One more question about the slow cooker!

amalis

Hi all,
I know you are probably sick of such questions ,but I've spent 2 days reading all the forums and didn't find the answer yet.
I am planning to buy a slow cooker, but I am out of home for 11 hours each day and all the recipes for vegetable of chicken suggests 6 hours even on low heat max. Is there any solution for my problem?
Another confusing thing- if I put chicken say at 7 am (cooker on), it will be ready at about noon and say it will turn off. What will happen with meat if it will stay inside till 6 pm (time when i get home)?
Please help me!

lilac_lady

I have a very old slow cooker with no thermostatic controls. It cooks at the same temperature no matter what's in it. If you select the lowest heat setting it shouldbe fine. I've left chicken etc in for more than 12 hours and the result was a perfect dish. Try it at home one day when you're not working.

elf06

I deff wouldnt recommend leaving the meat in it for 6 hours once its cooked (switched off i mean) however some will keep warm for up to 4 hours. I find it easier to cook overnight and freeze meals in portions as I am out from 7.30 am until just before 6pm. As a rule food wont burn in a SC but I am not brave enough to leave it ALL day while i am out. Dont know if this answers your qustion or not :rotfl:

ETA i do have a recipe somewhere for 24 hr persian chicken which cooks for (you guessed it) 24hrs. Guess it cant do too much harm......

amalis

elf06 wrote: »

I am out from 7.30 am until just before 6pm. .

so am I.
When I come back from work I am too tired to cook and thought that slow cooker can be a solution for my problem, but seems it is not I dont want it to be one more kitchen appliance which I cant use.

23rdspiral

how about putting a timer switch on the s/c so that it turns itsself on at the right time so your dinner is done but not sitting around for ages when you return?
i'd be cautiuus about doing this with chicken in the height of summer, but other than that i'd think it would be ok.

mrsclarkie

it depends on the cooker you have purchased mine automatically switches to keep warm once the cooking time is up so have gone to work and come home t5o serve dinner about 6:30 7ish and its been fine have also done porridge overnight

elf06

amalis wrote: »

so am I.
When I come back from work I am too tired to cook and thought that slow cooker can be a solution for my problem, but seems it is not I dont want it to be one more kitchen appliance which I cant use.

Well i certainly use mine a lot - i love HM soups which are fab it a SC and I like to have HM meals without the fuss so I cook in this overnight and reheat quickly when I get in.(batch cooking for later fast meals) Means i not spending hours cooking and I know exactly what is in the meals i cook for me and DS. I wasnt convinced whether or not I would use mine when I first got it but deff wouldnt be without it now

amalis

23rdspiral wrote: »

how about putting a timer switch on the s/c so that it turns itsself on at the right time so your dinner is done but not sitting around for ages when you return?
i'd be cautiuus about doing this with chicken in the height of summer, but other than that i'd think it would be ok.

that is what I wanted to ask! if I will put raw meat and veggies in the SC at 7am, timer will turn it on at say 12pm, will something happen with meat between 7 and 12? is it bad? I newer did it with meat f I cook, so dunno maybe it is fine to leave it for 5 hours ouside the frige..

amalis

elf06, so it seems that for me the best option would also be just cooking overnight and reheating in the evening if I want to cook meat or fish? hmm..at first I thought it's a no-no because it might take time in the morning to take food out, to freeze it.. but maybe it will not be so bad..should think very well.

Pink.

Hi amalis,

You can buy slow cookers with built in timers, such as this one but as mentioned above buying a timer switch may be more economical. Either way you will be able to come home to a meal that is ready when you are.

Your question may be useful to others so I'll add it to the slow cooker quick questions thread thread later.

Pink

elf06

amalis wrote: »

elf06, so it seems that for me the best option would also be just cooking overnight and reheating in the evening if I want to cook meat or fish? hmm..at first I thought it's a no-no because it might take time in the morning to take food out, to freeze it.. but maybe it will not be so bad..should think very well.

To be honest i havent done much fish in mine so cant comment too much on that one (sure someone will be able to help on that part ). I find that if i haul it out quick sharp in the morning then i can get it in the fridge before i go out to work and then either have some for dinner that night or pop in the freezer once i home in the evening. I guess its just gonna be what will work for you........

I love using it for all sorts tho and it makes great puds aswell. Use it on my days off aswell so i dont hve to spend too much time in the kitchen :rotfl: