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Original poster

Oven broken - cooking beef

76 replies

IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 10:45

So my oven is not working properly (of course this close to Christmas!) Can’t afford to buy a new one this side of Christmas. One ring works to do veg. Oven heats enough to keep food warm. I have a slow cooker and 2 air fryers (1 which is 9l 1 drawer and 1 which is 8l 2 drawers) I can get my head round doing the sides - that’s not a problem. We are having turkey and beef meat wise. The beef is the one I am unsure about. Slow cooker or airfryer? What kind of joint? Any other tips? M
Many thanks 🙏🏼

OP posts:
TwinklyRoseTurtle · 19/12/2025 11:30

following as have the same issue 🤣

CJones11 · 19/12/2025 11:32

Beef in slow cooker 100%. Can you get a decent stacked steamer for the veg?

quirkychick · 19/12/2025 11:35

I agree beef in slow cooker. I feel your pain, we had similar one Christmas - we did find someone who replaced the heating element in the oven in time, cheaper than the whole oven, if that helps.

snowibunni · 19/12/2025 11:39

Slow cooker for the beef. You could even do it the day before and reheat with gravy. Won't work if you are having rare beef though!

I'd be more concerned about the turkey unless it's a crown or something and then id pop it in the slow cooker. Or chop it up and air fry it.

Pineapples123 · 19/12/2025 11:40

yeah beef joint in the slow cooker. Smother it in horseradish 👍🏼

Original poster
IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 11:42

TwinklyRoseTurtle · 19/12/2025 11:30

following as have the same issue 🤣

It’s a fucker Isn’t it 😩😂

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 11:43

Have got a stacked steamer.

Having a turkey crown so that go in air fryer.

Beef in the slow cooker - what is the best joint to get?

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 11:45

quirkychick · 19/12/2025 11:35

I agree beef in slow cooker. I feel your pain, we had similar one Christmas - we did find someone who replaced the heating element in the oven in time, cheaper than the whole oven, if that helps.

This is the cheapest oven from 3 years ago when I knealt on the glass hob 3 days before Christmas to clean the kitchen tiles and cracked the glass 🤦🏽‍♀️ thankfully managed to find an electrician on Christmas Eve who came and installed current oven!

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 11:46

Meant to say - thank you for your responses!

OP posts:
quirkychick · 19/12/2025 11:49

I hope you get it sorted - 3 yrs is not very long!

RoseDog · 19/12/2025 11:54

Beef in the slow cooker won’t slice, the best way to try and get slices is cooked the day before, fridge over night then try to slice. The tastiest cut is the cheapest, usually brisket. Beef just falls apart when slow cooked but I find it more tasty than cooked in the oven.

WhyDoesItAlways · 19/12/2025 11:56

Ive done beef in the airfryer on dehydrate. I was skeptical having seen it online but it came out lovely. I like rare though, probably not so good for well done

Original poster
IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 11:57

RoseDog · 19/12/2025 11:54

Beef in the slow cooker won’t slice, the best way to try and get slices is cooked the day before, fridge over night then try to slice. The tastiest cut is the cheapest, usually brisket. Beef just falls apart when slow cooked but I find it more tasty than cooked in the oven.

I don’t mind if I don’t get slices - I just want beef whilst the rest want turkey!

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 11:58

WhyDoesItAlways · 19/12/2025 11:56

Ive done beef in the airfryer on dehydrate. I was skeptical having seen it online but it came out lovely. I like rare though, probably not so good for well done

I like rare to medium rare. So brisket in the airfryer - how long for? Did you put anything in with it?

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 12:01

Also, only needs to feed 2 of us with some loads of leftovers so what size is best? I rarely cook beef - steak only maybe a couple of times a year so very clueless and don’t want it to be dry and tough!

OP posts:
Mrsmessyhairdontcare · 19/12/2025 12:01

Slow cooker all the way, never do my beef any other way. Put it in the night before about 10 or 11pm. Cover it will stock made from 2 oxo cubes and water. And then next day use the oxo stock to make gravy e.g bring to the boil and add gravy granules, makes the best gravy in the world (my kids love it). Turn slow cooker off about 7am next day. Perfect every time.

Original poster
IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 12:05

Mrsmessyhairdontcare · 19/12/2025 12:01

Slow cooker all the way, never do my beef any other way. Put it in the night before about 10 or 11pm. Cover it will stock made from 2 oxo cubes and water. And then next day use the oxo stock to make gravy e.g bring to the boil and add gravy granules, makes the best gravy in the world (my kids love it). Turn slow cooker off about 7am next day. Perfect every time.

Ooh ok. Now tell me like I am stupid 🙈 How much water? Nothing else apart from oxo cubes and water? On high, medium or low? I am guessing low but want to be sure 🙈 What size and joint do you recommend?

OP posts:
FurForksSake · 19/12/2025 12:08

6-8 hours in the slow cooker on low. Lob in wine, beef stock, chopped carrots and onions and some celery, bay leaves and some pepper corns.

Brisket isn’t great roasted for a short length of time, so low and slow is out best bet. If it’s a smaller piece six hours should be plenty. You don’t want it to be dry.

Get a 1.5kg brisket, 6-8 hours. Enough liquid to cover.

Original poster
IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 12:12

You are all bloody stars! Thank you so much 😀

OP posts:
SweetBaklava · 19/12/2025 12:17

Mix a beef stock cube and red wine stock pot with about 200ml of boiling water and add to the slow cooker with the meat for lovely gravy!

VicountBiscuit · 19/12/2025 12:27

OP - if you have a spare parts place near you, and it's an electric oven, get yourself down there and get a new element - will cost you around £20 - £30. You do not need a fitter, they are SO EASY to fit yourself, I've done it a few times now and there are some great YouTube videos for this.

Original poster
IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 12:36

VicountBiscuit · 19/12/2025 12:27

OP - if you have a spare parts place near you, and it's an electric oven, get yourself down there and get a new element - will cost you around £20 - £30. You do not need a fitter, they are SO EASY to fit yourself, I've done it a few times now and there are some great YouTube videos for this.

Thank you - I will look into doing that!

The oven doesn’t get hot - just warm.

3 of the 4 rings don’t work and trip the electrics if we accidentally turn one on. It started with just 2 rings but as of yesterday the third ring went. Does that sound like a heating element issue?

OP posts:
VicountBiscuit · 19/12/2025 12:51

@IAmKerplunk the oven is almost certainly an element issue. Anything that requires an element that is repeatedly heating up and cooling down will eventually wear out. Ditto tumble dryers, etc.

In terms of the hob, I'm afraid I can't help - we have gas rings not electric. That said, if the hobs are causing the circuit to trip you'll need a proper electrician to come and take a look.

WhyDoesItAlways · 19/12/2025 12:51

IAmKerplunk · 19/12/2025 11:58

I like rare to medium rare. So brisket in the airfryer - how long for? Did you put anything in with it?

Edited
Show quote history

I did 5 hours i think followed by a blast on max crisp for 10 minutes and an hour resting under foil and teatowels. It was a sirloin, not a brisket though. Brisket tends to be tougher so I would agree with others about slow cooker for that.

Nincompoo · 19/12/2025 12:59

Depends how you want your beef cooked - if you want pulled beef then the SC, if you want beef you can slice the AF.

I’d prefer sliced beef with a Christmas
dinner but we’re all different.