SC "rules"

[Muppity]

I'm a chucker too.

The only rule I do have is that the meat is on the bottom.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

good question. alot of the recipes that i see say to brown the meat first and i think whats the point of using the SC when you gotta get out the fry pan etc anyway. its meant to be quick and easy. do you guys bother browning the meat?

[butterfly_warrior]

Chuck and run here, too.

I do sometimes brown the meat (I find for ossu bucco you need to), but most of the time I just don't bother.

I usually chuck in the meat, the vegies, a tin of tomatoes and then stir and pop on the lid. Herbs and spices, obviously. Sometimes I throw in lentils and extra water, but mostly it's just a case of throw in whatever's handy.

I know I'd probably find things taste better if I browned the meat and followed timings a bit more accurately, but what comes out tastes pretty damned good anyway!

BW

[Heaven]

I never brown the meat unless it's something like meatballs so they don't fall apart.

[AnyDream]

Do you have stainless steel or crockery pots? Do you reckon it makes a difference?

[butterfly_warrior]

I've only ever had crockery ones... I didn't even know they had stainless inserts. You'd think the heat transfer would be too fast through metal, but I'm only guessing here.

BW

[AnyDream]

BW I saw one on the Breville site today with a stainless steel pan designed to go on the stove & in the oven as well, so you can brown meat before cooking on the stove or brown off to finish cooking in the oven - only one pot!! Great idea, wonder how well it would work in reality.

I think mine's a bit behind the game - bought in 1994 - has a plastic lid (I would imagine glass lid is much better for starters) and I also think the element must be primarily at the bottom...isn't it wrapped around the outside for newer cookers?

[Tinks]

Mine's a crockery pot with a glass lid. I have no idea where the element is situated, it's all enclosed.

[Astrid]

I would be reluctant to go for anything different from normal. We got a SC with a divider in it, so you can cook 2 meals at once. Sounds great, but the reality is quite different. We rarely use it, and it gets in the way of cooking some dishes, like silverside or whole chicken.