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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if you can overcome that slow cooker taste?

116 replies

AStitchInTimeSavesN1ne · 21/02/2026 12:17

When slow cooking goes wrong, there is an identifiable taste to it.. I don’t know how or why it goes wrong.

AIBU to wonder if you can overcome that weird taste it develops?

OP posts:
Pryceosh1987 · 22/02/2026 00:59

I suppose it depends on how much you paid for the food. A cooker is a cooker.

PollyBell · 22/02/2026 00:40

Even when it goes right there is a taste i dont like, i cant put my finger on it but I am not a fan mostly

Sort of metallic i think

BeanQuisine · 22/02/2026 00:38

In my experience, if there's a metallic taste in a slow cooker meal, it's usually due to the other (overcooked) flavours being so bland and muted that you're actually tasting the metal cooker itself, combined with the bitter aftertaste of overcooked herbs, garlic etc.

Slow cooking is often overrated and used inappropriately. High heat is needed at least at the early stage to bring out the best flavour in many meats etc.

And people often just cook things far too long in slow cookers. Ignore anyone who says "it just keeps getting better the longer it's cooked!" It doesn't.

NailsHairNipsHeels · 22/02/2026 00:09

I 100% know that’s why taste you’re talking about and I no longer use my slow cooker because of it. I never did work out what it was but it just distinct taste right. It wasn’t as off flavour or anything bad but not as delicious as the oven cooked version.
I tried various things to rectify it but nothing worked so it went in the bin

dragonfruit8 · 21/02/2026 23:54

Some research suggests that the issue is either caused by low quality ingredients, acidic ingredients, or a damaged inner. Also suggested more expensive models are less likely to have the issue. I can't verify any of this. My models are mid-range prices and I do use high quality ingredients. It's not a problem I've ever had.

HopSpringsEternal · 21/02/2026 23:45

100% there is a taste. I can always tell a slow cooker meal. No matter who has cooked it or the way it has been done

Jemimapuddleduk · 21/02/2026 23:39

I don’t use my slow cooker for this reason.

dragonfruit8 · 21/02/2026 21:44

Watchingthechaseagain · 21/02/2026 21:20

Rarely cook with tomatoes as I don’t like them. I tried the bags and it stopped the taste.

As others taste it too there must be something to it.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes, just curious what causes it. Or if it's something that some people can taste and others don't? I might have to do some researching this later. I'm curious. Interesting to hear the different experiences on this thread.

voidcat · 21/02/2026 21:35

I have a ceramic one and it’s fine but I alter recipes to it
brown everything
No water
double the seasonings

Sourisblanche · 21/02/2026 21:34

There’s definitely a slow cooker tang. I used mine quite a lot when we lived in the USA but never bothered to replace it once we moved back to UK. Don’t miss it.

Thisseasonsdiamante · 21/02/2026 21:27

@AStitchInTimeSavesN1ne I hate that taste too and you get it from an instant pot too. No idea how to get rid of it.

whereisitnow · 21/02/2026 21:25

I think it’s a problem with the sear and stew type. I didn’t have it with my old ceramic one.

Fiftyandme · 21/02/2026 21:25

Watchingthechaseagain · 21/02/2026 20:42

My slow cooker is ceramic.

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Mind us ceramic too. The slow cooker taste (at least I’ve found) turns up in both types of inner pot.

Fiftyandme · 21/02/2026 21:24

Yup. I know the taste you are talking about. I find it’s worse if you do not fry off/caremalise your onions/carrots etc before hand.

I wish I could put my finger on what the taste is (it’s not metallic) but I’ve not been able to over the years. It’s almost but not quite like off onion.

Watchingthechaseagain · 21/02/2026 21:20

dragonfruit8 · 21/02/2026 20:58

And it tastes metallic? That's weird.

Based on discussion here, curious if you make dishes with tomatoes all the time? Just curious about the metallic taste people are experiencing.

I've made things without tomatoes without a metallic taste (like coconut curries). I do understand the limitations of the slow cooker for texture and drier dishes.

Show quote history

Rarely cook with tomatoes as I don’t like them. I tried the bags and it stopped the taste.

As others taste it too there must be something to it.

Kalebstractor · 21/02/2026 21:05

I put a small Le Creuset casserole dish inside our large slow cooker to solve the problem. (Browning onions, veg and meat in it on the hob first).

Ophir · 21/02/2026 20:59

The weird taste is why I ditched the slow cooker

dragonfruit8 · 21/02/2026 20:58

Watchingthechaseagain · 21/02/2026 20:42

My slow cooker is ceramic.

Show quote history

And it tastes metallic? That's weird.

Based on discussion here, curious if you make dishes with tomatoes all the time? Just curious about the metallic taste people are experiencing.

I've made things without tomatoes without a metallic taste (like coconut curries). I do understand the limitations of the slow cooker for texture and drier dishes.

Watchingthechaseagain · 21/02/2026 20:42

dragonfruit8 · 21/02/2026 20:33

Or just get a ceramic one. I don't want to cook my food in plastic and those metal inners are usually non-stick coated, which I don't want my food cooked in either. I'll only use ceramic.

Show quote history

My slow cooker is ceramic.

dragonfruit8 · 21/02/2026 20:40

Barrellturn · 21/02/2026 20:37

It's a metallic taste for me. I use a ceramic pot so it must be that tomatoes don't get their edge taken off them as much or something.

Do you still get that taste if you don't have tomatoes in the meal? Curious.

Pinkladyapplepie · 21/02/2026 20:38

I agree about the taste, sort of a tomato taste even if the recipe has zero tomato. My son mentioned it first, it was a new slow cooker, not metal, and I saw what he meant so regifted it to a church for their curry nights etc.

Barrellturn · 21/02/2026 20:37

It's a metallic taste for me. I use a ceramic pot so it must be that tomatoes don't get their edge taken off them as much or something.

Isthateveryonethen · 21/02/2026 20:36

I think slow cooker meals are just gross. Dumping everything in like some slop. Meat should be properly browned AND seasoned but most people wouldn’t do that. Dumping a can of tomatoes veg and raw meat is just from to me.
Ive eaten just once from someone who cooked a meal like this and exactly as I described. It had such a grim taste probably what you described op.

dragonfruit8 · 21/02/2026 20:33

Watchingthechaseagain · 21/02/2026 20:31

I think it’s a metallic taste. You can avoid this by using the plastic liners. Makes washing up easier too, although not very green.

Or just get a ceramic one. I don't want to cook my food in plastic and those metal inners are usually non-stick coated, which I don't want my food cooked in either. I'll only use ceramic.

Cyclingmummy1 · 21/02/2026 20:33

Don't put raw meat in for meals like chilli.