Another slow cooker question.........

[Tilly2]

I bought a Breville 4.5 litre slow cooker today and am currently cooking a pork and cider casserole.
It has been on for two hour on high and I have just been into look at it and steam is billowing out of one side, water is splashing up between the lid and the side and its bubbling away madly.

I have not overfilled it. It's about three quarters full

Is it faulty do you think?

My old cooker, which is just switch on and off, is much more gentle and steam does not escape from the top.

[Tilly2]

Thank you magsmay. I'll try that. Is it necessary to brown the meat first if you put it in the oven later?

[magsmay]

hi Tilly -I always brown the meat before putting in the slow cooker -it seals the meat and seems to make it less 'soggy' also caramelizes the outside of the beef making the gravy taste better.

[Tilly2]

o.k. magsmay. I'll follow your instructions. Thank you very much.

[cozzer]

has anyone cooked a gammon joint in slow cooker ,and do you need to cover with water and cut rind off ,

[magsmay]

cozzer -i will answer you as I'm a self-confessed queen of the slow cooker ;-) You can cook gammon but it can be salty, so either soak overnight in cold water and discard the water, or bring to boil in large pan of cold water and discard this water also. Then place gammon in slow cooker with roughly sliced carrot/celery/onion a few peppercorns 2 bayleaves. cover in boiling water up to halfway up joint. If you like you can add a veggie stock cube at this point. Cook on high for one hour then depending on size of gammon joint on low for up to 8 hours. Don't forget to keep cooking liquid to amke a tasty soupl

[cozzer]

thank you magsmay never cookedone in slow cooker but will have a go during xmas hols

[paddywak]

Trish does the gammon joints exactly the same as mags, except that she usually nicks a can of my cider and uses that in stead of water

[netibiza]

Oh lawdy I've just bought one to ship back to Ibiza, wish I hadn't now.

[Tilly2]

Magsmay. I followed your instructions to the letter and the results were wonderful. Thank you very much.