Slow cooker timings

[stclair]

what is the longest you would leave, eg a stew cooking for in the slow cooker? Most seem to say 6-7 hours on low whereas mine would need to be more like 9. I don’t want to burn down the house.

I am not sure if my slow cooker is just especially "slow" but I leave meat stews/casseroles for 9-10 hours by preference. I find that the flavours are better and the sauce/gravy is richer and more flavoursome.

Might not be as true if you're using it for vegetables etc.

If you are very worried and/or don't like the way they come out after 9 hours, buy a timer for the plug. It certainly won't do your food any harm to be in the slow cooker for 8 hours and then left there while it cools down for 1-2 hours.

A timer for the plug! Now I hadn’t thought of that, good idea. I don’t think the cooker is especially fast, perhaps I’ll give it a go leaving it longer while I am around.