hi i have bought my self a slow cooker, and thought i make a beef stew tonight, does anyone no if its best to seal the meat first, and do the veggies go in at the same time. thanks sue

What I do, is to put the slow cooker on first, to warm through.  Whilst it is warming through, I seal (and brown) the meat and the veggies, and also heat the stock - then I plonk it all in the slow cooker - and leave it alone all day - by tonight it will be absolutely delicious - but you might want to cook some fresh veggies as well - so you have some nice crisp ones as a contrast to the lovely soft ones!

Margot

I brown my meat first and it cooks to perfection in the slow cooker but the veggies are always rock hard, so I have to boil or steam them first which defeats the object in my opinion so I don't use it as often as I should.

If you put the vegetables in the bottom and then the meat on top, you'll find that they all cook well.

I don't seal anything first because I want all the flavours to blend. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. :D 

I use mine at least 3 times a week, sometimes just for cooking the meat.  Whole chicken, leg of pork, shoulder of lanb is my favourite, just plonked in on their own - they come out tender, moist and beautiful. :)

Ah Thanks Val, will try that.

thanks everyone, i have put veggies in bottom, and meat on top, set it for 7 hours, will let u no tonight how it turns out, sue

Val, do you put any liquid in with the whole chicken?

Nope, nothing at all.  It's amazing all the fat that drains out but still leaves the chicken soooo moist.  It'll be so tender that you'll struggle to lift it out with 2 forks.  I now have 2 fork thingies that are the size of my hands with wooden handles! :)

Tastes like a roast chicken but never dry.  No crispy skin but then I don't eat skin or fat.

ooh you making me hungry now :)
My daughter is after one of these slow cookers so that she has a meal of an evening when she gets in from work. Any idea how much they are or which one is best?

hi missie, you can pick them up fpr about £19 depends what size u want, tescos were selling them cheap a few weeks ago. sue

oh right thanks, going Tesco later so will have a look. Daughter got one of their sandwich makers last week for less than a fiver, didn't notice any cookers though. Cheers. Theres just the two of them and Emily so a smallish one should do :)

I didn't know you could put meat in without liquid, I thought it would just burn.

Missie, I bought mine, A Morphy Richards for £20 in Asda but if you have A TJ Hughes near you they are selling  another brand for £10.

How do you all get around your doggies helping themselves to a nice meal when you're out? I have to leave my slow cooker on in the conservatory with the doors locked or my GSD would help herself.

Car boot sale, about £3. :)  They last forever.

If I was buying a new one, then I would buy one of the new oval shaped ones - easier for a whole chicken.

Thank you :)

Even with only 2 of them, suggest that they but a bigger one - just in case. :)  They only cost the same as a light bulb to run and so they are very efficient and environmentally friendly! :)

Great for making a big pot of chilli if you have friends round.  I keep sausages for hot dogs warm on bonfire night etc.

Had a look, our tesco don't sell them. Will have a look online later :)
Thanks

This looks pretty good to me.
<a class='url' href='http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/?modelcode=FRI-FCLSC35'>http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/?modelcode=FRI-FCLSC35</a>

And Argos
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4225173/Trail/C%24cip%3D50160.Kitchen%2Band%2Blaundry%3EC%24cip%3D50237.Small%2Bkitchen%2Bappliances%3EC%24cip%3D50244.Slow%2Bcookers%2Band%2Bovens.htm

Thanks Val, that one looks ok to me. Cheers :)

oh ha ha just spotted the rest of the links :P

You also see them in charity shops sometimes and on freecycle.

Oval one is best though and not the round one.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4207593/Trail/C%24cip%3D50160.Kitchen%2Band%2Blaundry%3EC%24cip%3D50237.Small%2Bkitchen%2Bappliances%3EC%24cip%3D50244.Slow%2Bcookers%2Band%2Bovens.htm
Have this one and have for 6 months.
It has high medium or low.
I set it at 7.30 in the morning, and everything is ready by 6 that night.
Didnt know you could throw a chicken in will try that!!!!
Oh and I dont sear the meat or veg first!!!
Anyone got a basic stew recipe?????
One that doesnt use Jar sauce?????
Lea :)

For a basic beef stew I put a minestrone or vegetable soup (tinned or packet) in and it gives a great taste.

Thanks Val I think I will try it this weekend. Roughly how long does it take to cook say a medium size chicken?

Jenny

yeh must say it was a lovely stew, meat really tender and veg just right, was well worth the money, and wish i had bought 1 years ago, anybody got any other recipes for things they cook in theirs? sue

Gosh i think i'm missing out.I bought my slow cooker for the dogs, to make yummy creations for them,i have never once used it for us :o

Too right you have! :D

Also makes the most fab old fashioned rice pudding!  Not the grotty stuff from school, but the wonderful creamy stuff like your Mother used to make! :)

do u have the recipe please

2oz short grained rice, 2oz sugar and 1 pint of milk. I usually add a little cinnamon and a knob of butter towards the end.  Takes about 3 hours.  Enjoy. :)

okay I was resisting the urge,but now am putting rice pudding in mine,
absolutely great things for currys,and when you get in from long day at dog show and there's a nice hot meal waiting for you,best thing ever,
but me and my bread maker have fallen out,its not quick enough,I can smell it,I know its there,therefore I want hot bread,NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wendy

how was the rice pudding wendy?

burp, hahaha, extremely fattening,oops but goooooooooooooood
Wendy

I had never used a slow cooker before and I cant recall my mum having ever used one when we were young.  However, my mum bought one about a year ago but she found out that it too big for what she really wanted it for (just her and dad) so gave it to me.  It sat in my cupboard for nearly 5 months before I finally used it and its one of the best things my parents have ever handed down to me!!  I cant say we use it reguarly 2/3 times a week, maybe only once a week but its great!  I tend to use it for casseroles more than anything (sausage, beef, chicken) and will brown the meat first as I found beef especially remained a little tough.  Although I haven't cooked a whole chicken in it, I have used chicken pieces (thighs, legs and wings) and just bunged them in with a few carrots and onions and just a splash of hot water with a stock cube.  Will have to try it without the stock like you Val as I also didn't know you didn't have to add any liquid.

Does anyone know if you can freeze rice pudding?  I love the stuff but my children cant stand it :rolleyes:mand I really want to make some now but OH is away and I wont be able to eat it all . :D :D

we put a whole chicken in our slow cooker,shove a lemon up its nether regions,and just leave it all day,the meat just falls off the bones,ummmmmm rice pudding does not get chance to get frozen here,
Wendy

After reading all your thoughts on slow cookers I think i might go out an buy one, but one thing before I do. Can you set it to cook the food in the time you want.

For example, can I say do a stew and time it so instead of it cooking in 7 hours, I can cook it in say, 4 hours?

Not specifically via any slow cooker I've ever seen, although if you have a timed plug you could set it to come on when you want to.

My tips for the slow cooker are brisket beef, dirt cheap and very tasty, leave it there all day and it will be melt in the mouth - and turkey thighs, which Sainsbury often do on BOGOF and they end up about £1.50 each with loads of meat on. Tastes even better for being a bargain. I also do gammon joints in mine, very nice.

Oh, and nothing better for cooking Christmas puddings, no worries about pressure cookers boiling dry - and even better to re-heat them on Christmas day, put it on in the morning and get round to the pudding whenever you're ready, it'll come to no harm.

M.

In relpy to Ioxia, Mine has 3 settings, high for about 4 hours, medium for 8 hours and low for 12hours