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Hints and Tips for Slow Cooker?


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Old 11-07-2008, 19:02
TrinityGirl
 
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Seeing Whoever,Hey's response about cooking Thai Curry in the slow cooker has prompted me to consider buying one again and I wondered if anyone had some advice?

There's just my son (15 and fussy) and myself (also fussy), but I've just got him into curries. My previous experience of a slow cooker was that it was too much hassle browning stuff before putting it in the cooker, but I'm bored with the stuff we eat and like the idea of coming home to a nice readily prepared meal.

So, any gotchas, websites with good recipies, books, or general advice would be most welcome.

Thanks

PS WH - is that Thai recipe you link to the one you do in the slow cooker?
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Old 11-07-2008, 19:24
Lemonhunny
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If you type Slow Cooker into the search box, you'll find a couple of threads in this section about just this thing.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...ht=slow+cooker
This is just one of them.

Type Crockpot or Slow Cooker into Google and there are a plethora of website, video and text, with zillions of recipes.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Main-D...oker/Main.aspx
This is one of them I've used.

I have to admit that I generally just do my own thing. I can't be bothered browning anything before putting it in the cooker, so just chuck it all in, add herbs or spices and seasoning, and turn it on, go to work, come home and eat it!

Have to say my favourite thing has been a thin layer of barbecue sauce on the bottom, sliced onions on top of that, and the belly pork rashers topped with more barbecue sauce.

When I got home that night the smell was fantastic, and they just melted in the mouth, full of delicious flavour.
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Old 11-07-2008, 19:29
TrinityGirl
 
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If you type Slow Cooker into the search box, you'll find a couple of threads in this section about just this thing.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...ht=slow+cooker
This is just one of them.
Thanks, I did try the search first as I know there's nothing more annoying than people asking for something where there is already a thread, but it didn't return anything so I suppose I was just having a 'senior moment'....
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Old 15-07-2008, 12:41
pickledlily
 
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I use my slow cooker for all sorts of things, sweet and sour pork, -- diced pork shoulder, a jar of sauce and leave for 3 or 4 hours or more. Chicken curry, just diced chicken and a jar of curry sauce, lamb shanks with white beans and a couple of stock cubes, I leave this all day.

Other things like spag bol, chilli, casseroles I do pre-cook, and then leave them in the crockpot/slow cooker all day for the flavours to develop.

I've been using them for about 20 years and would be lost without them, especially in the winter.

I've also reheated Christmas pudding in mine, leaves a ring free, no steamed up kitchen and you don't need to keep topping up the water.
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Old 15-07-2008, 12:48
pigeonnier
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Two of our slow cooker faves are rice pudding - tastes almost like tinned Ambrosia - and roast beef.

To cook a joint of beef brown and seal it in a pan for a few minutes and put in cooker for 4-5 hours. Comes out moist, tender and full of flavour
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Old 15-07-2008, 13:11
TrinityGirl
 
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Thanks for your comments. I did buy a cheap one and tried Kleftiko on Sunday, as per a recommendation from the other thread. This was quite nice, though I think I used too much oil to pre-cook the veg.

This morning, I threw in a whole chicken, to which I added an onion (precooked in the microwave, as I couldn't face frying onions at 6:00 am!) and 1/2 litre of chicken stock. The liquid didn't cover the chicken but common opinion seems to be that it doesn't need to. So, hopefully tonight I will have lovely chicken waiting for me on my return.

Incidentally, I left the cooker on 'low' as it was going to be cooking for more than 12 hours.
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Old 15-07-2008, 17:20
rosypie
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Oh wow some of these things are fantastic. I wouldnt have ever thought of putting a chicken or bit of beef in a slow cooker. I am quite young and inexperienced when it comes to cooking but i love to cook and try new recipes. I just figured the slow cooker was only for cooking casseroles and stews.
When doing a joint of meat, do you have to add water or can you just put in the joint and your flavourings?
I really only thought you could cook saucy type things in it and never in a million would I think of doint a joint in it. Could you serve the beef as a roast after it has been in the slow cooker?
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Old 15-07-2008, 20:07
pigeonnier
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Rosypie - just seal the beef in a pan then put it in the cooker, you might like to sprinkle the meat with a little seasoning first. No need to add anything else - the juice from the meat while it is cooking can be used an excellent stock for gravy but don't neglect to separate the fat from it first. Then serve as a roast with all the usual trimmings - superb
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Old 15-07-2008, 20:31
rosypie
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Rosypie - just seal the beef in a pan then put it in the cooker, you might like to sprinkle the meat with a little seasoning first. No need to add anything else - the juice from the meat while it is cooking can be used an excellent stock for gravy but don't neglect to separate the fat from it first. Then serve as a roast with all the usual trimmings - superb
Fantastic thank you so much. That makes it so much easier and I bet tastier!
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Old 16-07-2008, 14:59
sinead6uk
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lef of lamb put in the slow cooker with no stock and seasoned with salt pepper and rosemary is to die for! Mmmmmm this thread is making me hungry!
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Old 17-07-2008, 11:05
newkid30
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Embarassing question alert:
What is a slow cooker?
I hear people refer to them all the time on this site and I have no idea what it is? I don't think my Mum has one. What does it look like? Is it just a big pot?
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Old 17-07-2008, 12:10
whoever,hey
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Embarassing question alert:
What is a slow cooker?
I hear people refer to them all the time on this site and I have no idea what it is? I don't think my Mum has one. What does it look like? Is it just a big pot?
They are electric, and are used to cook slow and for hours on end. Really tenderises the meat
http://images.google.com/images?q=sl...=1&sa=N&tab=wi
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Old 17-07-2008, 19:04
pinkfairy245
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I discovered slow cookers last winter and can i just say its amazing! We all used to come home from uni freezing cold and there would be a delicious dinner all ready and waiting. They are really cheap to run aswell and work with just about everything.
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Old 18-07-2008, 13:07
newkid30
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Thanks for info, seriously considering investing in one now, they are not that expensive and would be so handy.
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Old 20-07-2008, 14:12
paulyoung666
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Thanks for info, seriously considering investing in one now, they are not that expensive and would be so handy.

i have just picked an asda ( ONN brand ) one for £9 , 4.5 litre capacity and a digital timer , bargain i reckon
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Old 28-07-2008, 21:54
Orangemaid
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i have just put my slow cooker on now..Im doing a spaggi bol, and just bunged it all in cook over night..I work all hours from 7.am..and dont get back home till 12.30(pm)..(doing extra hours for the next 2weeks).Already cooked the spaggetti, so i just heat it all up wehn get in....Its great i also do a chilli in the slow cooker too sometimes when im working extra..
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