slow cooker quick questions thread

mah_jong

chickadee wrote:

Hi, I have never been happy with my slo-cooker. It is very old, around 16 years old in fact. It hasn't had that much use though. It is a Tower slow cooker and it has a ceramic pot and lid. It has low, high and auto settings but everything seems to end up textureless and tasteless, especially if I put carrots in, they always end up flavouring everything else. When I use it I put it on before leaving for work (about 8am) then when I get home it is about 6.30pm. This is 10.5 hours. Is this just too long, is my slo-cooker cooking too hot, or do everyone elses slow-cooked meals end up like textureless carrot-flavoured stew?

I would love to get it right as I hate having to start cooking when I get home from work and I feel left out with most of you raving about what wonderful gadgets they are!

Please help.

I meant to quote and ending up thanking you..... anyway thanks for letting mourn my loss of my beloved Tower!! It was used for years until its untimely death last month (still too traumatised to tell you!). However I was given a Delonghi to replace it and its far far too fierce in comparison!! I looooong for my Tower!!SOB
Have you got it on low all day? If so, and you dont like the result. Try the way lizzayb says.

i cant say I put a lot of carrots in my stuff, I tend to have them ready for the steamer and cook separatly...... peel and chop in morning/night before , put in fride in cold water. Rinse and Decant into waiting steameras soon as I am in the door, ready when I am ready!

mah_jong

As you know my Tower was killed last month and I was given a huge Delonghi to replace it. This just has not cut the mustard, its just too hot! I feel that as a single its just too big, even allowing for cooking in bulk!
However it came into its own to do the turkey stock overnight. Brilliant.

I am toying with the idea of getting a smaller one, I saw a MR in my local leccy shop and I am tempted. The user reviews make it seem ideal (eg if you are an hour or two late it wouldn't matter!!!)

If you have 2 do you use both? I seem to think there are folk with two here.

Or should I save my cash and persevere??

skintlass

Well I've picked up my cookworks slow cooker and will test it out tomorrow for the first time - I'm going to make a beef chili (I use cut up steak - stewing steak that is because I can't stand the texture of mince ) I'll update you with the results.

chickadee

Thanks, I suspected it was just on too long. However, that is when I need to use it so I shall just have to try something else such as batch cooking as you suggest.

Great tip about the carrots though. I love my steamer, the vegetables taste so much better in it. I used it on Christmas day and not only were my veggies perfectly cooked, I had two free rings on my hob as well.

lily-ella

skintlass wrote:

Hi, I've reserved the slow cooker on special offer at argos - its the cookworks round 3.5ltr one - and its £8.99 which is a good price I think. Has anyone any experience of this type of slowcooker and opinions, good or bad on it?

Ive got this one and I love it, its my first slow cooker and its great and such a good price too!

skintlass

Well I made the beef chili yesterday and the meat did fall apart (eventually). I put it on at 11am aiming for a 7-7:30pm meal and sealed the steak and even cooked the mushrooms and onions a little before adding the stock (and tomatoes etc). Put it on low but it didn't seem to be doing an awful lot so after about 3 hrs turned to auto which did better then at 5pm after I added the kidney beans I switched to high (at 4pm the meat wasn't tender - i tried prodding it to see). I'm making chicken curry tomorrow and will try the auto setting all day instead of so much messing about

mah_jong

Anyone any thoughts on my question about a second smaller slow cooker?
TIA

ziggy2004

hi

I to got a sc for christmas I have now made a venison casserole( I live near a factory outlet selling game) a lentil soup and am in the process of making a huge pan of bolognese sauce (I got the 6,5 L one)

for tommorow I have got chicken leg portions but don't know what to make with it I have tinned apricots ,tinned peaches ,tinned tomatoes, tomatoe purree, potatoes, carrots, a couple of shallots and curry powder does anyone have any ideas on how to make this into a curry????

TIA
x Anne

Sparky67

Having just started working full time I convinced the OH that a slow cooker would be a good idea, but I haven't managed to serve up anything edible yet - everything looks and tastes like overcooked chicken casserole....

I bought a large size one (Rival) with the thoughts of cooking joints/whole chickens, eat some save some. But I go to work at 8.30 and don't get home till 6 at the earliest - I leave it on low but...

Is it just on too long???

Is the Rival particularly fierce???

Is it faulty!??

I have fished out a timer and will try switching the cooker to come on at about 12 ish, then it will "only" cook for about 6 hours.... do you think that will do the trick? Also, I was a bit put off when I tried a whole chicken because (in addition to the overcooked veg) the chicken was very tender - but so tender that all the crappy bits of the bird fell off into the vegetable and you couldn't see what you were eating which was a little off-putting... did I add too much water, or cook it too long? I did take the skin off so ot wasn't too fatty.

I tried a risotto ut again it just looked overcooked with the rice turned to solid lumps baked onto the bottom of the crock (perhaps not enough water this time!?)

I really want to serve up the yummy sounding stuff on here - but so far its not going well...

Has anyone any tips for a struggling beginner...

susank

There is a russell hobbs you are what you eat slow cooker half price at £17.xx at tesco at the moment - anyone got that one - it looks good.