To have only just realised how awesome slow cookers are

[TraineeBabyCatcher]

I know I am. Very unreasonable, why did no one in my life tell me!
I was bought a slow cooker ages ago, used once or twice for stew.
Now I have a cook book to go along side it. I loves it! So many easy beautiful means.

Am I missing any other major life changing kitchen utensils? like finding a can opening than actually works and doesn't keep breaking

[TraineeBabyCatcher]

Sorry about typos.

[SoleSource]

Yabvvvu your children should be taken into care. I am scusted.

[MagicHouse]

I keep hearing great things about slow cookers! What can you cook in them? Is it all stews and soups??

[TraineeBabyCatcher]

Lol :) I can't believe I'm that bored I've made a post about slow cookers. I have no life!

[steppemum]

well, I have a slow cooker someone gave me sitting on the shelf. I have never used it. That may be because I am not out at work, so can put a casserole in the oven when I like. Or it may be because I don't have a cookbook!

So what cookbook do you have OP and what are you 3 favourite recipes???

[CheerfulYank]

They are amazing, I am totally in love with mine. Bung some stuff in in the morning, ta-da! Lovely smells all day and a piping hot meal in the evening.

[noisytoys]

Very very cheap meat goes in a slow cooker and it is yummy. I might do a beef bits stew tomorrow

[Catkinsthecatinthehat]

name that cook book!

[TraineeBabyCatcher]

Mostly I've been doing a variety of stew type meals, casseroles, pie fillings etc but I have a friend who's been telling me about doing full roast joints in hers.

Stew to me has always been the same old thing that my mum used to cook but my books shown me how easy it is to make completely different meals.

[TraineeBabyCatcher]

It's actually a slimming world one, its got other stuff in the front, but has a slow cooker section and also I've been slow cooking some of the other recipes aswell.
I'll google the name as I can't think of it right now and I'm not at home.

Was lovely today to come home from a long shift to the beautiful smell of red wine casserole.

[SoleSource]

Yes, I remember the slow cooker recipes in tbe SW books. How longdo ypu cook meat for? What quantity? :)

[doorbellringer]

An electric tin opener. Life is so much easier, I hate those manual thumb slicers! Get one now.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Have you missed all the threads about the gammon/sugar slowcooker recipe? 400g soft dark sugar (light has been used successfully) in the bottom of your slowcooker, gammon joint on top, low for 8-10 hours. Yum, but possibly not a Slimming World recipe.

[midori1999]

I gave in and bought one, expecting to hate it a couple of months ago. Some things taste much better cooked out of the slow cooker, maybe partly as browning things before chucking them in seems to make it so much less convenient I never bother, but it makes life so much easier, not least as my toddler often needs my full attention at that time of day as she gets tired and I have one run out of steamy then too, so just having to serve as opposed to cook a meal is brilliant!

In fact, I am going to put some porridge in mine so it's ready in the morning now.

[ripsishere]

I replaced mine last week. So far I've done sliced potatoes and cream (can't remember the name), last night I put the gear for lasagna in it so all I have to do is layer it up later, chicken in red wine (vinegar), moussaka - not a success, rice pudding..............
Can you tell I love it?

[MrsBovary]

Second the gammon, also whole chicken is delicious in the slow cooker.

[PerryCombover]

I bought one on MN love advice
Used it to great excitement
Meat was normal looking but with the taste and texture or crumbling bones
never used again
went to school fair as jumble

[VestaCurry]

They are marvellous and use v little energy - about 12p to use over a 10 hour period.
I'm going to get a second one so I can do more batch cooking of eg bolognese sauce etc.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Slowcookers also turn a chunk of brisket (may have different names in other parts of the country, but it's a cheap beef cut) into a gorgeous "roast" beef. Rub oil all around the slowcooker, so nothing sticks. Roughly chop a carrot or two, and an onion. Place the chunk of cheap beef on the veg, cook on low for about 8 hours; you don't need to add water or anything else. Meat will be fall-apart tender, and the juices make a lovely gravy once seived and Bisto granules added

It's worth noting that slowcookers do their best with cheap cuts of meat, with a fairly high fat content. The fat is slowly rendered, leaving the meat tender. An expensive, low-fat piece of meat will be utterly ruined.

[GilmoursPillow]

There are quite a few recipes online.

Another thing I like to do is make a big batch and divide it into freezer bags. When you're really in a hurry you can just empty the contents of the freezer bag into the slow cooker and cook from frozen, saving the prep time.

Note: don't flatten the freezer bags before you put them in the freezer, the flat, frozen slab won't fit in the slow cooker.

[GilmoursPillow]

Actually, I don't like to do. It's just handy.

[Twinklestarstwinklestars]

The gammon recipe is gorgeous, we used Demerara the first time and we thought it was much nicer than the dark sugar.

[sashh]

MagicHouse

Stews are for amaturs. Roast chicke and roast lamv - if you do them in the slow cooker you will never oven cook them again.

Propper steamed puddings - made with home made suet pastry and steak and kidney are also fab.

Also you do not need to brown the meat, complete waste of time.

[CaliforniaLeaving]

I love my slow cooker too. Makes cheap cuts of meat so tender.
I also make Meat loaf quite regularly in mine, but seeing it comes out rounded, and not loaf shaped Dd calls it meat brain. Still tastes delicious.

[steppemum]

love the meat brain!!

So what is your meat loaf recipe california?
I have never made meatloaf, only eaten it at friend's houses, keep meaning to find a recipe.

The thing is, I do a beef casserole, made with very cheap cuts, in the, oven, you cook it on a low heat for 3-4 hours. It is dead easy, throw it in the dish and stick it in. Make it early in the day and stick it in after lunch, come back at dinner time and it is delicious.
I am a SAHM, so I am usually around, and dh works from home, so I sometimes leave him a note to turn oven on, and then it is done.
Same with chicken cass, stick it in oven when get in from school, ready at dinner time, fall apart delicious.

So why would I need to switch to a slow cooker? I have one that is never used, and I like trying new things, just never quite worked out why it is an advantage?