We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Slow Cooker
Options

madlyn
Posts: 1,093 Forumite


Thinking of buying a slow cooker as we love a stew/casserole in our house in fact we had beef casserole Yesterday, but I cook it in the oven low and slow for around 4 hours.
I had a slow cooker when I first moved into my house 10 years ago but I couldn't get on with it the meat was not very tender and I seemed to have too much gravy.
I like the idea of putting the ingredients in and just leaving it to do it's thing.
I had a slow cooker when I first moved into my house 10 years ago but I couldn't get on with it the meat was not very tender and I seemed to have too much gravy.
I like the idea of putting the ingredients in and just leaving it to do it's thing.
SPC 037
0
Comments
-
I wouldn’t want to be without mine - actually I have two, one a small round one & an oval one which is better for Christmas puddings and cooking longer joints. You might pick up a bargain in the sales now, although I don’t think they’re expensive at any time of year unless you want something like a crockpot. You don’t need to add much liquid as things cook in their own juices, though you could always thicken any extra gravy with cornflour & freeze for another day. It would probably be worth investing in a cooker book specifically for slow cooking to get you started.0
-
If you are worried about the meat not being tender, try to get one with a removable bowl which you can use to brown the meat on the hob first. I have one of these & the meat is amazingly tender.
As above be careful of the amount of liquid you add or use.Dwy galon, un dyhead,
Dwy dafod ond un iaith,
Dwy raff yn cydio’n ddolen,
Dau enaid ond un taith.0 -
I used shin of beef in the casserole I did Yesterday, left it a 140 OC for about 4 hours and it just fell apart. so 6/8 hours in a slow cooker would give the same result but leaving it longer would not do it any harm?SPC 0370
-
We have two slow cookers, of different sizes, and they produce very tasty meals with the minimum amount of preparation time. There are lots of recipes available online so it's easy to build a collection that works for you. Tomorrow we'll be having slow-cooked beef with chunky vegetables, with a thick slice of home-made bread to soak up the delicious gravy#Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain #We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us #If you focus on what you have left behind, you will never see what lies ahead - Gusteau/RatatouilleGC 2022: £0/£2,500 total spend0
-
If you are worried about the meat not being tender, try to get one with a removable bowl which you can use to brown the meat on the hob first. I have one of these & the meat is amazingly tender.
As above be careful of the amount of liquid you add or use.
I've been using slow cookers for almost 45 years.
My ex-MIL was given one by a rep when they first came out & passed it on to us.
I've never, ever browned any meat before putting it in & it's always been tender.
I now have 2 (different sizes) and wouldn't be without them.0 -
Another discussion whether a slow cooker is a good buy:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/73344580#Comment_73344580
Lots of recipes:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/1332010#Comment_1332010
Long thread about slow cookers:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/70580706#Comment_705807060 -
So would I be right in thinking that if a casserole takes 4 hrs in an oven double the time for a slow cooker and put less liquid in?SPC 0370
-
I hated mine, everything came out tasting the same and watery, I now have an electric pressure cooker which beats a slow cooker by miles when is comes to flavour and texture.Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear0
-
So would I be right in thinking that if a casserole takes 4 hrs in an oven double the time for a slow cooker and put less liquid in?
TBH, I've never cooked a casserole for 4 hours in the oven.
As for slow cooker timings, it depends what setting you put it on.
Mine have low, medium & high settings and the timings obviously differ.
It also depends what you put in it.
I find root vegetables take longer to cook than meat.
So if I'm doing a beef stew with potatoes, swede etc it will take longer than a beef stroganoff.
I'd say 8 hours is about right for a root vegetables stew.
I toss my meat in seasoned flour before putting it in the pot to help thickening.
I have to say that my old one cooked the best of the lot and I'm still on the lookout in charity shops & car boots for a replacement.
As you can see from the reply above mine, not everyone is a slow cooker fan.0 -
Yes, I can see not everyone is a fan and as I have had a bad experience before perhaps I should stick to doing it the way I know." If it aint broke dont fix it"SPC 0370
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards