In my slow cooker today.... part 2

ms_night_ryder

going to chuck some meatballs in, with a tin of chop toms, diced carrots, sweated onions, herbs and spices and pray for the best!

cairndog

Hi, all these ideas have made me get my slo-cooker out again. I've been buying plum chutney from our farm shop but I know I could make it for a fraction of the price, I've done it before. Only thing is it does take forever to get thick so could I make it in the slo-cooker? Has anyone out there tried it ? There was Someones Mums Chutney on the No Waste thread but that took 4 hours ! (or was she joking ?)

Sunnyday

cairndog wrote: »

Hi, all these ideas have made me get my slo-cooker out again. I've been buying plum chutney from our farm shop but I know I could make it for a fraction of the price, I've done it before. Only thing is it does take forever to get thick so could I make it in the slo-cooker? Has anyone out there tried it ? There was Someones Mums Chutney on the No Waste thread but that took 4 hours ! (or was she joking ?)

I`ve made it a few times in the slowcooker and its good because you don`t have to stand over it and it doesn`t matter if you take the lid off for stirring.

The time varies massively, i run it overnight and then in the morning turn it up onto high and take the lid off to evaporate the liquid - this can take a while depending on how much there is to start with.

Doubt i`ll go back to making it on the hob tbh unless i`m needing some quickly.

SD

miggy

Hi, I'm new to this thread but I think I will need some knowledge and good ideas over the next week or so especially.

Long story short: I have no conventional cooker till this time next week. We feed from three to seven adults/teens.

I bought a 3.3 litre slow cooker the other week (for all of £9 and it seems fine!) Most of what I've cooked in it has been a success. Last night, however, I layered sliced potatoes, one of those small pre-packed gammon joints, red onion and butternut squash and it really didn't work. The meat was okay but tasted like pork, the potatoes were soft (those at the bottom had cooked in juices but the ones at the side, where the air got to them, were a yucky colour and a bit chewy), the veg obviously didn't like just being bunged in and wanted some sort of special treatment.

If anyone can troubleshoot for me, I'd be grateful because I can often buy gammon cheaply and it's one of those things most of us will eat. Bear in mind the only cooking appliances I can use at present are slow cooker, kettle, microwave, sandwich toaster and toaster!

Thanks in advance.

prepareathome

Miggy did you add any water at all, it sounds as if you need to add a bit more liquid - this can be made into gravy at end or during the cooking by adding gravy powder/granules etc. ( or frozen for stock for another time) I have been using SC for years and never had this happen. You don't need to add as much water as you would when cooking on hob but you do need to add some. The liquid will not boil away so you don't need to fill it right up, but the potatoes and vegetables do need the water to cook in - basically they are steamed from the boiling liquid below

If I have misread your post and you have added water then I admit I am at a loss, but does sound to me like not enough fluid as potatoes and veg sound much as they would do if you put them in the oven with no fluid and roasted them.

If you just had put the joint in on its own the juices from it would most likely been enough to cook it but not with everything else.

gibken

Bought a cheap gammon joint from Lidls, trying this for the first time. Have added ginger wine plus water, cinnamon,nutmeg and sugar. Fingers crossed it's OK, if so will be buying this from Lidls again.

newcook

miggy wrote: »

I bought a 3.3 litre slow cooker the other week (for all of £9 and it seems fine!)

no advice for the question but your slowcooker was a bargain - where did you get it from?!?!!

miggy

prepareathome wrote: »

Miggy did you add any water at all, it sounds as if you need to add a bit more liquid

Thanks - I think that's probably it! I only added the tiniest drop as when I've cooked chicken it generated lots of liquid. The gammon didn't - just enough to cover the potatoes which I'd put along the bottom and which turned out fine.

I was trying to roast the veg but as you say they were really being steamed, only not enough. Next time the gammon goes on top and the veg all go under.

patchwork_cat

What about cooking gammon in coke. Think there is a recipe https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/162305 and I think there might be one for diet coke on here too. Also this might help https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/1332010#Comment_1332010

miggy

I thought I'd share my best-ever slow cooker recipe: I invented it the other day and it went down very well.

Several large pork sausages - part-cook first and drain off fat, chop into chunks.

Stir in a jar of bolognese sauce and a tin of chopped tomatoes, a green pepper chopped small and a drained tin of butterbeans. That's all. Serve with cous cous or something...

I pre-heated the liquids in the microwave to save time but of course you could just put them in as they are.