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Old 25-01-2008, 19:26
marc225
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Are slow cookers any good?

How do they actually work: I guess like a normal cooker but cooks things slowly.

Am thinking of one as ideal as work long hours etc.

Is it a matter of putting something on in the morning and it cooks all day ready for evening? What about risk of fire: will water dry up quickly and completely etc.

Sorry for questions; but just wonder if ideal or not
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Old 25-01-2008, 19:30
jigsawjake
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yes, see my thread about the potatoes I have done in it today.I also make soup and stew in it.
It doesnt dry up quickly in my experience.

If anyone else has any idead for other types of food that can be cooked in it i would be grateful - i have heard you can cook lasagne, cakes, and all kinds of things. but i'm not sure how.
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Old 26-01-2008, 13:34
marc225
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yes, see my thread about the potatoes I have done in it today.I also make soup and stew in it.
It doesnt dry up quickly in my experience.

If anyone else has any idead for other types of food that can be cooked in it i would be grateful - i have heard you can cook lasagne, cakes, and all kinds of things. but i'm not sure how.


How long did you leave them in there for
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Old 26-01-2008, 13:40
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i love my slow cooker

i do braised steak & onions in it. prepare as normal - just cover with liquid & cook on slow for 8hrs. with slow cookers the liquid doesnt evaporate so you need to be careful not to add too much.
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Old 26-01-2008, 13:50
silkdragon
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I love my slow cooker just users the power of a light bulb if left on all day.
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Old 26-01-2008, 13:53
silkdragon
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yes, see my thread about the potatoes I have done in it today.I also make soup and stew in it.
It doesnt dry up quickly in my experience.

If anyone else has any idead for other types of food that can be cooked in it i would be grateful - i have heard you can cook lasagne, cakes, and all kinds of things. but i'm not sure how.
Have you any more recipes for using the slow cooker, I love mine and could not do without it. Keeps the kitchen free from steam because you are not having to boil things.
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Old 26-01-2008, 14:36
JethroUK
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Are slow cookers any good?
Just ought to point out that slow cooking is a type of cooking and not a cooker - by that i mean you don't have to buy a special cooker ('slow cooker') to cook slowly

I don't think electric cookers do it so well (don't go much under 100 degrees) but gas cooker do it very well - on our old cooker it had an 'S' setting (Slow Cooker) on the temperature guage

How do they actually work: I guess like a normal cooker but cooks things slowly.
Basically - With normal cooking you would have different cooking temprature & times for different ingredients, making it a very hands-on process - benefit of slow cooking means you can cook all the ingredients (from meat to veggies) at the same temperature fo the same time & in same pot - just put the stuff in a wait till it's cooked

disadvantage it's slow - not good for TV dinner - but means you can let it cook whilst your working and it's done when your home
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Old 26-01-2008, 14:49
marc225
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Thanks for that all

The main thing is so I can put something on first thing in the morning and comes home at night and have something to eat.

I cant be bothered to cook when I get home so think it might be a good thng
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Old 26-01-2008, 14:50
jigsawjake
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How long did you leave them in there for
about 7 hours on high - but i like my food well cooked.They were probably done well before that.
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Old 26-01-2008, 15:26
marc225
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about 7 hours on high - but i like my food well cooked.They were probably done well before that.
Which slow cooker have you got
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Old 26-01-2008, 19:37
rachie
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They are perfect for people who live on their own, leave for work early, get home late and would otherwise end up with some crappy takeaway or toast for dinner! (like me)

Asda are selling a basic one for £7 at the mo, bargain
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Old 26-01-2008, 19:45
jigsawjake
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Which slow cooker have you got

its a morphy richards, I've had it for years, the inside pot is brown earthenware and very heavy, i live in fear of dropping the lid as i am sure it would break,I cant remember how much it cooks now, but a lot - enough to freeze several meals worth if i use it topped up to the brim.

I think it was about £25 but i know you can get smaller and cheaper models.
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Old 26-01-2008, 19:50
Lemonhunny
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Which slow cooker have you got
I dived into Comet last weekend as I wanted to see how much slow cookers were.

They had a Proline oval stainless steel outer, with black crock pot for £14.99. I didn't hesitate and grabbed one!

This week we've been working 16 hour days and last thing I want to do it cook when we get home!

Sunday I cooked a pork loin roast in it overnight - fantastic! So tender it just melted in the mouth.

Tuesday I cooked lamb neck fillets with onions, baby potatoes and sliced carrots, using a packet of Oxo lamb and mint gravy for the liquid. Put it on low just before we left for work. Absolutely delicious.

