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

FAQs

How to convert slow cooker times to oven? ›

Slow cookers generally operate between 190°F (on the low setting) and 300°F (on the high setting). 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).

Don't worry, the math is simple division. 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.

The temperature range on the Slow Cooking setting ranges between 80°C - 150°C. After 10 minutes the oven automatically lowers to 80°C.

Slow cookers turn cheap meats tender and tasty, but they're also much cheaper to run than a big oven.

If a recipe calls for cooking on the HIGH setting for three hours, you can cook it for seven hours on the LOW setting instead. Or if a recipe calls for eight hours on HIGH, it can be cooked for up to 12 hours on LOW.

A general rule of thumb from Luis Sanchez, senior category manager for the appliance manufacturer Breville: To go from "High" to "Low" (or vice versa), multiply (or divide) the original time by 1.5 to 2.5 hours. And as with the cooking times for specific ingredients, these times are approximate.

If you don't have a slow cooker, you can slow cook right on stovetop using a cooking pot that has a heavy build (like a Dutch oven) so it can disperse heat evenly to the food cooking inside. You should cover it well with a lid, keep the heat low and keep checking food in between so it does not run out of liquid.

If I can do it, then you definitely can, too. Recipe notes: If your oven temperature does not go as low as 160 degrees, use the lowest setting it has and be vigilant about monitoring the internal temperature of the meat.

Preheat the oven to about 160 C. Follow the slow cooker recipe, but use a baking dish with a lid instead of a crockpot or slow cooker. If the recipe calls for slow cooker setting, then divide the cooking time by 4. Eight hours on low then becomes 2 hours in the oven at 160 ºC.

Can you slow-cook on a stove top? ›

If you prefer cooking on the stovetop, a large, heavy-bottomed pot with a lid can work wonders. This method is particularly suitable for soups, stews, and braised dishes. Start by sautéing your ingredients, then add liquid and bring it to a gentle simmer.

The lower or bottom heat symbol (a single line at the bottom of the symbol) is used for gentle, slow cooking of casserole-type dishes, and can also be used for reheating or crisping.

It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

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.

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

One hour on HIGH generally equals two hours on LOW.

Most slow cookers have two slow cooker temperature settings. The 'Low' cook setting reaches temperatures between 164-182°F (reaching a peak of around 205°F after 4 hours).

If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low.