Can anyone please give me some tips for using a slow cooker? Do I need to add water?

Question

I really fancy making stew or a roast pork. Should I still add water like I would if using a pot or the oven?

Answer 1

Depends if you are adding liquid thirsty ingredients like pulses. I usually add a splash of red wine and keep an eye on it. If you keep it cooking on the low setting it tends to stay more moist.
I've just done a beef casserole in mine with pulses and dumplings and red wine gravy. It was heavenly andnow I couldnt live without it. Sometimes I leave it on the warm setting for days just topping it up with water as and when it needs it. then when I get home from work all I have to do is tuck in!
good luck and happy roasting!

Answer 2

you need very little, just an inch or so in the pot, as the slow cooking will release the meat's own juices. Always put the meat down the bottom of the pot and the veg on top, as they will steam and keep the meat moist. You'll be surprised when you open the cooker at the end of the cooking period at just how much liquid you have there.
Witih meat, however, you should heat the cooker up and put in hot water. I always lightly fry the meat that I am putting in, so it is hot meat going into a hot cooker with hot water. Raw chopped veg on top. The reason for this is that if you put in raw meat, and it is heating slowly, the bacteria can develop and if the meat is just slightly 'off' it can give you a tummy ache. So lightly fry the meat first to kill any germs, and into the pot it goes with the veg. Then, six hours or so in the pot - while you are at work - and when you return, yum yum.
Enjoy!

Answer 3

A little water.. 1/4 cup or less in the bottom can keep a roast from sticking and burning until it starts to draw it's own liquid. A roast is omething you don't want a LOT of liquid on.

Something like a stew, will probably need a couple of cups of broth to make it nice and juicy, depending what veggies you put with it and what cut of meat you use. Cabbages cook down a lot in a crock pot but yield a lot of broth.

For the stew, put the meat in with a little water and cook the meat with some flavoring veggies diced fine (called a "mir poix").. onion and celery and carrot.. all night. In the morning add the broth and your "stew veggies" and cook for half a day (4-6 hours). I don't like my veggies cooked as hard as you usually need to cook stew meat.

Answer 4

Pick up a Fix It And Forget It Cookbook (Good Books 2000) - it has everything from Dips to Desserts. Since you haven't used yours you may not be able to "Forget" it. What I mean is, every pot cooks differently. My first crock pot I was able to leave food in it while at work. The one I have now shouldn't even be called a SLOW cooker-For any recipe out there it cooks it in 2-3 hours on low when most recipes say 8-10 hours - So get to know your cooker and see how long yours takes to cook. It's a lifesaver, I use it at least twice a week.

Answer 5

You should have a manual that came with cooker that has recipes. Many do not need additional water; I usually add a can of tomatoes (or crushed tomatoes) to my stew, and coupled with the natural juices from the meat and vegetable, there is plenty of liquid. When coming home after the meal has been cooking all day, the aroma is out of this world. Enjoy!

Answer 6

Slow cookers are fab!
Yes you need to add water
If you put all meat and veg in slow cooker and add water and oxo.
when you get home from work you've got a fab stew.

Answer 7

I usually put an inch or so of water in the pot

Answer 8

I usually add a little in the bottom as well, just enought to keep the meat moist.

Answer 9

yea, add a bit of water to keep the meat you are cooking from drying out... then when the meat is done you'll have a delicious gravy to pour over it as well :)...

Answer 10

Water or broth but just a bit