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Slow cooked chicken thighs

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Fusspot
Fusspot Posts: 327 Forumite
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Hi, in trying to persevere with my healthier eating, I cooked two chicken thighs in my small slow cooker the other day while I was at work, I came home to find they had dried up! I am totally disinterested in cooking again. Have I done something wrong? I did put in a stock cube in some water.
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  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,823 Forumite
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    Was it on high heat....
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • rach_k
    rach_k Posts: 2,236 Forumite
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    When I do chicken thighs, I just put them skin side up in the bottom of the slow cooker and cook them on high for around 4 hours or longer on low heat. No water or anything (season the chicken if you want). The oil/juice that comes out of them means most of the chicken is in liquid but leaves the skin out to go a bit crispy. I do cover the bottom of the SC with them - not rammed in but you can't see much of the bowl; perhaps if you didn't fill it enough there wouldn't be enough liquid to go high enough up the chicken to keep it moist. It's never dry.
  • Fusspot
    Fusspot Posts: 327 Forumite
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    Thanks for your replies. I cooked them on low heat, I have to leave them more than four or five hours as I work full time. My slow cooker is 1.5 litre as I find this size suits me now with me being on my own and I don't want a lot of left overs.

    I'm slowly going off this idea but don't want to go back to ready meals.
  • Islandmaid
    Islandmaid Posts: 6,510 Forumite
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    Ahh don't let it put you off - try doubling the recipe and freezing half for another day - bonus 'ping meal' for when you CBA ;)
    Note to self - STOP SPENDING MONEY !!

    £300/£130
  • Fusspot
    Fusspot Posts: 327 Forumite
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    Islandmaid wrote: »
    Ahh don't let it put you off - try doubling the recipe and freezing half for another day - bonus 'ping meal' for when you CBA ;)

    Thanks, I will do this with other dishes but I am wary of reheating chicken somehow.

    I am trying to think of other dishes I can do. I only tend to eat chicken, mince and fish.
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
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    A lot of SC dishes don't need cooking nearly as long as one imagines.

    I cooked a frozen/defrosted, 800gram turkey breast joint in mine for Xmas and I'm doing it again this year, but for four hours max probably. I'll be poking/checking it after 3 hours....

    For a small pot, you'll need less time ... it might be an idea, if you CBA, to get a meat thermometer "just to check it's OK" as your pot is smaller than most, so you'll have to master its timings for yourself.

    I see mine as a way to "toss random food into it while I'm around to watch/see what's happening"... rather than seeing it as something to use when I go out.
  • Islandmaid
    Islandmaid Posts: 6,510 Forumite
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    Chicken - buy some thighs/breasts to make curry, satay, sweet and sour, Casserole, wrapped in bacon stuffed with cream cheese- Kebabs etc

    Mince - Make a savoury mince to make bolognaise, Chilli, Burritos, shep Pie, savoury mince in Yorkshire pud etc

    Fish - buy frozen portions use for curry, Chinese style with Veg, fish pie, pan fried with pea pur!e, battered with chips ;)

    I know it's really hard for one, but a weekend cook off could fill your freezer for most of a months main meals - that's if you have the freezer space of course
    Note to self - STOP SPENDING MONEY !!

    £300/£130
  • Linda32
    Linda32 Posts: 4,385 Forumite
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    Fusspot wrote: »
    Thanks, I will do this with other dishes but I am wary of reheating chicken somehow.

    I am trying to think of other dishes I can do. I only tend to eat chicken, mince and fish.

    Okay, so don't re heat it then :D;) have it cold with coleslaw or whatever takes your fancy. It's got to be more welcome in the summer anyway
  • rach_k
    rach_k Posts: 2,236 Forumite
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    The kids had slow cooked chicken thighs (hot) yesterday, then I shredded the leftovers before they went cold and they had it cold mixed into salad today. It went down well both days!

    If you want to cook for 5 hours, why not get a timer switch for the slow cooker? They're only a few pounds. Then you can have hot food cooked perfectly when you get home from work. I normally try new slow cooker things when I'm in all day so I can work out how long it will take.
  • Cupcake_Returns
    Cupcake_Returns Posts: 88 Forumite
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    Two thighs in a slow cooker for the best part of a day???

    Seriously no wonder they dried up. A thigh doesn't take more then 20 minutes cooking conventually. They are tiny. I would cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker in 4 hours, and I actually mean a cockeral which are tough old birds, not a factory farmed chook

    I would cook two thighs on the stove top whilst I was showering, changing, tidying up when I got in from work
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