Slow Cooker QuestionSlow Cooker QuestionI recently brought the slow cooker out of hibernation and have cooked a couple of gammon joints (delicious), made some soup (ditto) and a couple of weeks ago made beef borgignon that was amazing. Yesterday I put all the same ingredients in at about 10.30 a.m. and set it on low as it was my shop afternoon, it was in for 8 hours as per the recipe, and the meat was cooked, the mushrooms too but the onions were still quite hard and a little bitter. I am completely baffled why they weren't cooked. They weren't even out the same bag, one was the last out the old lot and the other was from a new bag I bought at the weekend. It meant that we couldn't eat it and I have popped it in the fridge to have tonight, I am going to pick out the onions and chop and soften some more to go in before I reheat it. (We are on a deadline as have to leave at 7 to go hospital visiting)
So any ideas about these onions? Is it because I set it on low and the contents didn't reach boiling point? Last time I did it for 5 hours on high.
Re: Slow Cooker QuestionDo I take it you used shallots?
Did you just put the shallots/onions straight in the pot or cook them first? Apparently onions take for ever to cook in a slow cooker and need a bit of a head start. When I use any type of onion (leeks, garlic etc,) in our slow cooker I usually gently fry them in a little oil or butter for about 10 minutes or until they have softened and then pop them in the slow cooker. They're always nice and tender then Dom Ali Woks My World
Re: Slow Cooker QuestionI have also had some amazing slow cooker meals since I bought one before Christmas but was always surprised the meal was cooked within 5-6 hours. It has one of those teflon bowls which you use on a hob to sear meat and I've usually done the onions at the same time. The other day I happened to have my reading glasses on and noticed for the first time that what I thought was "low" was in fact "high" Once I'd realised my mistake, decided to go for an all day slow cook on low and just seared the beef - like you I found everything was cooked but the onions raw and there was a bitter after taste in the stew.
I might try the stew again and see if that makes any difference thank you Re: Slow Cooker Question
I know that feeling so well. Isn't presbyopia a pain. Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire Re: Slow Cooker QuestionThanks for those replies, seems it is not such a strange phenomana (sp?) after all!
They were normal onions not shallots and I cut them into chunks but didn't fry them off. The last time I used red onions and just cut them in half and they were perfect, very odd maybe red ones are sweeter? Had to laugh about the glasses - know that feeling
Re: Slow Cooker QuestionBecause of the lower heat vegetables take longer to cook than meats in a slow cooker. I do as Don says with most of the harder veg, carrots, swede and so on and I always brown the meats as well... it adds flavour.
Bah Humbug
Re: Slow Cooker QuestionMade steak and kindey for a pie filling this week and fried the onions a bit first to soften them and it came out perfect
I think the thing you said Saint-Spoon about veg needing higher temperatures hit the nail on the head - the first time I cooked it on high and the onions were fine, the next time I cooked longer on low setting and they never got cooked.
Re: Slow Cooker QuestionI do tend (if I have time) to sling everything in a pan first and cook it a wee bit before transferring it to the slow cooker - just seems to make it a bit more appetising if you brown stuff off a bit first. I must say I've used my slow cooker a lot this year and it's been a bit of a revelation. Great for shift workers like me
Julie
“cockerels may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg."
Re: Slow Cooker Questiontry cooking a whole chicken in it. sit it on a couple of sliced onions, a carrot and other stock veg, a splash of water and whack it on high for five hours without opening the lid.
Bah Humbug
Re: Slow Cooker QuestionI read that somewhere else about cooking a chicken in it, I guess it doesn't brown but we chuck the skin away anyway. Is it very moist? My old man is a right fuss pott and likes meat reasonably 'dry'....
Re: Slow Cooker QuestionI'm going to try the chicken
Julie
“cockerels may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg."
Re: Slow Cooker QuestionI always do my chicken in it - the meat just falls off the bones, lovely & moist. I then take out any skin/fat, add a bit of boiling water & some chunks of onion/carrot to the carcass etc then simmer on low for a few hours - homemade chicken stock ready to pop in the freezer for when it is neede.
No girls at the moment but look forward to getting more in the future. Proud mummy to Hector, a Bedlington Terrier x Jack Russell
Re: Slow Cooker QuestionBeef borgignon again and today's did on high about 4 hours and just turned to low, tasting good and onions definitely cooked this time. Had to substitute port for the red wine as I don't have any, not sure Rose wine would work... the port has worked ok
Re: Slow Cooker QuestionDid braising steak and onions in mine the other day and that was lovely too. Just onions dry fried a bit cos of the diet before I put them in, floured steak, an oxo cube and water. Was really nice.
Julie
“cockerels may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg." Re: Slow Cooker QuestionI use my slow cooker for things like Tagine style dishes ....does a similar job...Moroccan Beef / Lamb in the slow cooker is yummy
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)✰
(¸.✰´¨(¸.✰ Manda Living our version of the Good Life with 1 dog (who feels like we're living with 4!), 1 cats, a few sheep and 11 chooks. Don't get your knickers in a knot..it solves nothing ~ just makes you walk funny |
Down the LaneRegular entries focusing on Nature in the Garden and beyond
Click here to go there
Poultry Supplies•Chicken Fencing •Drink & Food Feeders •Health & Wellbeing •Red Mite Products •Poultry Feed •Automatic Door Openers •Chicken Keeping Books
Chicken BreedersOver 400 Breeders across the UK now listed.. Chicken Breeders & Other Poultry UK Pages
Ex-Battery Hen |