how long does it take....

brokenwings

..... to cook a chicken ( medium size ) in a slow cooker on high?

i need to cook a chicken on sunday and wanted to do the recipe curry queen posted here
but i need it ready for 2pm and i wont be at home to start it cooking until around 10.30

would three hours on high work? i have the MR 6 litre

thanks in advance

MrsB_2

Do you have one of those plug in timer things like you use to make your lights go on and off at set times? If so set your SC up the night before and put it on the timer to come on.

Not sure how long it takes to cook but sure someone will have some ideas in a mo!

brokenwings

thanks mrs b

unfortunately a timer is no good as i am leaving the house friday and wont be back till sunday - think the chicken might be well done in other ( smelly ) ways by then : )

Newbird

The MR 6L slow cooker is higher powered than most at 300 watts.
I reckon a medium chicken will be ok, so should be done in 3 hrs. Don't add too much other stuff, so that the heat is efficiently cooking the chick. Don't take the lid off to poke around they lose a lot of heat this way.
Also - to conserve and maximise the heat you can put a folded tea towel over the pot, which keeps heat in and speeds things up..

I would have the chick at room temp to start with, not straight out of fridge if poss. Also warm up the chopped onions, garlic, wine in a jug/basin in the microwave to get evrything going before putting in the pot.

All this will make a difference, promise.

BTW, think I might try that recipe too! :drool:

squeaky

As long as the chicken is thoroughly defrosted you are likely to be fairly close on timing. The way to check is that when you stick a skewer or fine knife into it the juices should run clear and not cloudy.

If you're not sure a quick half hour in the oven or a few minutes in the microwave should finish it off.

Queenie

Under those time restraints ... you would probably be better off putting it in a traditional oven.

A "medium" chicken will weigh 3-4lb (?) and only takes 20mins per lb + 20 mins over in a traditional oven: a 4lb chicken would be cooked and ready in 1hr 40 mins!! If you put it in your preheated oven by midday - it would still be ready by 2pm. You could use up the oven space by cooking other items at the same time. (Jacket potatoes to go with your chicken? Roast potatoes? A dessert?) This is one of those times/occasions where as wonderful as SC's are, your traditional oven would be far more practical (IMO).

brokenwings

youre right queenie
i think thats what ill have to do
thanks so much everyone

fogster1979

Hi All,

Slightly off the thread I know but can anyone tell me if you can cook an aldi three bird roast in a slow cooker and do i need to defrost it first.

zippychick

Hi Fogster

Only guessing here, but i would say yes you could - is it a bird in a bird etc? I can't see why not, although would adjust the cooking time - so longer on low. I would definitely definitely definitely defrost it though

There is also a thread which discusses cooking a whole chicken in the slow cooker