Slow cooker disasters

[Yumchips]

So everytime I use a slow cooker the meal is a disappointment. I've used two different slow cookers in my life and neither results have been impressive. I've been following some food people on Instagram who have released books etc on slow cooking recipes. All seems very practical and easy with their tried and tested good ideas, seems a win win scenario. I measure and follow the recipes with almost scientific precision. Yet the end result is always a disappointment. Is it just me? I'm giving up slow cooking for life now but I want to know. Am I the problem?

This thread is actually making me sad... I love my slow cooker, the food comes out with so much depth and flavour that anything oven made or pressure cooked now feels very bland. I'm really surprised that so many people think otherwise... and for some bizarre reason it makes me sad 😔

Yes I agree, I always sealed the meat (not my chicken thighs) for meat in 'meals' but it made no difference. Oven cooked is completely different

But my view is they're good for cooking up ingredients rather than meals as such, so my batch cooked chicken thighs, I need them as an ingredient in things, not stand alone. If I want a chicken thigh with bone in and skin on, then I would bake that in the oven.

@BananaPalm I've also been having some big feelings about slow cooking! Haha but from the opposite side of the fence. I wonder if you'd be kind enough to share a recipe that is a great hit for you? Just to satisfy my curiousity I guess. I'd love to know what makes a great slow cooker meal for you!

I put about half a small glass of water to cover the bottom and a small shake of cinnamon on top, and use a wooden spoon to mash it to a smooth puree when done. You can use it for baking too, applesauce cake is really nice.

I might try slow cooking in a real oven in a cast iron pot. I've no doubts about that one really - I'm sure it would be fairly successful

I slow cook in a cast iron casserole dish in the oven and everything works great. I can't get on with slow cookers - no idea why as it seems to be the same thing?!

I love her stuff, the honey garlic chicken in the slow cooker is amazing.

I'm the same OP I did a chicken casserole the other day and it was gross

I guess I just can't be arsed with cooking in general if I'm honest. I was hoping I'd find a magic knack and I could outsource meals to the slow cooker, dump them, walk away and magically come back to a tasty hot meal. So I'm feeling a little upset I haven't found a magic way to cheat a decent dinner.

I used to find everything flavourless but I have recently realised that you need to add a very small amount of water and lots of stock and herbs because it's not going to boil down at all and vegetables will release more water into the sauce. So shin of beef, with about an inch or two of water, two stock cubes, a bit of passata and whichever herbs you fancy. Don't bother frying the meat first. I just make it up as I go along!

Thanks I'm going to try that one!

I think I'm just going to come out and say it now. It's mostly taming twins recipes I've been doing this week. The only one I actually enjoyed was the quick stir fried sticky beef with sesame seeds and that's because it was stir fried and not slow cooked. Back to my original question I guess: I must be the problem! 🤔

I think meat needs searing a bit, not just sealing. A bit of almost burnt really helps the flavour. Also as PP have said, I use about a quarter of the liquid, but the same amount of flavourings such as stock cubes or wine.

I've found some things better than others, I have made some horrible soups, they had an almost musty flavour, especially if they have pulses in.

Steam pudding worked well, but in a basin, standing in water, not straight in the slow cooker.

I got my slow cooker out of the cupboard and my DD looked on in disgust, when I asked what was wrong she replied "nothing good has ever came out of that" and tbf I couldn't disagree

Bramley apple pieces cook very quickly in the microwave - in a pyrex bowl with a plate over it. Takes less than five minutes from frozen. Check after every minute. Add sugar to taste at the end, extra water is never needed.

So this was my experience with a slow cooker as well, just couldn’t get the hang of it at all UNTIL I got the new ninja one, and it is a game changer, it was a sear function so can sear meat in it before putting on to the slow cooker function, this seems to add so much flavour not only from the meat but from the juices and “bits” from searing. Also when finished I tend to put it back onto the sear function for 10 minutes or so to reduce. Honestly it’s amazing between that and my air fryer, I barely use my oven or hob anymore.

Agree with this.

Oh thank god for this post!! I was thinking I was just loosing the plot.

I did speak to a friend who said the trick is to pop a tea towel between the lid and the food and it stops the condensation making the food all watery.

I did a beef stew and it worked!

I think you have to manage your expectations with slow cookers tbh.

My.most successful dish in them is curry made with bone-in skinless chicken thighs, curry paste, half a can of tinned tomatoes and coconut milk. The meat falls off the bones (which you pick out) and goes sort of shredded/pulled.

I've made chillis and bolognaises which have been fine rather than amazing, and my husband makes some good french-style chicken casseroles, but generally the payoff for me is putting it all in at the start of the day and then not having to give it another goddamn thought until teatime, even if it's not my favourite meal 😁

I can live with the fact the meal is a compromise but I've been getting confused by all the people raving the meals are bloody fantastic! That's what has caused my confusion. Expectations have not been managed (from my perspective anyway!)

Best things from a slow cooker:
-Christmas Pudding (original cooking and re-heating on the day)
-Delia Smith's steamed wholemeal treacle pudding
-Mulled wine
-Courgette and parmesan soup

I agree about the 'sameness' and 'slow-cooker flavour' of many meat dishes and am always looking for recipes that have enough interesting ingredients to counter these.

-The honey-garlic chicken one above was one that gave me hope.

-Roasting a chicken - in garlic butter worked well

-Briskett in a very flavoursome tomato sauce worked.

-Chicken and red lentil curry was good too.

I add very little water - even when using slow-cooker recipes.

Bored of lunch Chorizo Orzo Carbonara is honestly amazing in the slow cooker! I fry the chorizo first and add less stock than what the recipe says. 300ml with the chorizo and then an extra 500ml with the orzo and it's so good. I only ever made sausage casserole in the SC before this but it's the best! Try it!

I throw a shoulder of pork in my old ceramic pot one, salt n pepper. (Nothing else) Plonk the lid on and leave on high for 4-5 hours. Pour the juice out (keep once cooled (and remove any solid fats and keep juice as stock) and take the fat off as in the top layer from the pork and pop that in the airfryer to make cracking….yum.
the remaining pork pulls apart beautifully, just add some bbq sauce

You really dont need to add liquid to slow cookers. When I cook my chicken thighs I dont add a thing, chuck them straight from the packet into the pot, cook on low for 4 hours. Loads of liquid in there at the end, which I then pour into a pot to use for 'stock' for lentils or other dishes like that.

I find it's good for things like stews or braising steak - those really are a bung in and leave it to do its work kind of thing. Meat, potatoes (salt, pepper, dried herbs, maybe a spice), random root veg.

TBH I mostly use packet mix sauces with less water than the packet suggests. Then I add bisto granules and a big squirt or spoonful of mustard and it seems to do the job.

If it doesn't taste good the first day, leave to cool overnight and try it the second day.