Slow cooker tips and tricks every cook should know!

Slow cooker tips every cook should know to help you make tasty food.

The most common question is, how do I stop my food from being too watery?

Generally, it is a problem because too much water was added at the start.  Solutions to this are as follows:

1. Place a tea towel underneath the lid to absorb condensation.
2. Toss the meat in a bit of flour if using.
3. Add pearl barley, grains or red lentils.
4. Add potatoes, sometimes take a few out, crush, and pop back in. Or add instant potato granules.
5. If the mix is still runny, remove some of it, blitz it with a hand blender, and then add the rest to thicken it.
6. Remove some liquid, mix it with cornflour, and return it to the pot. Cook for at least an hour before thickening it.
7. Gravy granules help thicken the dish.
8. Keep the lid closed while food is cooking.  Whenever you open the lid, you delay the cooking process by 20 to 30 minutes.

Slow cookers are ideal for budget batch cooking meals and use very little electricity compared to mains oven.

The slow cooker breaks down fat over a long time, so it’s great for cheap cuts of meat in stews like lamb shanks, ham hocks, lamb shoulder, chicken thighs and braising steak.

Don’t overfill the pot, go no further than two thirds full.

Place ingredients that take a long time to cook near the bottom.  These tend to be root vegetables!

Dried herbs work better than fresh, add at the start so they they release their flavour slowly.

Prepare all your ingredients the night before so they are ready to throw in the morning pot. Remove them from the fridge half an hour earlier to bring them to room temperature.

Warming the pot first helps the ingredients get off to a flying start. Be careful when adding boiling water to a cold pot, as it may crack.

With the potential introduction of being rewarded for not using electricity at peak times this winter (if you are on a smart meter) the slow cooker is a great option.

WHAT CAN I MAKE IN SLOW COOKER?

Slow cookers can be used for many things besides stews and soups! ……. Curries, bread, cakes and jacket potatoes!

Add water and a trivet to the bottom of the pot. Then, add sponge tins, bread loaf tins, and even Christmas puddings!

This is a very efficient way to cook them, with no condensation or need to top up the water. Place a tea towel under the lid to prevent water from dripping onto them and making them soggy.

HOW DO TIMINGS COMPARE TO TRADITIONAL COOKING METHODS?

If a dish typically takes up to 30 minutes in the oven, cook for 1-2 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low.

If a dish typically takes up to an hour in the oven, cook it for 2-3 hours on high and 5-7 hours on low.

If a dish usually takes up to 2 hours in the oven, cook it for 3-4 hours on high and 6-8 hours on low.

HOW LONG DO I COOK BREAD FOR?

2 hours on high based on a 500g loaf.

HOW LONG DO I COOK JACKET POTATOES FOR?

4 hours on high or 7 hours on low.

WHEN DO I ADD DUMPLINGS, RICE OR PASTA TO FOOD?

The last 30-40 minutes of cooking time.

For more recipe ideas, follow me on Facebook or arrange a private cooking lesson.