How to use large SC for multi cooking?

Katiehound

Today my wombling produced a 6.5 l slow cooker! it was dumped by the bottle bank, and I've checked- it works. It's one of the oval thingies.

My question is 
How can I use this to good advantage?
I don't want to cook umpteen portions of stew - whatever as I only have a small freezer, already full, and there's only me. (Hounds don't count!!)

I am thinking I could cook something in a Pyrex bowl- a small meaty thing or a pond pudding in a bain marie but I'm left with a reasonable space- but not large enough for another bowl. I do have Pyrex measuring jugs so I think that would work. I am assuming that a jam jar would not be robust enough. A kilner jar would be fine- no, no longer have any of those! I also assume that I need to put a trivet, a rack or a cloth in the bottom so that anything is not in direct contact with the ceramic pot- essentially food would be steamed.

Suggestions gratefully received- but no milk puddings or curried items. Both big hates. Not that keen on soup either!!

Many thanks

Rosa_Damascena

Take a look at the "Feeling the Pinch" thread, there are loads of SC ideas on it. 

Although I would be quite happy if someone served me soup or curry every day, just as long as I don't have to cook it or be anywhere near it when it is prepared!

Eta: chickpea and veggie curry followed by Indian rice pudding would be divine 

goldfinches

I'm using mine to make stewed apple to go into sterilised jars to be stored in my larder just now. I've also used it for making Delia's mincemeat instead of putting it in the oven. Other things I can think of would be tomato sauce or ketchup and mushroom ketchup or this hedgerow one Hedgerow ketchup recipe | BBC Good Food and jams or chutneys. There's also making stock from carcasses and ends of veg to think of too.

I think you're quite right that you'd need to protect the bottom of a Pyrex bowl from the direct heat and suggest one of those petal steamers would be perfect if you've got one, like this Judge Adjustable Stainless Steel Basket Steamer | Harts of Stur
I think any steamed pudding savoury or sweet would come out really well from a long slow steam and suggest things like Christmas puddings might be extra good so you could try looking up figgy pudding and that sort of recipe. 

newlywed

You can apparently make baked potatoes in the slow cooker, tho I have never tried it… they might fit in the remaining space?

cornishchick

Slow cooker bags. Mean you can cook 2 differnt things.
Slow cooker bread is brilliant. 
Pretty much any meal that goes in an oven can be slow cooked.
The trick is to have less liquid and check the timings the first few times you cook it 

Katiehound

cornishchick said:

Slow cooker bags. Mean you can cook 2 differnt things.
 

thanks- yes, that's my aim

I wonder how 2 would work together 'cos I see you have to ensure bag fits over rim. Worth an experiment

I already have a small SC- trying to work out how to use one very much bigger one to advantage

it's not so much what to cook- seen & read most threads- but how to utilise all that capacity!!

Slow cooker bread? sounds interesting

Katiehound

Just found these!
https://www.bakedbyanintrovert.com/slow-cooker-orange-sweet-rolls/

never even thought of bread

So, double thanks @cornishchick

newlywed

I did once cook a fruit cake in the slow cooker. The recipe suggested putting an upside down saucer in the bottom of the slow cooker to keep the dish off the base.