To tslwo cookers area terrible way to cook stew?

[RessicaJabbit]

Maybe it's just me, but all casseroles I've had are just bleh when done in a slow cooker. Just a bit tasteless and ... Squishy/mushy

Pressure cookers are far better, I've made slow cooker ones before, and it's just not the same. Pressure cooking is definitely tastiest.

Have you had one too many?

I use the slow cooker a lot but whatever I cook comes out tasting the same 😂 but it’s convenient, and vaguely nutritious so idgaf.

I agree re slow cookers, just don't seem to get that depth of flavour I get when using the oven

I’m sure the lid is to blame! My slow cooker meals are tasty but they can end up watery. If I’m at home I keep the lid off which helps.

I find them better when I brown the meat before putting it in the slow cooker.

Reduce the amount of liquid, and use a different set of flavourings.

Slow cookers mainly use steam to cook, so you need quite strong flavourings. Tabasco works well, or HP sauce.

Mine turn out very nice. Are you using slow cooker recipes? How much liquid do you put in? You need less than for other methods.

Everything tastes the same! Its all got that air of tomato paste to it - no matter what you're cooking

I've had dozens over the years cooked by various people.

I agree, my pressure cooker stews are absalutely delicious.

I’ve always been very disappointed with the stews I cook in the slow cooker. It’s great for pulled pork and other things but stews are better done in the oven in my opinion.

Perhaps 😂

Ours was lovely tonight, but meat was browned, and it contained herbs, stout, stock, red wine stock, English mustard, a little bisto to thicken as we like it beefy and a bit of Worcestershire sauce.

I always brown the meat/veg first.
Practically no extra liquid added.

Love pork shoulder steaks with onion, mushrooms and a creamy sauce done in the slow cooker.

I know I use too much liquid but I also think it leeches out the goodness. Probably wrong.

Browning is important (caramelisation = flavour) - when my slow cooker broke I replaced it with an Instant Pot and I haven’t regretted it for a moment as it sautés to brown and I often do pressure cook for a bit then slow cook. Keep the liquid to the bare minimum and go hard on flavourings (seasoning, stock cubes, herbs, spices, wine).

I have a slow cooker and pressure cooker and I use both for stews.
I don't agree that the slow cooker makes poor stew!
My slow cooker has a metal pot which I find much better than ceramic.

Agree. Don’t understand why people bother with slow cookers when pressure cookers are so much better and faster.

Slow cooker stews aren't my favorite.
Never tried a pressure cooker one.

Personally, they need to be stewed or casseroled on the stove /in the oven. They need the higher heat. I guess a pressure cooker gets hotter , so might be ok.

Ime a slow cooker slow cooker isn’t as good as a multi cooker slow cooker. So perhaps the pps it’s all in the lid theory has some weight. I have an instant pot and use both the pressure and slow function- both result in great food.

With a slow cooker, the liquid doesn't evaporate, which strengthens all the flavours. We use less liquid than the recipe says, brown the meat, and use plenty of spices and herbs. We like it for chili, curries and stronger flavoured stuff. Having said that, we did pork steaks in a creamy sauce today, only ate a third, we freeze a third and have the other third tomorrow, but turned into a curry.

I get the best flavour on the hob, the trick is to brown meat and veg which many people skip with slow cooking

Mine is also a pressure cooker and has a sauté function though I still use the hob

You need to brown the meat and fry the veg first and use a lot less liquid. My stews in the slow cooker are great, although I find that curries lose flavour and all taste the same.

I think it depends on what you cook.

I like lamb or chicken thighs in the slow cooker. I cook my ham in there too before glazing it.
I generally cook beef on the hob.
I have a teeny tiny oven, so nothing but one tray fits in it. Its the slow cooker or the hob for stews.

Baked apples come out really well in the slow cooker too.

I'm going to try pulled chicken tomorrow. A filling for chimichangas. Im a bit dubious so I've bought a tin of black beans just in case it's awful.