Slow cookers

[andyjevs]

Anyone swear by the god known as the slow cooker. 10am on a sunday, the joint of meat goes in with a "gravy" or sauce and by 5 pm, it's as tender as can be. Today we have lamb....in mint gravy. Halfway through cooking, i'll add some rosemary, garlic and mint sprigs. Gorgeous !!!!!!!

[quibbmedusa]

set an extra place andy!!! im drooling!!

[Jules001]

sounds lovely Andy, but I am afraid the first time I used my slow cooker, the bottom fell out (cracked away from the whole pot) and all my dinner to be was slopping about on the worktop and made me late for work as I had to clear it all up. Never bothered since.

[alan30]

Have one and don't use it enough!  Beef casserole cooked overnight with plenty of vegetables and good strong ale or guiness, herbs and bay leaves.  Always make a full pot so you can freeze what's left and then when you are late in from work a meal is only minutes away.

[shaneystar]

Wouldn't be without it especially in the winter.
We bought our first one many years ago when we lived abroad as the house we lived in only had a hob and no oven.I am now on my second one.Stew and dumplings.any sort of casserole really,pot roasts and I even do jacket potatoes in it. Bung it all in first thing in the morning or overnight and Bobs your uncle.
Even though I am retired and have time to mess about concocting meals this frees up time for other things and for people who work all day they are a godsend.Much better than something shoved in the microwave out of a packet.Plus you can use cheaper cuts of meat and it always comes out "melt in the mouth" tender.

[lauraking72]

a question to shaneystar really, how do you do the jacket potatoes in it, i love jacket pots!!!!!!!!!
i am cooking chicken in mine tomorrow, cant wait!!!!!!

[shaneystar]

Prick 10-12 potatoes with fork and wrap in foil. Fill slow cooker with potatoes. Lid on and cook on low 8-10 hours, or on high 2 1/4-4 hours. Do not add water! Use smaller potatoes though not those great big ones which are better cooked in the oven. This is a good way to cook them if you are going to eat them with cold meats and salad.But it's for cooking a lot of potatoes not just a couple.I would imagine,although I have never tried it, that if you are doing a chicken dish tomorrow you could in fact wrap a couple of potatoes tightly in foil and pop them in with your chicken.Prick them first though or they will explode.

[shaneystar]

P.S. Forget to mention that although they are delicious the skins won't be crispy as they are when you do them in the oven.

[lauraking72]

thanks shaneystar, guess what im having for tea tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!