In the current energy crisis, everyone is looking for ways to save energy and money. As gas ovens are the least efficient way to cook food, alternatives like microwaves and becoming more popular. Another sometimes neglected appliance is the slow cooker, which can prepare hearty and healthy meals for the family without taking up too much energy.
Slow cookers work by trapping steam inside the inner pot and slowly cooking over a lower temperature for a long time, typically between 4-8 hours. So they take longer to cook a meal, but they’re among the kitchen’s most energy-efficient appliances, rated at as little as 200 watts, less than a tenth of some electric ovens. An average-sized slow cooker uses just 1.3 kWh per meal cooked.
A slow cooker is typically a metal pot that sits on top of a heated surface. The term slow cooker is not a brand but rather refers to the type of appliance. The popular Crock-Pot variation is a brand that first came on the market in the 1970s, with a stoneware pot surrounded by a heating element.
Whichever you choose, there are some things that slow cookers are great for, such as cheaper cuts of meat like beef brisket, pork shoulder, lamb shoulder and chicken thighs; minced meat; fresh vegetables, rather than frozen; oatmeal, broths and soups, lasagne, mac and cheese, paella, and fruit sauces and dips.
But there are also things that are unsuitable for slow cooking, including:
- Lean, tender cuts of meat, which will dry out and become tough
- Meat with skin left on
- Delicate vegetables
- Fresh herbs and spices
- Milk and cream
- Alcohol
- Seafood
Slow Cooker Tips
- For the best flavour, brown meat well in a pan or on the hob first to seal in moisture and flavour. Make sure your meat is cut to roughly the same size for even cooking.
- Be careful when using seasonings like paprika, chili powder and cumin, which should be used in moderation, and adjusted or added at the end.
- If using wine in a recipe, reduce it before adding it to the mix so you can properly cook off the alcohol and leave behind the concentrated flavour. Alternatively, use a wine stock pot, or wine vinegar.
Here’s a simple beef stew recipe for the slow cooker which is easy to make and will provide a hearty meal for the whole family at the end of the day.
See also: Celebrating British Food Fortnight
INGREDIENTS
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 4 medium carrots, sliced
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 large bay leaf
METHOD
- Place meat in slow cooker.
- Mix flour, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Pour over meat, and stir until meat is coated.
- Add beef broth, carrots, potatoes, onion, celery, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, garlic, and bay leave; stir to combine.
- Cover, and cook until beef is tender enough to cut with a spoon, on Low for 8 to 12 hours, or on High for 4 to 6 hours.
- Check doneness along the way to be sure your meat is cooked properly.
- Serve with classic dinner rolls.
Once you get used to using your slow cooker you will find all sorts of ways to get the best from it – and remember, while you’re creating delicious meals, you are saving energy!
See also: Thai Chicken Burger from The Chicken Shack
