Thickening Agent For Use In A Slow Cooker

[mandimoo]

Always a bit disappointed with how watery my slow cooker casseroles are, although they taste fine. I don't like the gel like texture you get with cornflour.

What would you use & when would you add it?

[giveup]

Add some potato powder

[LadyTiffany]

I just stir in a few gravy Granules till it's the thickness I require

[pastafreak]

Use less water. You really need just a minimal amount as there meat,etc releases a lot of moisture that's full of nutrients.

[pastafreak]

*the* meat...

[mandimoo]

By potato powder do you mean like Smash?

[boxtops]

How much fluid are you putting in, mandi? I rarely put in more than half a pint, whatever it is.

[grasscarp]

If you follow amount of liquid shown in a recipe it should not be watery. In a slow cooker there is no liquid lost during the cooking.

[flump1]

Grate a potato and add, keeping the starch.

[pastafreak]

I gave up on recipes when it seemed they always used too much liquid. I just looked at a recipe that used a cup of stock for two chicken portions. I'd use barely half that...

[woofgang]

I use the gravy mix powder packets, they also do special slow cooker ones. It makes a bit of thickness but not a lot. Also yes, put potato in, the roasting kind that fall to pieces if cooked for too long. Maybe cut down on the added water too, I only put enough in to cover the base of the pot by about a cm or maybe 2

[Cloverjo]

Try arrowroot. It doesn't taste floury like corn flour and doesn't go lumpy.

[sherrardk]

Sadly I have only mastered one clow cooker recipe so far. I don't care for stews so don't make them (even though I don't eat what I make for everyone else) but it's one of the things I am going to sort - more slow cooker recipes that are not 'sloppy'.

[humbersloop]

minimal liquid to start, then leave the lid off for the last 20 minutes or so

[boxtops]

You really need very little fluid, what I put in comes about halfway up the food in the cooker. I did a chicken casserole today, turned the meat halfway through the cooking, to be sure that the top was cooked as we like it. I used chicken, a slice of bacon, and a jar of cook-in white wine sauce. It was lovely.

[mandimoo]

Ah well, I always cover what's in there, no wonder! Will try potato. & look for arrowroot x

[boxtops]

Try less fluid first, mandi, then you might not need the thickener.

[arth1]

I have used instant potato fairly successfully