Talk to me about slow cookers

[cheeseontoast]

I quite fancy the idea of them, but do they destroy the vitamin content of your food compared with normal cooking?

The manufacturers websites all seem to say 'healthier than ready-meals', but that doesn't mean much does it?

And have you got any recommendations for a make/model?

Thanks

I don't imagine they will destroy the vitamin content more, as it will all go back down into the liquid and be eaten won't it? Also, it doesn't need oil so is healthier that way. But I've only just got mine and have only used it once so far, so I may be talking out of my hat.

Ahh, you might be correct there janeite. Am I correct in thinking that they use a longer cooking time, but a lower temperature? Cos I think vits are destroyed by high temp?

That's a good idea about adding veg at the end. If meat is supposed to go very soft and tender, does the same happen with the veg? It doesn't go to mush does it?

The vit content is held within the liquid of the casserole etc so is not lost. When you over boil vegtables you chuck the liquid down the drain when you strain them.

I make a lot of beef casseroles using shin beef, it is cheaper and has lots of flavour (can't get it in sainsbury - the "butcher" there didn't even know what it was?) It is a cut of meat from the cows shin - therefore doesn't have a lot of fat and is more muscle - so long slow cooking brings out the flavour.

I chuck it in with carrots and parsnip cut into large chunks and pour over flour and then a jug of stock and tomato puree and garlic and cook over night. let it cool and reheat again the following day in the slow cooker.

Ivy - could I just ask how you reheat stuff in the slowcooker please? Cheese - sorry for the slight hijack.

Sounds great ivykaty - being able to use cheaper cuts of meat would be an added bonus - it's soooo expensive

Which one do you have? What capacity do I need? Questions, questions.

I literally put it in a container to go in the fridge overnight. Then when I want to re-heat I put back in slow cooker and turn on to low and heat through all day - it must be "bubbling" slightly - you know really hot and a few bubbles round the edge. Which it will be after 8-9 hours.
Then I know its safe to eat. I made one in the oven yesterday, then put it back in the oven today - casserole always taste better when re- heated and we have enough for tommorow so will put in the microwave and heat on high.

The week before christmas I cooked beef casserole on Tuesday night and then eat on the Sunday - it was yummy (kept in fridge all week)

I absolutely loooove mine. Great for stews, lamb shanks (have a great recipe from my parent's restaurant if you're interested), meatballs, all sorts. Veg goes really tender but not mushy.
Don't think brand makes any difference. get a cheapie one -- ASDA had one for a tenner recently I think, or try freecycle or ebay.

I broke my slow cooker so my dad gave me his - it really old and the dish doesn't even lift out, making it a bugg** to clean.

I think its about 3 liters.

I asked in the butchers for shin beef this week and it was £2.50 for a pound - but with parsnip, carrot and I also put in pearl barley (makes it go thick and scrummy) pearl barley is really really cheap 40p for a bag that last about 10 casseroles.

I reckon with a ILB of meat I can bulk out with carrot, parsnip, pearl b and thin sliced potato - all in one meal - and it will give me 12 portions. Which is about £4.00 with the veg, puree and stock and garlic.

In our house thats 4 meals for the three of us. 33p per portion

here are some

shopping.kelkoo.co.uk/ss-slow-cooker.html

I use mine on the days I work as I can walk in the house after work and dinner is served there and then straight on the plate from the crock.

Thanks Ivy. I haven't had pearl barley for years - would be nice in a veggie casserole methinks.

I got a big one for xmas - does anyone have any decent weightw atchers recipes for it? Hubby and me both do WW and it would make life much easier!

Do you brown the meat/chicken before you cook it? I do but some recipes don't mention browning.

I dont brown the meat - literally just chuck it in the pot with the other stuff and put the lid on. It always comes out tasty.

This is a GREAT and cheap low-cal recipe. We have it every week.

If you want to give it to a baby, cook for four hours without ham or salt, take out the baby portion, then season and add ham for another two hours. My 9 month old baby loves it.

It is supposed to be very thick - it's a pea-souper...

SLOW-COOKER PEA AND HAM SOUP

1 litre vegetable stock

1/4 litre of milk

1lb dried split peas

1 large onion

Ilb total of carrots, celery, parsnip or whatever you have around

3 cloves of garlic

bayleaf

salt and pepper

12oz lean ham cubed

Throw it all in the show cooker, cook on medium-high (gentle bubble) stirring occasionally for six hours, liquidise.

