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Slow cookers

artjakartjak Posts: 4,167
in Talkback

Not strictly gardening, but I will be putting home grown veg in it.

I bought a slow cooker today and then took it back as the lid did not fit snugly, to me it seems important if you are cooking a stew for 5 hours that the liquid should not evaporate due to an ill fitting lid. Was I right?image

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Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,364

    I've never used one but that sounds rightimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,063

    Don't think the lid on mine is airtight.  It just sort of rests on top.  You don't really see any steam because it is cooking so slow.  You just sort of get water drops on the inside of the lid.  The food doesn't actually bubble.

    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,089

    I wouldnt be without mine, its always in use. The lid does just sit there and when it starts to bubble the lid bobbles up and down, it makes no difference to the cooking.

    You will need to practice with it, mine is a big family sized one and nothing ever takes as long as the recipes say, although mine has 2 heat settings and then a keep warm setting, so if you find your meal is cooked before you are ready, it just stays warm without overcooking.

    You dont need to spend a fortune on these, mine cost about 17.00 from Argos, no brand name, and as I said, in use most days.

    You can get some good books on ebay or Amazon.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,997

    Mine's not a snug fit either - it just rests on top - nothing evaporates. 

    Make sure you only use a very little liquid in it when cooking veg as they give off their own liquid and as none of it evaporates the dish can get very soupy if you use the usual amount of liquid.

    Love mine - wouldn't be without it.  Get lots of use out of it.


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • artjakartjak Posts: 4,167

    This lid actually rocked from side to side and I could see quite a large gap around part of the edge. I learnt recently that steam is invisible it is vapour that one sees.image

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,089

    Just balance the lid so it touches the sides of the bowl.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • artjakartjak Posts: 4,167

    Thank you all for your advice.image

  • landgirl100landgirl100 Posts: 655

    I understood that it's the condensed liquid that forms the seal, so the lid has to be loose to allow this to happen. You mustn't lift the lid during the cooking time. I've got two, one large and one small, and they both have loose-fitting lids. Had a whole chicken done in the big one tonight - lovely and moist!

  • FruitcakeFruitcake Posts: 810

    I put a layer of foil under my lid

  • MrsGardenMrsGarden Posts: 3,951
    love mine. Lid does wobble a bit but I usually am out of the house when I use it. Don't give up on it.
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