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

FAQs

Can I use my oven as 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.

Slow Cooking in Oven

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.

The Crock Pot brand company reports that their removable stoneware insert is ovenproof and microwave safe for cooking up to 400°F. The removable stoneware is the portion of the Crock Pot that is lowered into the base, which contains the heating element.

Today's programmable slow cookers often come with the ability to cook food for up to 24 hours, as well as automatic warming settings that can stay on for just as long. But when it comes to slow cooking the day away, just because you can doesn't mean you should.

One to 1.5 hours on high or four to six hours on low in a slow cooker equals 15 to 30 minutes in the oven. Two to four hours on high or six to eight hours on low equals 35 to 45 minutes in the oven.

The next best practice is to roast between 80°C (176°F) and 120°C (250°F) for an appropriate amount of time. This is the method I typically use when I roast red meat. You can also vary the temperature according to when the meat should be done. I usually start with the oven at 80°C (176°F) and then see how it goes.

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.

Low oven temperature: low oven temperature is considered to be between 120-150°C and is good for slow roasting and tenderising tough cuts of meat. This is akin to a slow cook temperature in the oven if you don't have a slow cooker.

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.

275 F / 135 C (I see you edited the question) is definitely a temperature range for slow roasting that is safe when done properly. 135 F / 57 C is possible, but on the borderline, although it would require very precise control not usually available in an oven; this is more the realm of sous-vide cooking techniques.

What is a slow oven in a recipe? ›

For example, a cool oven has temperature set to 200 °F (90 °C), and a slow oven has a temperature range from 300–325 °F (150–160 °C). A moderate oven has a range of 350–375 °F (180–190 °C), and a hot oven has temperature set to 400–450 °F (200–230 °C).

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.

Research conducted by USDA FSIS indicates it's safe to cook large cuts of meat and poultry in a slow cooker.

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.

As for what kind of pot to use, most commenters agreed that a heavy casserole dish or Dutch oven would do the job nicely. One person particularly recommended using a cast-iron Dutch oven for its ability to evenly distribute heat and for the fact that it supposedly imparts a better flavor on the food.

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.

Not only are slow cookers ideal for people who want to leave dinner to simmer away and attend to other errands, they work out to be one of the cheapest appliances to cook with in the kitchen. The electricity usage of an electric oven is estimated to be around two to 2.2kWh, compared to a slow cooker at just 0.7kWh.