Sorting your tea (& slow cookers)?

newcook

I love my slow cooker (though I haven’t used it for a while). Though I do agree that foods come out tasting similar – it all seems to have that underlying ‘stewed’ taste…!

I have a 1.5ltr slow cooker and I get about 4 decent servings of stew/casserole. If I am doing one on a Saturday/Sunday I am happy to chop up the meat and veg etc but if I want one in the week I have found the ready chopped stew pack and packs of meat ready diced are a lifesaver! Takes all of 2 minutes to chuck it all in the SC with some stock and herbs etc before I dash out the door for work!

meer53

Buy a big one and freeze what you don't eat.

alanalea

Love love love my slow cooker. Yesterday I made sausage casserole (& froze half) and today I've got lamb shoulder with rosemary and red wine in it.
You can put a whole chicken in there on low for 6-8 hrs with garlic, thyme & rosemary and it come out so tender. I normally stick a few new potatoes, red pepper and red onion in the bottom under the chicken and make a 1pot meal.

Ask you friends if they've got one you can buy, or even on freecycle. I think they're one of those things you get on great with, or become a dust collector.

Sashk

I really love my slow cooker. Wouldn't ever be without one now! One thing though, I needed to get to know it first, how it cooked, timings etc. I think all slow cookers are a bit different and getting to know how yours cooks things is important. I used to leave mine on all day from 7am in the morning until we got home at around six ish and a lot of stuff came out terrible. Then I bought a timer for the plug and it changed everything! Depending on what I'm cooking it now comes on during the day either mid morning or as late as mid afternoon!! As others have said its great for soups, stews and curries etc. But I love to put in a roast, say beef or lamb and let it cook slowly during the day. When I get home I chuck on a few veg and crisp up the meat in the oven for 10 minutes. You could do the veg in the slow cooker if you want, prop the meat on top of it. Hey presto a mid week roast dinner! I've even done jacket potatoes in mine, just wrap them in foil and pop them in the cooker and again crisp up in the oven without the foil on for a few minutes when you get in. In my opinion a slow cooker is a great investment!

Maz

Sashk wrote: »

I've even done jacket potatoes in mine, just wrap them in foil and pop them in the cooker and again crisp up in the oven without the foil on for a few minutes when you get in. In my opinion a slow cooker is a great investment!

I didn't realise you could do jacket spuds in a slow cooker! Brilliant! I love jackets but not having a microwave to get them started, it's usually a long, long wait for them to cook in the oven.

Will deffo be trying this one out, thanks for that. :beer:

Memory_Girl

Love my slow cooker too - almost as much as my pressure cooker.

I make up my own meal packs - meat or chicken in a large baggie with all the veggies, seasoning, herbs, wine, sauce or tomatoes in as well. Zip up the baggie, squeeze flat and freeze. Then depending what I fancy for dinner, whip out a baggie and defrost a little in the micro then turf into the slowcooker.

Currently have (quick rummage)

Kidney bean curry
Pot Roast (meat sealed) with onions and veggies
Root veggie and bean casserole
Beef in red wine
Chicken Tagine
BBQ Pork

Plus about half a dozen bags of mixed veggies chopped up for soup.(all the leftover bits n pieces get made into soup)

I pull the food processor out to do the veggies - but can put together 10 meals in an hour or so over one weekend.

Works for us

MG

LittleMoog

meer53 wrote: »

Buy a big one and freeze what you don't eat.

I was just about to post this! We have a large slow cooker, and I always make the most I can in it, and then portion and freeze the rest. It means that we can enjoy the casserole/soup etc another night just by reheating on the hob/microwave. Saves you time as it doesn't take much longer to prep an 8 serving casserole compared to a 4 serving one!

I'm going to try doing a whole chicken next week, with potatoes and veg at the bottom, thanks for the idea Alanalea!

onlyroz

My question about slow cookers - do you brown the meat before putting it in, or does it go in raw? I'm talking about setting it off at aroun 8 AM and eating at around 7 PM here...

pulliptears

Wouldnt be without mine and I'm in all day!

Colemans Chicken Casserole mix is so simple, throw in some diced chicken breast, carrots, onions and the mix and leave all day on low. When you come home stir in a chicken oxo for added flavour and its all done. Gorgeous!

Also, a great quick chicken curry can be had, Pataks Curry Paste (half a jar), tin of coconut milk, tin of chopped tomatoes, onion, (I also add carrots and sometimes apple), chicken breast. Throw it all in, give it a stir and it makes a gorgeous simple chicken curry.

pulliptears

onlyroz wrote: »

My question about slow cookers - do you brown the meat before putting it in, or does it go in raw? I'm talking about setting it off at aroun 8 AM and eating at around 7 PM here...

Some I do. I brown liver and braising steak before it goes in but chicken etc no.

Liver and Onions is another simple recipe, brown the liver and onions for a minute until sealed. Throw in the slow cooker with a pint of hot water with 2 oxo cubes dissolved in it and leave. Thicken the liquid with a little bisto powder and cornflour and it makes gorgeous thick gravy.

The above can be done with braising steak as well using the same method.