Finally got a Slow Cooker

[hightara]

you'd think with a family as big as ours I would have got one sooner.

But on my two attempts, I have failed miserably

Irish Stew, cooked on slow overnight, the spuds/carrots where hard as the hobs of hell  though the braising steak was lovely and tender

Goulash, twas a lovely consistency but I spilt too many chilies in it ( I know goulash isnt made with chilies, but I wanted a little extra kick).

So what I would love is could you share some recipes with me and some tips please

I have this model  6 litre

[bitsnknots]

We've had a slow cooker for years and I think that they are brilliant.  My mum normally cooks steak and kidney casserole in ours and the meat is always lovely and tender.

[millielilac]

Veg in a slow cooker needs to be sliced very thinly as they take much longer to cook than the meat ....you will soon get the hang of it .

One of my favourite recipes is slow cooked butter chicken curry which can be found on line . I dont put in any oil , only a knob of butter and use half fat coconut milk and 0% fat yoghurt .....however its lovely and creamy and tastes delicious.

I also use mine to cook joints of meat , chicken and ham joints ...brilliant .

There are lots of recipes on line ...

[chickengrandma-2008]

When I used to use one I always started it off by warming the pot first (switching it on with nothing in it) then I would put the meat and veg in and cover with boiling water and leave it on high for an hour.  Now I have an Aga it has a slow oven but I still put things in the hot oven for half an hour first to get them heated through, then put it in the slow oven for hours, until I'm ready to eat it.

[stroppy*cow]

Tend to just cook the meat and gravy in the slow cooker as I don't like a lot of root veg.  I do add onions and garlic, and sometimes mushrooms (cut pretty chunky) as mushrooms don't take a lot of cooking. I will cook the veg separately, or if it is something like tinned sweetcorn or frozen peas that need little more than warming through I just add these about 40 minutes before serving.

If I am doing bolognese I just throw everything in - mince (browned in frypan), onions, garlic, mushrooms, tinned tomato, glug of red wine plus herbs and seasonings and leave all day or overnight.

[chickengrandma-2008]

Of course when I said up there ^^^  about putting it on high for an hour I meant that was before putting it on automatic for another few hours.

[mouse4702]

Congratulations! Love my slowie. Do chicken in it - just put in a whole chicken, switch it on and come back later! Falling off the bone tender.

[peteryola]

With ours, we put the veg and meat in at the same time and cook on high for about 4 - 6 hours ( depending on how much is in it ) and the veg comes out just fine. :smileyhappy

[mouse4702]

Tara, you may be able to salvage anything too chilli-y by stirring in a load of double cream or plain yoghurt. And they do say to put the veg in the bottom and rest the meat on top, in the hope that the veg will cook more (goes to pot when you stir it though) Petery, long time no see - **mmmwah**

[hightara]

oooohhh lots of tips

thank you all so much 

ps. tried the cream mouse, but i didnt realise how many dried chilies fell in as it blended with the paprika, when I say it was hot, words cannot describe the burn.

[stan3502]

---

hightara wrote:, when I say it was hot, words cannot describe the burn.

---

Toilet roll in fridge moment then Hightara yes ,,,,,,

[mouse4702]

Understood, Tara. If it happens in the future and you are loth to chuck it away after using all those ingredients, try the "divide and conquer" method. Split it into two, three or four portions and add whatever you can to bulk each one out - tins of veg are fine, esp chick peas which won't affect the taste. The more you add, the more the hotness is diluted. Then serve with loads of rice or pasta to soak it up. You've got more than you bargained for, but each one will be less hot than the original. Slam the unused portions in the freezer for another day

[captainbovine]

now that's clever Mouse.....

you haven't lived unless you've tried a gammon joint done slowly in your slow cooker, cor it's so delicious.

I do a lot of stews in ours in the winter, joints of meat too but I've never tried a whole chicken. Got one in the fridge, so I'll have a go at that tomorrow.

[mouse4702]

Cap, you'll not have the crispy skin, but you could fry it first to crisp it up if you were really that way inclined.

[guardpig]

Personally I tend to stick root veggies on to boil whilst I brown meat, onions flavourings, make sauce up to required taste and consistency using veggie water then put veggies topped with meat and sauce on low for however many hours.    Soup season staring soon.

[fluffypenquin]

I love my slow cooker - I have just ordered another one as a spare - the 6.5 litre Morphy Richards oval slow cooker on offer at ASDA Direct for £20.00 which is a realy good price.

Gammon joints and leg of lamb are absolutely delicious done in the slow cooker - in fact I never cook them any other way now.

My one biggest tip is if you are following any standard recipe (not a specific slow cooker one) halve the amount of liquid that the recipe suggests or even less than that.

Cut vegetables up a lot smaller than normal or partially cook them before putting in the slow cooker as the meat always cooks quicker than the vegetables.

Makes a delicious milk pudding, as it just doesn't burn.  I could go on and on and on.  I really could not do without a slow cooker.

You will find it particularly useful in the winter - if you go out you can come home to a lovely roast joint, curry, stew in fact just about anything.

BTW great to see you posting again 🙂

[merc1_clocks]

 I would say I use my slow cooker for 80% of my meals...love it 

[tidsy666]

well I have my irish stew on (using ribs this time) have used the tips ............ and its gorgeous

put the meat in last and cut the spuds and carrots up smaller

never thought of dividing the mixture for the sore butt goulash , thank you mouse.

only thing was when I was seasoning it about an hour ago, I fainted (low blood pressure), my ma said it was the shock

of having to cook

have to admit hubby does the cooking in the house but its fairly basic stuff.

[hightara]

oopps I hate that..................... ^^^^^^^^^me above.... blerdy lastpass automatic sign in 

[leoleoleo123]

you can google for slow cooker recipes, or, if you are on FBook, you can join various pages.. I am on 'slow cooker saddos'!
or, you can buy recipe books on Amazooon!