Advice please on Slow Cookers

Yesterday I decided to try rice pudding in my slow cooker, as I don't like it on the induction cooker that we recently had installed.
So I set it to cook on low, as someone suggested, then after 3 hrs as nothing much was happening I changed the setting to high, it soon cooked after that and the end result was delicious, creamy rice pudding. Next time I will try other recipes such as soups etc. but always using the high setting.

Not until mid-November phoenix!

Although, now you've mentioned it, I rather fancy gammon, cauliflower cheese and jacket potatoes.

Dare I mention the gammon?

The "innard" in my slow cooker fits well in the dishwasher also.

Love my slow cooker, I have one that serves 8, and I cook in bulk, two for now and 6 for freezing. I tend to cook different things in it, but it’s great for curries, both meat and vegetable based, and soups. It’s effort free too, which is a bonus, put it on in the morning and eat for dinner that evening.

I have a slow cooker with a metal insert dish (rather than crockery) which can be used on the hob to brown onions, meat etc with the other ingredients added before switching it on. Saves on washing up as well!

Yes I use my slow cooker mainly for casserole meat dishes. I put the veg in first with the meat on top, seasoning and a small amount - half cup of water, cover with the lid and forget about it until it's time to eat. But just for veg I'm not sure but you can use it for making veg soup etc. Good luck, I'm sure you'll enjoy using it.

When doing vegetarian meals, say a chilli, the dried beans absorb the spices, tomato, peppers and onion juices with slow cooking.
Soups can cook while you are out and it is easy to make a good veggie stock.

Can anyone recommend a good knife sharpener. I don't
have much success with a steel.

steamed sponge

I do wish people would stop mentioning steamed sponge puddings!

Riversidegirl

When making casseroles, always heat the whole thing in the pan you have browned the meat or veg in. Then tip it in the slow cooker. For very long slow meat dishes, I just leave it on low overnight.

I do that too sometimes.

it can be used for so many thing apart from a meat stew.
Meat casseroles are fine done in the slow cooker.

If cooking something that doesn't need browning first, I always cook the onions in the microwave in a little stock first.

Why do you need to do that, Riverside? I’ve never done that.

When making casseroles, always heat the whole thing in the pan you have browned the meat or veg in. Then tip it in the slow cooker. For very long slow meat dishes, I just leave it on low overnight.

I agree with others, it can be used for so many thing apart from a meat stew. Puddings are excellent, Christmas, steamed sponge, rice pudding.

I’ve not done it myself as I have a yogurt maker but I’m told you can even make yogurt in it on the Keep Warm setting.

Just a P.S.

Our gammon was yummy, it fell apart, DH said “This is pulled gammon”, and had seconds.

I made the mistake of buying a slow cooker divided 1/3rd and 2/3rds, thinking I could do desert at same time. I have never fancies doing that as the smell of meat would go into the rice pud, or whatever.

I am veggie but I cook OH slow roast beef joint (no water) and it's falling off the bone. I freeze lots of portions with the gravy it makes.

Just a query for people cooking just veggie food, please. I have never tried cooking veggie things. I didn't think it's worth it, as veg cook quickly and easily anyway. Surely they don't benefit from long slow cooking. Even a curry would be fine on the hob instead of hours in slow cooker.

Am thinking of buying a digital one from Lakeland. Has anyone bought one . Do they like it? What size is it. Does not say litre size in brochure

I always thought that everything had to be covered with water or stock in a slow cooker but I've cooked lamb shank without too much stock and saw that DD put a 'slow roast' in hers with very little water. Of course, juices will run out anyway and add to the liquid.

089fraZZeledApricot
You may find that root vegetables and onions take far longer to cook in a slow cooker than you'd think.

But yes, I would recommend them.

Thank you sark & calli

Absolutely love my slow cooker, wouldn’t be without ours, love the smell of our dinner wafting round the kitchen

janeainsworth

I hope this isn’t a daft question, but when you use your slow cooker for Christmas puddings, do you sit the pudding basin in some water in the slow cooker, like a Bain Marie, or just put the basin in dry?

Yes, in water. Make sure it doesn't run dry.

Good for cooking them and for reheating when all the rings on the hob may be in use.

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janeainsworth yep just put water in about halfway up the pudding basin.
Great way to cook Christmas pudding

The mistake I made was to buy one which was too small. It was sufficient for 1-2 meals. I live on my own, fine but I cook and then freeze so this was not large enough for my needs. The next one I bought was ideal.

I hope this isn’t a daft question, but when you use your slow cooker for Christmas puddings, do you sit the pudding basin in some water in the slow cooker, like a Bain Marie, or just put the basin in dry?