Slow cookers

[Daisy]

Many thanks, Enfys.

[Shemadee]

Tend to use my slow cooker for casseroles, gammon hock and also for boiling Christmas pudding as it frees up a space on the hob on Christmas Day. Ginger gammon recipe sounds delicious.

[Qwerty]

She's a speedy lady Qwerty

Yes I ve heard she’s a bit fast 😉

[Enfys]

Ooer, missus 🤓

[Clover]

I mentioned to DD that I’m thinking of getting a slow cooker as she has one and she said perhaps it could be my Christmas present.I’ve not had one before as I only have a small kitchen and no room to put one but if I have a sort out I might be able to squeeze one in.

[Enfys]

If you go for a taller one rather than a wide one, Clover, it might be easier.

[Qwerty]

I have to keep mine in a cupboard Clover it’s a bit heavy to lift out but manage, I have to half my ingredients it’s a smallish one couldn’t put 8 litres of ginger ale in from Enfys recipe 😀

[Enfys]

Mines in a cupboard too, Qwerty and like you, I adjust the recipes accordingly. I really must do that ham recipe again, it’s lovely cold too.

[Daisy]

I have to keep my slow cooker in the saucepan drawer. It's an oval shape so takes up quite a bit of room and I have to wiggle it around to get it in. I wish things like that had retractable leads - it's always the plug that ends up being a problem!

[Plantaholic]

I have just ordered a new slow cooker from Argos, pick it up tomorrow. I wanted one that you could put on the cooker to seal the meat and as I have an induction hob there were only 2 Crock Pots with that facility. I didn't go for the largest, my last one was too big now I am on my own so gave it to DS. This one is 4.5L Will let you know how I get on. It will sit on the worktop.

[Daisy]

Plant - it sounds a good idea. I don't usually bother browning meat for the slow cooker unless I'm making something for visitors, but being able to put it on the hob would be useful.

I once put the ceramic pot, complete with glass lid in the oven to reheat - and the knob on the top of the lid melted! There was no warning on the packaging that the lid wasn't oven-proof! It's a Lakeland one, and I meant to tell them and say they should put oven proof lids on, but I never got round to it. OH made me a new knob which looks just as good as the original.

[ZIZI]

We had a slow cooker when the boys were all at home as we were out at the crack of sparrows for the market and shop opening and not back until early evening. Invariably we would come in to a lovely smell of casserole or whatever only to find the beggars had eaten the lot! We had one here in the flat until we changed the kitchen last year and then realised we hadn’t used it for years so gave it away to husbands sister who lives in her own and wanted one. Don’t miss it as the double oven does everything bar make the coffee!

[Qwerty]

Ladies who use slow cookers , I am cooking a beef casserole for tomorrow’s family lunch today, I’ve usually cooked it and eaten it immediately, but I want to save time tomorrow so cooked it today, I have never warmed it up day after. How long do I warm it up for, is it on slow or fast, I want to add dumplings to it at the end for a good half an hour when do you suggest it’s ready for that temp wise ?😀 Just making my pate with sherry, puds tomorrow
also made butternut squash and ginger soup can’t remember if all like pate 🤔

[Enfys]

My slow cooker instruction say do not use it to reheat, I think maybe it would take too long to reheat properly. So I put it into containers, freeze some if necessary and reheat either in microwave or in oven or on stove top. I made a chicken casserole yesterday and we are having one portion today, reheated in microwave and the other portion is in freezer.

edited: just checked online and yes, the reason you shouldn’t reheat in slow cooker is because it takes ages to get to the correct temperature to reheat safely.

Hope this helps.

[ZIZI]

I am making beef casserole tomorrow for Tuesday feast with kids and grandkids and I expect there will be some left over so will freeze whatever is left. I am also making a chicken, ham and Swiss cheese casserole with breadcrumb top but that will have to be out together and cooked before they all get here, it will only take half an hour or so in the oven.