slow cooker quick questions thread

LazyLizzie

I'm making chillii in my slow cooker, I usually have it on low, but this time I've got it on high and I can't find out how long to cook it for on high. When I did a search all the sites said on low for 6-8 hours. Does anyone know how long I should cook it for on high? It's not got meat in it, just vegetables.

thegirlintheattic

On the spear of the moment we've gone out and got a slow cooker. We've got some lamb shanks, carrots, parsnips and swede so am going to try making that tomorrow.

Any ideas on temperature, time and what order I put things in?

Got horrible visions of me managing to burn it all.

Farway

With a slow cooker burning it is never an issue, it just does not happen, they are very forgiving

No great expert on slow cookers, I tend to bung it all in at 0900 on low, ready at 1700 or later

I would put slow cooker on high whilst you prepare [chop / dice] the veg, just bung it in as you go, plus maybe an onion & celery stick if you have them?

Give them all a stir, pour in some stock [Oxo] or just water, not a lot though as the veg make more liquid, certainly do not cover the veg with liquid, about half way should be fine

Plonk shanks on top, one more stir and forget it

Near time, say 30 mins from end, stir in some sort of thickener, like Bisto or cornflour if you like it thick, or leave as is

thegirlintheattic

Thanks. Knowing my cooking I could probably manage the impossible and burn things!

Will try this tomorrow and report back.

hot.chick

just a tip, expect the stock to be the thin, it doesn't thicken like in the oven.

I either thicken to make a sauce after, or start with a thicker gravy instead of just water or oxo so it stays thicker - just how we prefer it.

good luck with it - I love using mine, just bung it all in and dinners ready when u get home

squeaky

You'll probably find that the book that came with it will be able to help you out - most have a few representative recipes in them, and you can use the nearest one as a guide for any meal that you make up on your own.

One thing:- root vegetables take a long time to cook, so it's a good idea to either cut them small or thin, or to parboil them for about ten minutes before adding them to the pot. Again, your handbook will suggest the best way for your cooker.

beautifylife

I'm looking to get a cheap slow cooker, I know Tesco's are doing one for £10, then there ebay and freecycle, any other ideas before I get mine? thanks

thegirlintheattic

We got ours from Wilkinsons. It's a Russell Hobbs 3.5L one for £20, selling for £29.99 on the RH website. They had little ones in there for £7 in their value range but they looked a bit small.

RazWaz

I got a 1.5L one from Pound Stretcher for £8 ages ago, and a 4.5L one from Sainsbury's for £13 during a sale. Both work perfectly.

They are pretty easy to use, chop all your veg and layer it up, root veg on the bottom, meat on the top, then add some liquid. Liquid could be gravy, water, an oxo cube, leftover stock, anything really.

If you get bored of normal stews try this - a sweet potato chopped up, diced onion, baby carrots, any other veg you like and some diced chicken, for the sauce dilute a tin of chopped tomatoes. It makes quite a nice sweet sticky stew. It's rather rich though so don't make too much. I often add some sort of BBQ flavouring to mine (I got a grinder with BBQ herbs for £1 in Home Bargain that does the trick quite nicely).

zippychick

ive merged this with slow cooker quick qs

What are you going to cook first and I (or you) can search for the relevant thread?:)

Bolognaise?

pork joint?

whole chicken ?

Curry?

heres the recipe collection and a great thread where you can read how others use their SC on a daily basis:)

Good luck! ! !:j

Zip:D