Slow Cooker & Haybox Recipes & Ideas

[jennyjj01]

Trying to use the oven less, I wonder if we can bring together best practice and recipes for using the slow cooker or haybox.

For me, this is all about minimising electric cooking cost. The concept extends nicely to the use of a haybox.

I have a 3.5L slow cooker which costs probably 1/10 of the price of running an electric oven... Though obviously for far longer.
I believe it's 130W or about 5p per hour on low so call it 30p to cook a 3.5L batch or biggish joint.

I already use it to batch cook casseroles and beef and lamb joints but there are caveats which I'm hoping some will help with.

Cooking a joint of beef, it works well, but slicing the beggar becomes impossible because it goes so soft and falls apart. Anyone got a workaround for that?

I'm going to have a go at cooking a small whole chicken. But I'm concerned it will be cooking by steam and won't brown? Should I use fake browning? Or grill to finish?

Has anyone figured out using a slow cooker to make or heat up pies, cakes or even bread? or to heat 'Steak and kidney puddings'?

Farmfoods have some small whole chickens at about 1.5kg. I'll be 'sperimenting on those, next week. They look like they'll JUST about fit.

One thing i have found...... Put a folded towel over the lid to get a faster and better simmer on low setting.

[GillyBee]

They are good for pulled pork. The falling to bits is then an asset and noone want to run an oven for 4-6 hours. There are I think some Cuban style pulled beef and chicken recipes which would be similar but I havent tried them yet.
Ham was excellent in the thermal cooker given 25 mins simmer to start and about 2 hours in the pot. But the skin needed removing or browning off. I just quietly removed it. This also generated a couple of litres of ham stock for soup.

[Kiwififer]

I bought a 1.5l slow cooker the other day, I’ve only managed a sausage casserole in it so far.

I will be making beef and ale casserole with Stilton next week, I will let you know what it’s like.

It’s basically stewing steak, mushrooms, a wee bit of Guinness and stock, you crumble the Stilton in at the end. It should be easy enough, just do not add salt as there’s plenty in the cheese.

[jennyjj01]

I bought a 1.5l slow cooker the other day, I’ve only managed a sausage casserole in it so far.

I will be making beef and ale casserole with Stilton next week, I will let you know what it’s like.

It’s basically stewing steak, mushrooms, a wee bit of Guinness and stock, you crumble the Stilton in at the end. It should be easy enough, just do not add salt as there’s plenty in the cheese.

The 1.5L ones seem to use similar energy to the 3.5L ones.
I wouldn't be without mine and I'm looking to use it more and more, and even in ways not envisaged. E.g. Since it reaches simmer heat, could I steam puddings and veges in it, cheaper than using the hob or microwave.
Could I bake in it? I doubt it would get hot enough.
I wish I could measure the temp in it with my existing thermometers

[jansman]

I bought a 1.5l slow cooker the other day, I’ve only managed a sausage casserole in it so far.

I will be making beef and ale casserole with Stilton next week, I will let you know what it’s like.

It’s basically stewing steak, mushrooms, a wee bit of Guinness and stock, you crumble the Stilton in at the end. It should be easy enough, just do not add salt as there’s plenty in the cheese.

The slow cooker is a superb invention. They work! Our favourite is a stew too . The cooker is reasonable and reliable,and there are loads of ideas out on the web. Loads.

[GillyBee]

We always used to make our Christmas pudding in the slow cooker until I discovered the microwave version.
If you still make banoffee pie by boiling a unopened can in water, overnight in the slow cooker (not thermal) works well and does not boil dry.
And kept on low with the lid off there is just enough heat to make yoghurt.

There are recipes online for moist cakes but I have not yet tested these.

[jansman]

Trying to use the oven less, I wonder if we can bring together best practice and recipes for using the slow cooker or haybox.

For me, this is all about minimising electric cooking cost. The concept extends nicely to the use of a haybox.

I have a 3.5L slow cooker which costs probably 1/10 of the price of running an electric oven... Though obviously for far longer.
I believe it's 130W or about 5p per hour on low so call it 30p to cook a 3.5L batch or biggish joint.

I already use it to batch cook casseroles and beef and lamb joints but there are caveats which I'm hoping some will help with.

Cooking a joint of beef, it works well, but slicing the beggar becomes impossible because it goes so soft and falls apart. Anyone got a workaround for that?

I'm going to have a go at cooking a small whole chicken. But I'm concerned it will be cooking by steam and won't brown? Should I use fake browning? Or grill to finish?

Has anyone figured out using a slow cooker to make or heat up pies, cakes or even bread? or to heat 'Steak and kidney puddings'?

Farmfoods have some small whole chickens at about 1.5kg. I'll be 'sperimenting on those, next week. They look like they'll JUST about fit.

One thing i have found...... Put a folded towel over the lid to get a faster and better simmer on low setting.

The secret is cooking low temperature,and for less time…

[Kiwififer]

I have a slow cooker recipe book if anyone wants a look. Happy to take a picture of a recipe and stick it up (ooh matron) on here!

I’m away to the supermarket right now to get some stuff. We are away overnight at a hotel but will put the beef casserole on tomorrow and let you all know how it turns out.

[steptoe]

I am up for any info passing on slow cookers i can do a few bits but most times stew or soup , i know people say they do dumplings and so on and also bread in it i have never tried that as i have a bread maker but i wonder whatthe cost is to run hmmmm .

Like you jen we try and batch cook now so make meals for 3 days at a time , this time of year it is sou pand stew as they are my fav i love hot warm and liquid food , but i do like the odd chicken in sweet and sout with rice as a change .

In the summer i am going to cut the cost of cooking more as i will be going to the bbq area and it will be batch cook loads of stuff so we can have chicken wing nibbles for 3 days and ribs and so on , but i am loving the food sharing ideas i will pop you a recpie on in a few jen to do inthe slow cooker lol

[steptoe]

.
Just for Jen now try and sneak this past the taste test panel i dare you lol