Slowcooker
- Thread starter Walkerie
- Start date
I'm not sure I like the idea of leaving them on all day while I'm at work. If they use less energy than the oven then I can see the benefit of using them, if not then I'd rather stick with the oven.
just started a sausage casserole.
9 mix n match of lincolnshire and cumberland sausages, chopped into pieces with carrots,onions and sliced potatoes sausage casserole mix some mixed herbs and couple oxos, going to try it on low for 9 hours should come out nice, will add some dumplings in hopefully if i get up in time. pics to follow!
9 mix n match of lincolnshire and cumberland sausages, chopped into pieces with carrots,onions and sliced potatoes sausage casserole mix some mixed herbs and couple oxos, going to try it on low for 9 hours should come out nice, will add some dumplings in hopefully if i get up in time. pics to follow!
They seem to use minimal power. I'll show you my electricity usage graphs at work next week while I'm cooking a yummy stew.
Soldato
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- 10 Sep 2008
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- Bangor, Northern Ireland
Ive been looking at getting one of these for a while but always seem to forget about it. How well do they cope with minced meat? I make a basic stew with mince, potatos, some veg, stock and gravy, like to make loads and freeze it for later, would a slow cooker be good for this or would it destroy the mince?
I cook 4 shoulder steaks, marinated with Hoisin sauce, couple of chopped garlic, spring onions, half an onion and 1/4 cup of Chinese rice wine + 1/2 a cup of chicken stock. Topped with a table spoon of sesame oil. Pop the lid on, 1 hour high and the rest on low for 5 to 6 house.
The meat was still in shape but OMG was that soft and flakey to go with a plate of rice.
Great for days when I'm going out for the whole day / lab work.
Will experiment with other stuff. Curry is next on my menu.
The meat was still in shape but OMG was that soft and flakey to go with a plate of rice.
Great for days when I'm going out for the whole day / lab work.
Will experiment with other stuff. Curry is next on my menu.
The slow cooker I have is a Versaware CrockPot.
You have to be a little careful as the pot is stoneware but that's no different to any stoneware. It can't take direct heat from a hob for example. The pot lifts out and it's got off/low/high/warm settings.
It's like a tardis, with a massive 4.7 litre volume but that's the whole point as it's designed for 4/5 people. I bought it as it will do a complete meal for two and still have some left over to save making a meal the next day.
Power: it's 235W. So for an 8 hour low cook, the maximum it's going to be is 8*235 = 1.880 KWh. As you have it on low for that 8 hours I suspect it will be less. Unfortunately I don't have a power monitor to test it. If you think of an oven being 800+W for 90-120mins by the time you add the pre-heat that's not too bad.
You have to be a little careful as the pot is stoneware but that's no different to any stoneware. It can't take direct heat from a hob for example. The pot lifts out and it's got off/low/high/warm settings.
It's like a tardis, with a massive 4.7 litre volume but that's the whole point as it's designed for 4/5 people. I bought it as it will do a complete meal for two and still have some left over to save making a meal the next day.
Power: it's 235W. So for an 8 hour low cook, the maximum it's going to be is 8*235 = 1.880 KWh. As you have it on low for that 8 hours I suspect it will be less. Unfortunately I don't have a power monitor to test it. If you think of an oven being 800+W for 90-120mins by the time you add the pre-heat that's not too bad.
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Why would anyone make a Bolognese sauce in a slow cooker? ...
1) It will be crap!
2) It can be made in 20 mins from scratch.
Use the slow cooker for cheap cuts of meat that would be tough if cooked for a short time but will be tender when cooked for hours on a low heat.
Before some smart arse gets the wrong Idea and blows themselves up; do not use a gas hob/oven on a low light whilst at work, away from the house. (common sense, but hey, this is OcUK) Either use an electric hob, a purpose built electric appliance or an electric oven.
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does anyone cook dumplings in theirs?
and to answer you i was meant to wake up to add them but forgot =[
Most of the recipes I've seen for bolognese as opposed to just a tomato sauce normally involve it being left to cook down for a fair while
Our slow cooker has been on since 9am this morning - the lovely smell of sweet & sour beef is wafting up the stairs at the moment.
I love using the slow cooker at this time of year, especially when you've been out all day. Come home and smell that tea is pretty much ready to trough
A slow cooker has something like a 180 to 300w element, so you can work out the cost to run one for 8 hours off that. Pretty cheap though and it's great being able to get one with other jobs knowing tea will be ready with minimal fuss.
I love using the slow cooker at this time of year, especially when you've been out all day. Come home and smell that tea is pretty much ready to trough
A slow cooker has something like a 180 to 300w element, so you can work out the cost to run one for 8 hours off that. Pretty cheap though and it's great being able to get one with other jobs knowing tea will be ready with minimal fuss.
I made a chinese chicken curry on Friday, two massive chicken breasts from the butcher, diced and browned in a frying pan with an onion. Then I cheated a bit and threw it into the slow cooker with some 'Mayflower' chinese curry sauce, added a bit of rice vinegar and water then cooked for about 7 hours then served with prawn crackers and Uncle Ben's egg fried rice. Total cost was about £3.50 per person (two of us) and I have a load left which I've frozen.