on slow cookers - Woman's World tips

[luverlytea]

www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/512246/how-to-use-a-slow-cooker#kKVehKBxbMbRYg6t.99

Here are the tips -
Each slow cooker comes with it own manual, which you should always read before using. Once you are familiar with your machine, using it is fairly straightforward.
Preparation: Slow cookers require very little preparation. You simply chop your meat and vegetables (smaller chunks work best) and preheat the cooker. Some recipes require you to braise the meat beforehand to give the meat a nicer colour, although this is not an essential part of the cooking process.
Loading: Root vegetables take longer to cook so they need to be placed at the bottom of the cooker (items at the bottom cook faster). The meat should then be placed on top, followed by the liquid (most slow cooker recipes require some form to liquid to ensure the food doesn't dry out. Stocks, sauces, broths, wine and simple boiling water are the most commonly used liquids.) You should make sure the slow cooker is at least a third of the way full to avoid overcooking. Dairy products, seafood and quick-cook vegetables are usually only added for the last hour as they tend to break down and separate.
Cooking: Once all the ingredients are in the cooker, you simply set the temperature (low for a longer cooking period, high for shorter) and the timer (you can buy cookers with a built-in timer.) Timings aren't as strict with slow cookers as you can reduce the heat and leave the food to simmer until you are ready to eat. This is handy if you are feeding the kids before your partner as you can leave your portion simmering until the kids are asleep.
Cleaning: One of the best things about one-pot cooking is that there is less washing up! Choose a slow cooker that has a removable pot and once you are done, remove it and fill with hot soapy water. Leave to soak and dry the pot completely before putting away. Never put cold water straight into a slow cooker as it may crack.

Elizabeth Brown, author of Perfect Slow Cooking (rrp £6.99; Random House Books), shares these essential tips for slow cookers
Make sure you always set the temperature correctly. If you are in a rush, you may wish to cook things at a higher temperature. If this is the case, you should be aware that the cooking time on ‘high' is just over half of that on ‘low.'
Make sure the slow cooker is positioned on a sturdy surface. You may wish to place it on a tea towel, which will absorb any liquid which spits or spills out. (It's also best to make sure the cooker is not touching the walls or any other appliances due to the heat it produces.)
Choose dried herbs over fresh, whenever possible. Fresh herbs will go brown and limp in the long, moist cooking process. Whole dried herbs and spices will release their flavour over time.
If you have any leftovers, remove them from the pot, transfer them to a clean container, let them cool slightly and then refrigerate and freeze. Don't allow food to cool in the slow cooker itself, as it retains its heat for a long time and bacteria can build up during the cooling process.
Don't be tempted to lift the lid to check on your cooking. The heat loss will extend your cooking time significantly. Every time you lift the lid, you can expect to add 20 to 30 minutes to your cooking time.

Can you leave a slow cooker unattended while you leave the house?

Elizabeth Brown, author of Perfect Slow Cooking says: ‘Anything that is simmered, braised stewed or slow roasted will work well in a slow cooker, but think beyond obvious candidates: risottos and desserts for example, are easy to make in a slow cooker.'
While your slow cooker will come with a booklet of recipes you can use, you needn't be limited in what you can make. You can easily adapt your favourite recipes for your slow cooker by remembering a few simple details.
The recipes that work best in a slow cooker require some kind of liquid, otherwise the food can dry out quite quickly. It's not just casseroles and stews! Risottos, pasta dishes, roasts and desserts can be cooked in a slow cooker, just remember to reduce the amount of liquid (unless it's rice or soup) to 1/2 as it won't evaporate in the same way. This is especially important if adding alcohol, as the alcohol content will not burn away in the same was as it does in traditional cooking.
Take a look at some of our slow cooking recipes>>
General cooking times Your slow cooker will have guidelines on timings in the manual but The Perfect Slow Cooker sets out this basic rule:
Conventional oven time = slow cooker time
15-30mins = 1-2hrs high/4-6hrs low
35-40mins = 3-4hrs high/6-8hrs low
50mins-3hrs = 4-6hrs high/8-18hrs low

Yes Corygal

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i do, also leave it on overnight and switch off in the morning, as i find that then putting it in the fridge during the day and then reheating in the evening results in better flavours developed

i have beef bourguignon in right now

it is a bit confusing to wake up in the morning to the smell of dinner though!

looks like a really good idea, cooking overnight in the slow cooker and letting flavours develop through the day..

Can you leave a slow cooker unattended while you leave the house?

I once had to go away for a weekend at very short notice. I took the meat out of the slow cooker and wrapped in foil to take with me.

I forgot to switch the sc off.

It was fine on the Monday evening having been on since Thursday morning.

Obviously not recommended.

You can also cook breakfast overnight.