How Do You Use A Slow Cooker?

krupskaya

Gold Member
I've just ordered one from Asda at the bargain price of £7. I've never used one before tho so if anyone could advise me I'd be dead grateful....

If I want to make a lentil soup for example, do I make up all the ingredients in a pan, bring to the boil and then transfer to the slow cooker? How long would I leave it on for? 6 hours on high/9 hours on low, or have I got it wrong? What about a chilli when I don't want the veg to be complete mush???

Be really thankful for any help at all, ZXXX
 
Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly.

Lol! Do you bring everything to the boil before you put it into the slow cooker? Have had a look on the Slow cooker thread and can't work it out - doh! X
 
Basically just bung it all in and switch it on! There are folk who prefer to brown their meat before putting it in the pot though
I suggest you get a book out of the library and just have a bash!
 
Thankyou Kristin and Circes, X
 
I personally perfer to brown my mince when I do spag bol in a slow cooker, once you get one you will not life without it. It is a real life safer :)
You just but the meat in with about a pint of water and select the slow one you can do it high which is for like 4-5 hrs but varies depening on what you are doing. It is easy just to type n google time frames for meat in slow cooker
 
I do ham joints in mine. Just stick them in on their own, no water or anything. On high for between 3.5 and 5 hours. Lovely
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I'm a veggie so no cooking meat in it for me. Just ordered a 'vegetarian slow cooker' recipe book from Amazon. Can't wait to get going with it!
 
Thanks for the link Lexie - that's a great site! X
 
I got that same cooker krupskaya, what a bargin! Im pretty well versed in slow cookers though and also a veggie. A few tips?
I always brown onions before they go in for the flavour. Any liquid will not burn off or disappear so dont make things too watery. Theres plenty of ways to use it but its very good for stewy things so think stewing veg (carrot, squash, parsnip, turnip etc etc) as they work really well.
I bought it on friday and made quorn cottage pie. I sweated some onions in a frying pan in a little spray oil and dumped them in the pot and put it on high (as it was midday, if i was a couple of hours earlier it would have been low as it had longer to cook) diced a load of celery and carrot and dumped them in too with salt, pepper, and some mixed herbs, a teaspoon of veg stock powder and about 50ml water. An hour after put in some quorn, stir together and leave cooking for about 3 hours, less if you want, 2 hours least though. Stir some peas through and bung some mash ontop and put in the oven.

That was pretty much off the top of my head, its a great thing to experiement with, good luck!
 
i found loads of cheap bargain 'slow cooker' books in the 'Works' bookshop - of course you can go online and find recipes, but these have some great ideas - so worth a purchase IMO! x
 
veg

My mum loves her slow cooker - a little one which does two portions from Lakeland, which is really good for her as she's by herself. Anyway, she says the best thing is to put hte veg at the bottom if you find them coming out tough. Good luck - just put the ingredients for ratatouille in mine.
 
i have just purchase one of these from asda today, about to try. will let you know the results.
 
I just chuck everything in mine, switch in on low when I leave home about 8ish and it's ready when I get home at 4.30.
I love lamb or beef casserole (I don't brown the meat), vegetable soup, chilli, curry, anything really!
Just don't add too much water or you'll be reaching for the cornflour.
 
You have just all inspired me to get mine out of mothballs. I know things are yummy cooked in it especially the cheaper cuts of meat.
 
I just chuck everything in mine, switch in on low when I leave home about 8ish and it's ready when I get home at 4.30.
I love lamb or beef casserole (I don't brown the meat), vegetable soup, chilli, curry, anything really!
Just don't add too much water or you'll be reaching for the cornflour.

oops, i have add about 1pint of vegan stock. oh well cornflour here i come.
 
Don't forget they are good for porridge and rice pudding! And you can do egg custard in them too.
 
used my asda slow cooker yesterday for a butter bean stew. just let it get on, didnt have to stand around and await. so great that i currently have a leak and potatoe soup on the go. been cooking since 9am should be ready about 14.00pm yum. hubby just returned from work and loves the smell around the house
 
Don't forget you can stew your hex b fruit in it!
 
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