Slow cooking is truly amazing… to put your ingredients in the pot as you leave the house early in the morning, and arrive home to a nutritious home-cooked meal is nothing short of a miracle (in my opinion).
However slow cookers aren’t just for slow-cooking.
Slow cookers are the epitome of convenience. There are certain dishes, such as bolognaise that can be partly cooked and then finished off in the slow cooker.
For example, prepare a beef bolognaise sauce in a pan, so that it’s almost cooked, then pop it in the slow cooker on low 2 hours prior to serving. This allows you to prep a meal at a time that suits you. From time to time I partly cook a dish just before the school run, for Dinner two hours later.
For those with partners that eat later, you can use your slow cooker to keep certain meals warm, so they can dish up when they return home.
Slow cookers are also amazing for sauces, gravy and hot punches/drinks. Perhaps you have cooked a roast dinner in the traditional way. Rather than leave the meal to get cold whilst prepping the gravy, do it in advance and leave in slow cooker ready to serve. The same goes for custard.
I always keep a pot full of mulled wine in my slow cooker the day we put up the Christmas Tree, Christmas Day and also this year New Year’s Eve!
As with any technical cooking tips – use your common sense, and adhere to the manufacturers guidelines.
Slow cooking revolutionised my life – it could revolutionise yours!
Spread the word and let’s start a Slow Cooker Revolution
I’ve always been a fan of slow cookers, and I’m glad to see you post about them so often.
I don’t usually partially cook things and hold them in a slow cooker, but that’s a very good idea I’ll be trying.
Gip
Don’t forget about that jar of pataks!
I’ve always been a fan of slow cookers, and I’m glad to see you post about them so often.
I don’t usually partially cook things and hold them in a slow cooker, but that’s a very good idea I’ll be trying.
Gip
Don’t forget about that jar of pataks!
I’ve always been a fan of slow cookers, and I’m glad to see you post about them so often.
I don’t usually partially cook things and hold them in a slow cooker, but that’s a very good idea I’ll be trying.
Gip
Don’t forget about that jar of pataks!
I used to have a slow cooker but I downsized in my minimizing. Every once in a while I get a hankering to have it back. I make a lot of soups and it seems like it is more energy efficient to do it in a crock pot.
Hi Tanja, nore efficient in time (as in hands on deck), energy and also it is more nutritious (I believe – as the nutrients do not evaporate when cooking – need to research this a little more). I’ve heard of a few people decluttering their slow cooker, but I actually bought mine to make my kitchen simpler! I hardly use a traditional oven anymore, and for me it’s all in one pot, and makes cleaning and keeping the kitchen tidier and clutter free – not so many pots and pans. Any good soup recipes please do share!
I used to have a slow cooker but I downsized in my minimizing. Every once in a while I get a hankering to have it back. I make a lot of soups and it seems like it is more energy efficient to do it in a crock pot.
Hi Tanja, nore efficient in time (as in hands on deck), energy and also it is more nutritious (I believe – as the nutrients do not evaporate when cooking – need to research this a little more). I’ve heard of a few people decluttering their slow cooker, but I actually bought mine to make my kitchen simpler! I hardly use a traditional oven anymore, and for me it’s all in one pot, and makes cleaning and keeping the kitchen tidier and clutter free – not so many pots and pans. Any good soup recipes please do share!
I used to have a slow cooker but I downsized in my minimizing. Every once in a while I get a hankering to have it back. I make a lot of soups and it seems like it is more energy efficient to do it in a crock pot.
Hi Tanja, nore efficient in time (as in hands on deck), energy and also it is more nutritious (I believe – as the nutrients do not evaporate when cooking – need to research this a little more). I’ve heard of a few people decluttering their slow cooker, but I actually bought mine to make my kitchen simpler! I hardly use a traditional oven anymore, and for me it’s all in one pot, and makes cleaning and keeping the kitchen tidier and clutter free – not so many pots and pans. Any good soup recipes please do share!
Tanja and I are in the same boat! One thing that I do miss is coming home to a house that smells of whatever was in the cooker. It was the most pleasant case of sensory overload!
You haven’t replaced your decluttered crockpot yet then? Oh Rayna I had high hopes for you 😉
Got to share this – Whilst typing last sentence I could hear my 2 and a half year old Son shouting ‘Mommy I love skating’. How cute? Yes until I went in the playroom and discovered he had tipped his cereal (with milk) over the wooden floor and was skating through it. How many times do I need to remind myself not to leave them alone at meal-times!
Tanja and I are in the same boat! One thing that I do miss is coming home to a house that smells of whatever was in the cooker. It was the most pleasant case of sensory overload!
You haven’t replaced your decluttered crockpot yet then? Oh Rayna I had high hopes for you 😉
Got to share this – Whilst typing last sentence I could hear my 2 and a half year old Son shouting ‘Mommy I love skating’. How cute? Yes until I went in the playroom and discovered he had tipped his cereal (with milk) over the wooden floor and was skating through it. How many times do I need to remind myself not to leave them alone at meal-times!
Tanja and I are in the same boat! One thing that I do miss is coming home to a house that smells of whatever was in the cooker. It was the most pleasant case of sensory overload!
You haven’t replaced your decluttered crockpot yet then? Oh Rayna I had high hopes for you 😉
Got to share this – Whilst typing last sentence I could hear my 2 and a half year old Son shouting ‘Mommy I love skating’. How cute? Yes until I went in the playroom and discovered he had tipped his cereal (with milk) over the wooden floor and was skating through it. How many times do I need to remind myself not to leave them alone at meal-times!
Didn’t realize about using it for warming meals. Or mulled wine. Thanks for the tips.
Chris actually told someone that I have been using the slow cooker a lot. And I realized: yes, I have been using it a lot. I do love the convenience of prepping food in the morning. Particularly on daycare days as I am picking Henry up right before dinner.
Many thanks!
Great news Rachel – hope it’s helping! Most people who try it, love it and never look back. Meant to e-mail you as I wanted to get the low down on the TV appearance, and whether I can get hold of the clip? Jo
ps there are some dishes you can prep the night before, store and chuck in when you haven’t time first thing….
Didn’t realize about using it for warming meals. Or mulled wine. Thanks for the tips.
Chris actually told someone that I have been using the slow cooker a lot. And I realized: yes, I have been using it a lot. I do love the convenience of prepping food in the morning. Particularly on daycare days as I am picking Henry up right before dinner.
Many thanks!
Great news Rachel – hope it’s helping! Most people who try it, love it and never look back. Meant to e-mail you as I wanted to get the low down on the TV appearance, and whether I can get hold of the clip? Jo
ps there are some dishes you can prep the night before, store and chuck in when you haven’t time first thing….
Didn’t realize about using it for warming meals. Or mulled wine. Thanks for the tips.
Chris actually told someone that I have been using the slow cooker a lot. And I realized: yes, I have been using it a lot. I do love the convenience of prepping food in the morning. Particularly on daycare days as I am picking Henry up right before dinner.
Many thanks!
Great news Rachel – hope it’s helping! Most people who try it, love it and never look back. Meant to e-mail you as I wanted to get the low down on the TV appearance, and whether I can get hold of the clip? Jo
ps there are some dishes you can prep the night before, store and chuck in when you haven’t time first thing….