Dumplings in slow cooker

ellay864

I'm new to this board, finally at the age of almost 50 getting in touch with my domestic side and starting to enjoy making meals rather than relying on things other people have made and packaged!
We love stews/casseroles and in winter especially I do them a lot, but until recently it was always in the oven. Now I have a slow cooker and am discovering the joys of getting things ready the night before, shoving it on in the morning before work and coming home to a lovely hot meal. But my dumplings are causing me problems!
When I oven cooked for a shorter time at a high temp, I would make dumplings and cook them in the stew for the final 15 mins or so. But in the slow cooker on the lower setting they just don't do as well. Should I just whack the temperature up again? Should I leave them in a lot longer (though usually the joy of slow cooker is to be eating fairly soon after getting home)? Without wanting to sound like a carry on film, hubby loves my dumplings but they're just not what they were! Help please!

sheilavw

I love stews/casseroles and slow cooker. I am doing a beef casserole tomorrow. I just get Aunt Bessies dumplings! so not sure on cooking them in slow cooker

tracey12_2

Whenever I do a stew in the slow cooker I put the dumplings in for the last hour which is a bit annoying as you say it is nice to be able to eat soon after getting home.

Tracey

busiscoming2

Yep, I give mine an hour in the slow cooker.

Valli

I give mine half an hour (minimum) whoever gets in first has to pop them in;). I am usually NOT cooking on low, though!

Have you thought about trying them in the SC from the start?

As a side note I make double mixture (ie one batch of suet pastry as specified in the Dairy Book of Home cooking) and freeze half the dumplings ready-rolled) They don't fluff up as well though.

[Deleted User]

AAh - Nothing to add but im glad this question came up. Your not the only one that's having problems with slow cooking your dumplings!!!!

Carfal

Make a pan of gravy and cook the dumplings in it on the stove top.

ellay864

Carfal, that was what I was starting to think I might have to do.
Valli, never tried them from the start...just seemed a bit too long (I'm usually going out before 8am and returning around 6pm, hence the low temp)
Will have to start making effort to leave work earlier. Maybe this time next year if I am made redundant I'll see my dumplings as a plus point

sassyblue

My mum always does her dumplings in the microwave in a dish of the gravy from the slow cooker.

bluebag

I do weird dumplings because those were the ones my mum always made.

Take some self raising flour, season with salt and pepper and mix to a smooth dough with a little milk.
Knead for a few mins, roll into balls and add to stew.

They treble in size and are white light and very fluffy. As they contain no fat they are suitable for those on low cholesterol or low fat diets.

Take about 15 mins in the slow cooker on High.

My kids fight over them.

Ladyluck1

Mine cook on low for 45mins to and hour