Oooh that Pea and Ham soup rec. looks lovely!

I us emine all the time. It's a russell hobbs 3.5 l, cost £15. They also do a bigger one.

I cook lots of stewing steak in it, also chilli con carne (brown onion and mince in pan, add chilli powder, tomatoes etc and shove in slow cooker) and bolognese sauce.

It is also great for keeping things hot - eg. mash potato - just put it on low.

Try the flylady page here for lots of recipes. They are American, but you get the idea. I am guilty of never following a recipe properly anyway. Slow cooking really suits the bung it all in method!

oregonianabroad

Can i have your lamb shank receipe please. TIA.

I use mine 2 or 3 times a week, mainly because i have a toddle running around and i don't like the oven on all day, plus they are also cheaper to run then the oven.

They do take a little while to get used to for example veg take a lot longer to cook then you would think.

NickiSue if make stews i tend to cook oneday let it get cold then take all the fat off then reheat.

cheeseontoast

I have this one www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4207593/Trail/searchtext%3ESLOW+COOKERS.htm

If you get one and have a large freezer i would get the largest one possible as you can then cook in baulk and freeze for those days you don't have time to cook.

I'm doing a veggie sausage casserole in mine right now - smells lovely!

Any recommendations for what to try next? I'm veggie, so something completely veggie, or something that can be served with meat for the others.

Also - does anybody have a really easy but good meat chili recipe for the slowcooker? I'd like to make one for a party but the idea of actually standing and stirring a pan of mince makes me shudder!

Lizziemum,

RICH'S LAMB SHANKS
Dust 4 lamb shanks in flour and brown in 1/4 cup olive oil. Remove from oil and sautee until transparent one large onion, diced. and one tablespoon of chopped garlic. Add a large can of chopped tomatoes, 1&1/2 tsp. thyme, one & 1/2 teaspoon oregano, 2 teaspoons grated ginger. 1/2 teaspoon pepper and salt to taste. Pour mixture over lamb shanks in slow cooker add 1-2 cup of white wine or water and slow cook several hours; the meat is ready when it's sliding off the bone. (Start w/0ne cup of liquid and add more if it seems too concentrated). About a half an hour or so before serving, add 1 jar of drained black olives if desired. I usually serve with couscous, rice or mashed potaotes, or it goes well with polenta.

Janeite,
I own a veggie slowcooker recipe book but have never used any of the recipes. Anything in particular you're after? I'll have a thumb through later and post anything that looks good.
For chilli, I am no expert, but I would imagine you would still need to brown the mince first. Why not do a veggie one anyway? You could use Quorn to give the illusion of mince.

thanks,

I try this tomorrow.

Thankyou! I'll do a veggie chilli anyway but felt I ought to offer meat as well - wouldn't people be offended if they came to a party and everything was veggie?

In terms of veggie recipes, anything that doesn't need any pre-cooking/browning would be brilliant - we like most things except aubergines and courgettes. Is there anything that deviates from the obvious things like bean casserole, veggie casserole, lentil casserole etc as most of these I should be able to just make up I think!

Mmmm. these recipes look good. I love mine for really busy days with activity-filled afternoons. Yesterday, I cut up a bunch of veg (potatoes, carrots, stringless runner beans, mushrooms, onions, shallots and garlic) and bunged it into the slow cooker this morning(I have a big one to feed six of us) with an unrolled tesco beef joint (on sale this week at 2 for £8)where I through the extra basting fat away. I put in a tin of chopped tomatoes, some italian herb seasoning and some red wine and gave it a stir. I can't wait to eat it when DH gets home in about ten minutes. The house smells heavenly.

janeite,
i wouldn't be offended if i went to a veggie's house and there was not meat on; in fact, i would expect that! it doesn't do anyone any harm to go without meat occasionally, and if you used Quorn, they might not even notice! I would feel guilty knowing that you had gone to the trouble fo cooking meat if you were veggie (and i am an omnivore, but we do try to eat meat only occasionally).

anyway, you have pretty much described the chapter headings from the veggie cookbook -- don't think there is much in there that is new, hang on, my toddler is painting himself blue, i'll have another look in a minute and post a link to the book....

Thankyou!