15 Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes | Gimme Some Oven (2024)

FAQs

Can I use an oven instead of a slow cooker? ›

In comparison, when using an oven as a slow cooker, you'll typically set the temperature between 325°F (similar to the low setting) and 375°F (resembling the high setting). Opt for a heavy, oven-safe pot with a tight-fitting lid, like a Staub or Le Creuset Dutch oven, to mimic the moisture retention of a slow cooker.

For low setting, divide the time by 4 and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. For high setting, divide the time by 2 and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are converting an oven recipe to crock pot, multiply the baking time by 2 or 4 depending on the heat setting you want to use.

You can use an oven as a slow cooker alternative. The temperature of a slow cooker is about 80 C on low and 90 ºC on high. At such low temperatures an oven will function a lot less well. If you use the oven as an alternative slow cooker, you will have to adjust the preparation a bit for many slow cooker recipes.

If you have a model that runs “hot", 15 hours may be too much and will result in an overcooked taste. If this is new model to you, try it out on other dishes to get a feel for it. If you are using a lean cut of meat, long cooking time is not the way to go. The meat will get tougher the longer it cooks.

Slow cookers typically cost less to run than an oven. They won't necessarily save you money compared with using an induction hob, or even a gas hob. Making exact comparisons is difficult, because there can be lots of variables, such as the type of hob and how you use it.

To mimic a slow cooker, you can use a dutch oven or covered casserole dish in a very low oven preheated to 200° Fahrenheit (United States) or 95° Celsius. Some new wall ovens and ranges include a preset “slow cook” function, then automatically switch to “keep warm” when the cooking time is over.

If you don't have a dedicated slow cooker but have oven-safe crockery such as casserole dishes or even clay pots, you can utilise them to achieve slow cooking. These retain heat well and provide a gentle, consistent cooking environment. Simply follow your desired recipe, and adjust the cooking time.

Most (if not all) ovens are hotter at the top than at the bottom. Thus, if you have two baking sheets in your oven, one on a higher rack and one on a lower rack, the one on the higher rack will cook faster. Therefore, it is important not only to rotate your pans from front to back, but also from top to bottom.

Yes, you most certainly can cook raw meat in the slow cooker! You put it in “cold”, with whatever liquid your recipe calls for, turn it on either “low” or “high” depending on your recipe (I usually start it on “high” for a couple hours, then turn it to “low”), and in 6–7–8 hours, it's now COOKED meat!

Research conducted by USDA FSIS indicates it's safe to cook large cuts of meat and poultry in a slow cooker. Follow the manufacturer's recipes and safety guidelines. Start clean. Start with clean hands, utensils surfaces and a clean cooker.

Why is my beef chewy in slow cooker? ›

If you overcook meat, it becomes dry and tough. Often people using a slow cooker and don't check when the food is actually done. If a recipe says cook for 8 hours on low, people may not check the food for 8 hours.

While a slow cooker offers convenience, it's not the only route to slow cooking. With alternative methods like Dutch ovens, stovetop simmering, oven baking, pressure cooking, and utilising crockery, you can still savour the joys of slow-cooked meals. The results will be worth the wait.

Originally Answered: What can be used as a substitute for a crock pot? As long as you are relatively familiar with the heat characteristics of your stove-top, or even oven, you can go ahead and use a regular old cooking pot with a lid. A casserole dish covered with foil in a low temperature oven will work fine too.

Place roast on rack inside a roasting pan, or something deep and wide, if you don't have a roaster. Place roast in oven at temperature for 1 hour. after the hour, turn temperature down to 200 and let site for about 4 hours. This will net you a medium to rare roast with a flavourful outer cuts.