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Original poster

Slow cookers

184 replies

MrsCadwallader · 06/01/2010 20:08

My sister has just bought one and is utterly evangelical and attempting to convert me

Do I need one? Are they worth having? Or will it simply spend all but the first month of its life cluttering up my worktop until my husband eventually puts it in the loft with the bread machine?

And if I do need one, does anyone have any tips? Brand recommendations? Recipes?

Thanks!

OP posts:
MrsGokWantsatidyhouse · 20/01/2010 10:27

Please can we have a few name checks of the slow cookers you use please ladies and what features they have?

dreamingofsun · 20/01/2010 10:36

you need a removable pot, so you can put it in the dishwasher and low/hot settings. we have a 3 litre one for a family of 5. too large and people on here say it doesn't work unless you fill them - mine works OK partfilled, but its the only one i've had for the last 23 years. mine's made by swan - but not sure if they exist any more

MrsGokWantsatidyhouse · 20/01/2010 10:52

Thanks dreaming

Think I may start a new thread with this question.

aristocat · 20/01/2010 13:16

mrsD did you get one?

MrsDinky · 20/01/2010 13:49

Not yet, am still dithering and don't live near any electrical sort of shops (small town). Will keep an eye on this thread in the meantime

MrsGokWantsatidyhouse · 20/01/2010 14:28

I started a thread here but no one has replied yet

Patchybob · 20/01/2010 20:56

Just made a yummy beef casserole. Browned some beef, added a glass of red wine, then fried some parsnip, carrots, swede, new pototoes and onion, added some tomato puree, garlic and water. Cooked it all day on low and served it up at 5pm. Kids ate it all, as did the baby. mushed up the remains for him and also the gravy that he can have with mash. Yum Yum!

kif · 21/01/2010 10:27

irish stew in there today.

though even as Dd was helping me load the pot this morning she was saying 'but i don't want irish stew. I want... pancakes' - so I'm not holding out too much hope for it. Me and the baby will have a feast ragardless....

Monty100 · 23/01/2010 12:36

My slowcooker is Sainsbo's, I think it was 20 pounds.

Thanks for your tips everyone, I've just put a chicken in with some lemon. Will report back.

aristocat · 23/01/2010 18:12

i have bought 2 recipe books for slow cookers and they recommend that a whole chicken is cooked on HIGH for 4+ hrs.
apparantly the low setting wouldnt get hot enough to kill any harmful bacteria.

gonna try it tomorrow

onadietcokebreak · 23/01/2010 20:26

Hi.

My friend has a joint of brisket. I am right in saying her can cook it on its on in slow cooker or does she need to add a little bit of stick (an inch or so)

Also she cooked a ham in coke the other day and completely covered it. Came out ok. Was it necessary to completely cover it or could she have only had an inch of liquid.

Cheers

onadietcokebreak · 23/01/2010 20:29

REPOSTED WITH CORRECT GRAMMAR AND WORDS!

Hi.

My friend has a joint of brisket. Am I right in saying she can cook it on its on in slow cooker or does she need to add a little bit of stock (an inch or so)

Also she cooked a ham in coke the other day and completely covered it. Came out ok. Was it necessary to completely cover it or could she have only had an inch of liquid.

Cheers

CirrhosisByTheSea · 23/01/2010 20:43

I do joints of meat with only an inch of stock, no worries. Did a pork joint last week, was absolutely gorgeous, melt in the mouth!

Monty100 · 27/01/2010 14:16

MrsCad have you bought one yet?

My chicken fell off the bone. Scrumptious.

zozzle · 27/01/2010 19:21

Dishes with diced lamb in come out lovely and really, really tender - as do sausage meals.

Use mine once a week.

Patchybob · 27/01/2010 20:55

We had a sausage casserole tonight, every last bit was eaten and the baby had seconds!

I did a split pea and bacon soup yesterday which was quite average but edible.

Chicken casserole tomorrow! Am loving it!

FanjolinaJolie · 27/01/2010 20:59

Does anyone have a moroccon style chicken slow cooker recipe I could try?

Monty100 · 29/01/2010 20:14

spicey moroccon chicken

Found this on another slow cooker thread here, pinched it from chopaduck.

ronx · 29/01/2010 20:21

I am going to have one last go with my slow cooker. Everything I make tastes really watery and thin but so many converts can't be wrong

Monty100 · 29/01/2010 21:32

Ronx - what have you done in it? Don't give up.

It doesn't need much liquid, if any, the slow cooking produces the liquid. For the want of better words. I'm a new convert.

When I did the chicken which I just put in with lemon, there was loads of liquid, I didn't put any in at all.

Was wondering if I could have put rice or cous cous in which would have absorbed the liquid???

Any ideas anyone?

ronx · 29/01/2010 22:56

But if you don't put any liquid in, then won't your food burn?

elliott · 29/01/2010 23:03

I always worry about the amount of liquid too - any meat above the liquid line gets a bit dried out ime. Can I really just bung a joint in with a few drops of stock??

Monty100 · 30/01/2010 00:37

I'm new to it.

I tell ya.

No liquid!

Well, not for a chicken anyway.

I've done the norms chillis, bols, curry and they do need less liquid than you would use on a cooker top.

Monty100 · 01/02/2010 01:03

OK, put a lump of pork in it today, covered it in honey and mustard, poured a bit of water about 50ml in, cooked it for about 7 hours, it was melt in the mouth and the water had turned into the most gorgeous gravy stock. It was lovely.

Neenook · 01/02/2010 01:19

Had my Mum and Dad round for dinner tonight - did a whole chicken in my Morphy Richards slow cooker. Honestly, the best 'roast' chicken any of us have ever had! Will probably never put a chicken in the oven again.