I'm disappointed with my slow cooker

charlies_mum

I love my slow cooker, I cook joints in it, but stand them on a bowl so that they don't come out 'boiled'

When I am working, I throw in some stewing steak, tin of tomatoes, onion, carrots, potatoes and a beef oxo cube with a little bit of water, and set the time to turn on at about 12, then when we are ready to eat at 6, just serve with some crusty bread.

The only disaster I had was chilli, I didn't brown the mince first, and the meat tasted really strong, so just do mince on the hob

rigsby1967

Alot of people on here rave about the slow cooker and not wanting to be without one, so i went out and bought a cook works one from argos.

I have no idea what i am doing wrong but the food that comes out is tasteless, i have tried meat stews and also bologniese but they just dont taste of anything, even my son (who eats anything complained about it, but still ate it :rolleyes:).

I find if i do casserolles in the oven (i have the option of a slow cooker in my conventional oven) it tastes so much better. So what am i doing wrong?

Thanks:D
rigs

thriftlady_2

You aren't doing anything wrong.

Slow cooker food does taste of nothing.

We don't all rave about slow cookers. I think they have a place if you are out all day and have little time to cook when you get home, but other than that I think they are a waste of time. Oven cooked food is so much better and for things like bolognese sauce which only takes about half an hour on the hob why bother?

rigsby1967

Thanks Thriftlady, I really thought it was something i was doing, now i know it's not i might just put it on free cycle.

rigs

olliesmummy06

I have the cookworks one too and none of my meals have been tasteless or bland. I made Lamb kleftiko in it last week and it was fantastic and very, very tasty. How are you cooking things ie-steak? I flash fry mine til sealed either side, bung in the slow cooker with onion, mushrooms, carrots and stock (usually 2 beef and 1 veg oxo plus salt+pepper) on low for apx 10 hours....thicken with cornflour and serve with mashed pots-delish.

I am currently on maternity leave, so in most days but just find this easier to prepare in the evening once the children are in bed and put on when i get up nin the mornings, with a very young baby a almost 3 year old to run aorund after all day.xx

Bongedone

I think they are excellent.

Are you putting too much liquid in? You don't need as much in a slowcooker as the liquid does not evaporate as quickly.

You still have to taste the dish near the end and make adjustments as you would any other way.

hotcookie101

I have to admit, I'm not a massive fan of my slow cooker, its great for some things (really good chicken stock for one thing-done for 12 hours gives me 2-3L of good strong tasting jelly like stock from one carcass, but on hob I only really get 1L after 2 hours of boiling) soups are OK, but to be honest-apart from those 2 things, I think cooking in the oven or on the hob=tastier food.... (obviously it costs more to use the oven, but I suppose it depends on your priorities, mine are now tasty stews as opposed to saving 50p in electricity)
some bean stews/lamb stews are ok, but I find even if I only add a little liquid they are still so watery, whilst simmering or oven cooking they thicken up better. I don't like cornflour!

Swan_2

rigsby1967 wrote: »

Alot of people on here rave about the slow cooker and not wanting to be without one, so i went out and bought a cook works one from argos.

I have no idea what i am doing wrong but the food that comes out is tasteless, i have tried meat stews and also bologniese but they just dont taste of anything, even my son (who eats anything complained about it, but still ate it :rolleyes:).

I find if i do casserolles in the oven (i have the option of a slow cooker in my conventional oven) it tastes so much better. So what am i doing wrong?

Thanks:D
rigs

I'm another who agrees with you

I got a SC when I was without a proper cooker for a few months, & though it was handy I never liked the bland tasteless food it produced
I did all the right things, browning first, less liquid etc, but everything tasted like ready meals ... I eventually gave it away

it did make great soup though

jo1972

Any seasoning needs to be done at the end.

The first curry I cooked tasted like a stew then I was told to add the chillies and spices towards the end of cooking, the longer it cooks for the blander it gets. Slow cookers are great for tender meat and for convenience, just remember to taste it half hour or so before serving to see if you need to add anything

rigsby1967

I have put it on again today in an attempt making a stew in it.

I have put meat, and various veg with pearl barley and some stock, Maybe that was the problem, putting to much stock in it .

The meat i put in is always left overs from a roast i have done the day before, that way i find i dont waste good meat and when i do it in the oven it comes out so tender you dont have to chew it lol.

Thanks all.

rigs