extra/ebayinfo/slow_cooker.html0 -
OK, cheers - I'll have a look :flowerforyou:0
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What about a timer plug? You could set it to come on say 9 or 10am and it'd be perfect when you get in. Having said that I also leave mine on all day. Apparently only uses the same electricity as a lightbulb so shouldn't go on fire so long as there's liquid in it and the seal is good so it doesn't dry out.0
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On the Q&A thread that was linked above, somebody said you shouldn't use a timer plug - something to do with leaving meat and stuff sitting around in the pot but not cooking (conditions to breed bacteria). Likewise the same poster mentioned that having it cut out before it spoils will mean the pot stays very warm and bacteria could grow. Sounds a bit anal to me but I suppose it might happen. From what I read it seems that people leave them on low heat for 12 or 13 hours quite a lot anyway. I'll have to experiment at the weekend first, so I can monitor the concoction regularly.
I have stewing steak, stock cubes, spuds, a leek, carrots and onions, that I'm going to do in it tomorrow. Don't know if I am meant to be pouring water in with it or not...
Back to Google for recipes!
Oh and the glass lid just sits on top of the pot section on mine - I didn't see any rubber seals or anything?0
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