Friday I put a basic beef stew in just using 2 oxo cubes and a cup of water for the liquid. Cooked on low again from morning till night - fabulous.

If you do work long hours, I think it's absolutely ideal - we are hooked!

http://www.justslowcooking.com/index.html
http://allrecipes.com/Search/Recipes...rm=slow+cooker


Two websites for some good ideas


LH
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Old 26-01-2008, 22:50
redjay
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i love putting a stew in mine before I go to work, 40 mins before dinner time i chuck in some dumplings. Deliciouso!
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Old 27-01-2008, 01:21
bobsatlog
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Some good recipes here
http://www.recipezaar.com/sitenews/post.php?pid=877
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Old 27-01-2008, 14:20
pickledlily
 
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I've had a large Morphy Richards one for years, but when the family left home I bought a small two person one from Lakeland.

When using it I usually brown my meat and soften the onion and mushromms first, and leave it on all day. I did mince like that yesterday and it was gorgeous. It's really good for the cheaper cuts of meat that need a long slow cookimg.

I have reheated Christmas pud in mine as well, don't have to bother about topping up the water levels and no steam in the kitchen, plus it frees up a ring on the hob.

Moist of them come with a recipe leaflet, and there are some recipe books on the market, one pot cooking and re cipes for the slow cooker, that type of thing.
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Old 27-01-2008, 17:10
jo03
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Inspired by a thread on here I have made a lovely soup in mine today.I used cauliflower and broccoli.It tastes really lovely.
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Old 28-01-2008, 11:17
silkdragon
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Thanks lemonhunny I have had a look at the websites you have posted, very useful
some good recipes on there.
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Old 28-01-2008, 12:06
purrfect_catlov
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Are slow cookers any good?

How do they actually work: I guess like a normal cooker but cooks things slowly.

Am thinking of one as ideal as work long hours etc.

Is it a matter of putting something on in the morning and it cooks all day ready for evening? What about risk of fire: will water dry up quickly and completely etc.

Sorry for questions; but just wonder if ideal or not
they are the best. YOu can cook over night too if you want.

I cook lots of things, stews, soups, bolognaise, CURRIES, casseroles, even steak and kidney which I then use for pie the next day.

Mine you can saute on the stove first and assemble ingrediants then cook all day on the trivet.

When I worked all day it was lovely coming home to the smell of cooking food.
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Old 28-01-2008, 13:09
brogusblue
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Hello

I am interested in buying a slow cooker i look of 2 in argos Crock Pot 4.7L Saute Slow Cooker £39.97 the other one is Morphy Richards 48715 Stainless Steel Oval Slow Cooker £22.64 from £33.97, Anyone got one ??, i did have a very old kenwood brown china one ages ago and reading these posts is making me want one again.

Cheers
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Old 28-01-2008, 14:53
Sad_BB_Addict
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i love putting a stew in mine before I go to work, 40 mins before dinner time i chuck in some dumplings. Deliciouso!
What I love about doing this is that you get home from the proverbial "bad day at the office", open the front door and the smell to welcome you is terrific.
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Old 28-01-2008, 17:11
marc225
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Well I went and bought one yesterday - got a Breville on from Argos as matches all the other appliances in the kitchen.

Made a chicken casserole which I will have tonight. I had it on low all day; so just come in and smells lovely. Will put it on high for an hour I think now to make sure it lovely and hot
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Old 28-01-2008, 17:13
whoever,hey
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Well I went and bought one yesterday - got a Breville on from Argos as matches all the other appliances in the kitchen.

Made a chicken casserole which I will have tonight. I had it on low all day; so just come in and smells lovely. Will put it on high for an hour I think now to make sure it lovely and hot
I didn't think you needed to do that. It will have piping hot steam in it already all day long.
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Old 28-01-2008, 17:59
jigsawjake
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I made a mistake today - I will tell you to save you having the same problem.

I put broccoli, cauliflower, chopped carrots, and small potatoes in a foil parcel, and some dry pasta and rice in another foil parcel, with water halfway up the foil, on low for 6 hours.

Tonight I find that the vegetables are cooked to perfection, but the pasta and rice are still rock hard (I thought they would cook in the steam)

So i think that pasta and rice may need to actually go in the liquid.
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Old 28-01-2008, 18:55
marc225
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I didn't think you needed to do that. It will have piping hot steam in it already all day long.

Grrr not the case - it was on low all day but when I did a test hte veg wasn't soft

So think it needed to be on medium all day.

Oh well experiment I can only do
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