Quick slow cooker query

[Verbena17]

Hi - I’ve just bought my first slow cooker and I went for a crock pot 5.6l - mainly so I could make larger quantities to freeze.

However, when it arrived, it said you have to fill with liquid no less than 1/2 full (to the specific line or above). However, when I made a sausage casserole, even with loads of veggies and 6 large sausages, there was a ton of liquid to make it go up to the required level.

Is it possible to put less liquid in? Is it dangerous if I don’t?

i would still cover the food but just not have tons of liquid left over.

My slow cooker doesn't have a liquid line, and I don't recall what amount the instructions recommended? I find veg and meat always produces more liquid, and never had an issue. I don't even cover ALL veg etc because I know when I open the lid- the liquid will have doubled anyways. I think as long as there is some to start with, it should be fine.

Ok cool. People make bread in them don’t they? And that is dough, not liquid so I maybe need to do more research 😬

Hmm, I've never made bread in mine. Never knew you could 🤔

I did make a lasagna in the slow cooker once when I was renovating and living in a caravan. TBH though- it didn't save anytime at all! I still had to cook the mince etc in a frypan, layer everything and the only thing it saved was using an oven. The top, however, wasn't crispy or brown like in an oven- so I wouldn't bother with that again. That too wasn't really liquidy, but did work fine.

Mine isn't a crockpot but doesn't have a liquid line. I normally add less liquid as I would if cooking in the oven/hob because water doesn't evaporate as much.
I have also cooked a whole chicken or joints of meat in with just a bit of water to cover the bottom, has always been fine.
Made lasagne once too, it was edible but not the best, but didn't ruin the slow cooker or anything.
My friend makes bread in hers but I've never tried

Ok thanks - so maybe I’ll practice with less liquid….and hope it doesn’t catch on fire! Tbh, it seemed like overkill for the amount of liquid!

I cook lots of things in a slow cooker that don’t have lots (or actually barely have any) liquid. I have a ceramic one and a metal one. I cook a ham with an onion and 100ml of water. Whole chicken with some veg but no liquid. Chicken breasts with no added liquid, just resting on sliced lemon. There is very little liquid lost when cooking in a slow cooker, so can’t see the value in drowning your food. Excess slop just gives slow cookers a bad name.

So I just read the manual again and it says….
”To avoid under or over cooking, always fill the stoneware 1/2 full to Max & conform to the recommended cooking times.”

Things like this always confuse me! 😩

So I just called Crock Pot uk and I’m not really any better off 😂.

He said it’s trial and error.
So I’ll just make sure I test recipes when I’m not going to leave the house!