Stew in Slow cooker question!

[~max~]

Hi all. I made a stew in my slow cooker yesterday and left it to cook overnight on low. However, I didn't have any flour. I normally coat the beef in flour then seal it in a pan before putting in the cooker. I woke up at 9 and turned it off. I then fell asleep agan until 2pm.....I had a look and the stew is very liquid. So I put dried green lentils in, and put it on medium. Questions: will this work to thicken it? And will I die a slow and painful death for re-heating it after letting it cool?

[shaneystar2]

Not too sure about the lentils ...they will take ages to soften down ...I think lentils should be boiled up first before you add them to anything .They will thicken it eventually though. You could have thickened it with some cornflour ,gravy granules or in an emergency instant potato . Shove it on high for an hour or so ...I daresay you will be Ok !

[~max~]

Thanks for your answer! If I don't post for a while, call an ambulance....lol
Gonna switch it to high now....D'oh....I don't wanna waste all that food! :O(

[cruella]

Max
I was given a slow cooker as a gift and still trying to come to grips with it.
Don't think the lentils will do it unless they were softened first.
I would do as shaneystart said, add cornflour to it or some sort of granules. Sauces in a slow cooker are hard to thicken.
Or, stick it all in a pot and simmer and reduce.

[B00]

rofl max- how's ya stew coming along?

Thought you, and maybe Cruella might be interested in this site?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread .html?s=63f8ce35fe6892907b109e72f84b10ce&t=427 3

I've read, and eaten, most of the recipes on there, they're brilliant.

[cruella]

Thanks BOO,
Great link.
My only problem is that our slow cooker is far too big.
I am taking bad with it at the mo.
Used to doing everything in the oven.

[~max~]

lol thanks Boo and Cruella...Better laugh about it hey!

I can just see myself trying to scoop out all the lentils one by one to cook them separately.....lol
You know what? Just after I posted before I thought: Why didn't I just remove a lot of the water, and sprinkle with gravy granules....Ah well!

[B00]

Cruella- you aint seen bad till you've seen my two attempts at rice pudding done in mine....talk about disasters! I've come to the conclusion that it's far simpler to open ruddy tins of the stuff than to stand there for hours swearing at my slow cooker.

But honestly, alot of those recipes are idiotproof (im living proof, ive cooked some of em!), I adore the "bung everything in a pan and leave it" style cooking.

I can honestly say that if I had a housefire my crock pot would be one of the first things I'd rescue!

Anyhoo, sorry, I'm rambling.....sorry Max!

(PS Max, need an Alka Selsa yet?)

[shaneystar2]

I hope you get to grips with your slow cooker cruella ..I am on my second one .I started using one over thirty years ago when we lived abroad and the house we rented only had a hob ,no oven .They are a massive time saver and great in the winter for comfort food .The best book I have had for slow cooker recipes is this one ..treat yourself ..it's brilliant ..
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/!10667

[cruella]

Thanks all,
Will give all ideas a go, or better still, leave it to him indoors!