slow cooker quick questions thread

Lois_and_CK

I've done legs of lamb in the slow cooker :T

I just put an inch of water at the bottom of the slow cooker, and cook on low for about 8-10 hours.

zippychick

Hi Vik:hello:

I've not cooked a huge load of joints in the slow cooker (live alone), but any time I have, I put about an inch of water in. Now you have a few answers, I've added your thread to the exsiting one on SC quick questions - do let us know how you get on.

thanks:)
Zip

Lulubells

I apologise if this has been raised and answered before as I haven't been on the site for a long long time, but I do remember how great this forum was for info like this !!

My question is - is it okay to slow cook chicken ? I have seen several recipes that look good - but does the chicken get up to a high enough temperture to kill of bugs etc ? one very interesting recipe I saw was cooking a whole chicken from frozen ???? sounds like a recipe for disaster to me :eek:- am I wrong and is if perfectly safe ? - I have had a slow cooker for quite a while but its not been used for much apart from beef stew at the moment and I would love to use it more day to day...

TIA

Lulubells x

zippychick

Hi Lulubells:D

I personally wouldn't cook a whole chicken from frozen in the SC! I am a firm believer in defrosting fully before cooking (and natural defrosting, none of this mocrowave business unless really need to!)

It is very possible to cook a whole chicken in the SC Some like it, and some don't - it doesn't brown and does fall to pieces but that thread should give you a good idea of the ups and downs

Secondly , yes you can cook chicken dishes in the SC. There is very little you can't cook in it to be honest.!One of my first dishes was Chicken casserole

In my Slow cooker today part 2 will help you to see on a daily basis , what people use theirs for and may give you some inspiration (here's a link to part one )


I have even made lemon curd in mine using a Bain marie effect :jor you can make rice pudding. Most recipes can be adapted by halving the liquid as you don't really loose moisture compared to cooking in a pot.

if you are unsure, jump on with your idea and someone will be able to help you . The SC recipe collection should also be useful for you

Slow cooker quick questions - I'll merge this in here later for you

Hope that's not too many links! And nice to see you posting in OS :j

thanks
Zip

Sunshine79_2

Hi Lulubells,
I cook chicken in my slowcooker all the time - in fact I've got a chicken madras curry in it as we speak!
Never had any problems, the chicken is always lovely and tender & always thoroughly cooked. I tend to leave it in all day (on the 'low' heat setting) whilst I'm at work. So usually around 7 hrs.
However, I don't think I like the idea of cooking it from frozen - I always defrost completely first.
If you have a large slow cooker like me (think mine is a 6.5Ltr) you should be able to fit a whole chicken in there. I roll 3 pieces of kitchen foil into balls (say about the size of a small apple) sit the chicken on top & leave all day. Result - lovely tender crispy roast chicken. Delicious.
Hope this helps.

Lulubells

I have a duck in the fridge -could I slow cook it ?? ohh how exciting :j
how long would I need to cook it for please - on which setting ??

TVM
Lulubells x

Kadeeae

I do whole chicken in the SC all the time but never from frozen .....wouldn't cook one from frozen in any way shape or form

All I do is lay it on some 'bendy' veg (always have a few ) season with a bit of salt & some pepper. We eat our main meal at lunchtime, so I put the chicken - usually about 1.5kg give or take - in just as we go to bed the night before, on low.

I never add any liquid when doing chicken in the SC, find it gives it a bit more of a roasted feel and it is always still lovely and moist.

HTH

Lulubells

Thanks for all the replies so far - I am a little confused ?? I had this misconception that whatever went into the SC should always be just covered with fluid.... is the SC safe to leave cooking like this when you go out etc ? - sorry bit neurotic I know !!!

morwenna

Lulubells wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies so far - I am a little confused ?? I had this misconception that whatever went into the SC should always be just covered with fluid.... is the SC safe to leave cooking like this when you go out etc ? - sorry bit neurotic I know !!!

Not neurotic, the first time I cooked a whole chicken in the SC, I did so on a day when someone would be in the house, just in case! Since then I have done it without having anyone in lots of times with confidence. I just bung the whole, seasoned chook in and leg it for the bus

Some people don't like it done this way, it isn't and couldn't be, the same as roasted, but I really like it and there are tons of juices when you get home.

zippychick

you can put a small amount of liquid in if you want - like half a cup to make yourself feel better but it is fine ! The meat produces its own liquids which will make great gravy! Do think ahead about getting it out of the SC as usually when i cook anything on the bone, the meat tends to fall off it, so you may n eed to do a bit of fishing !

here is cooking a whole duck if you want other inspiration and bought a duck, should i slow cook it?