Slow cooker advice-night before or morning?

[rollonthesummer]

People keep recommending slow cookers to me as a time saver when working. I leave for work at 7.15 and do t have time then to think about putting meat/veg in a slow cooker. I do have time in the evenings though. If I put a joint of gammon with some chopped veg on (with what-a bit of water? Enough to completely cover it or no water or just an inch?!) at 10pm on low-what would it be like at 6pm the next day!!? Is it ok to leave in an empty house all day?

[bombayflambe]

Put everything into the pot the night before. Put the pot in the fridge.
Just before you leave put the pot into the cooker and turn on the low. it will take less than 30 secs. A cm of water is enough.
If you left it 20 hours it would be horrid.

[rollonthesummer]

Ah-does the pot come out of the slow cooker? That's useful to know. Would you use a cm of water with most meat? No need to brown it first?

Thank you!!

[bombayflambe]

I wouldn't brown gammon but I would brown beef if I were making a casserole to add flavour.

[bombayflambe]

I don't do this every day as I find the textures aren't great but it is fantastic for nights when the offspring have extra activities and we're charging about: whoneedsacape.com/2012/11/crockpot-freezer-cooking/ You just take the bag out of the freezer to defrost overnight, put it in the slow cooker next morning, come home to a family meal.

[FellOutOfBed2wice]

Just make the meals up the night before or even at the weekend and put either in the pot or a big plastic bag. Then just stick the pot in the cooker or empty the bag into the pot in the morning. It's especially good for things like chilli and bolognese.

[rollonthesummer]

I hadn't really thought of bolognese.

I tend to do mince (beef or quorn) with a Loyd Grossman Tomato and basil sauce and cook on the job for 20 minutes-would I do the same-use a whole jar or sauce-but leave it on low all day? It doesn't go mulchy, does it?

[Wolfiefan]

Google dump bags. Horrid name! Prep and freeze stuff in bags ready to defrost and dump in in the morning.

[Stellabystarlight]

Yes the 'pot' on mine is basically just a casserole dish that sits in the cooker part and comes out to wash so you could easily fill it, cover and place in fridge.