How to Convert a Slow Cooker Recipe for Oven or Stove Top (2024)

FAQs

What is the oven equivalent of a slow cooker? ›

Conversion to Oven

The low setting of a slow cooker ranges from 190°F to 200°F. To mimic this in an oven, set your temperature to approximately 325°F. The high setting of a slow cooker ranges from 290°F to 300°F; in oven terms, this is roughly equivalent to 375°F.

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.

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.

Slow cooker to oven: To convert your favourite slow cooker recipes to the oven, we recommend increasing the amount of liquid used in the recipe by 1/2 to 1 cup. Oven to slow cooker: If you're converting a recipe that's designed to be cooked in the oven to a slow cooker, decrease the liquid by 1/2 to 1 cup.

Slow Cooking on Stovetop

You can also slow cook in a dutch oven or heavy saucepan on a stove over very low heat, for a slow simmer. Note, this is a hands-on process and requires monitoring—stir the pot occasionally and add liquid as needed. Stove top cooking is generally for stews, soups, chilis, or braises.

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.

To slow cook meat on a stovetop, brown the meat and add liquid, seasonings and any other desired ingredients. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer.

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.

Best cooked at 150-170C, recipes that require slow-roasting are trickier to control using a domestic oven. Brown the joint first to give it a bit of colour, cook it covered on low, then turn up the heat at the end to brown the meat.

What is the equivalent of 8 hours on low in slow cooker? ›

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.

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.

What temperature is 'Low' on a slow cooker? 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).

The difference between the two settings isn't a higher temperature, it's the time it takes for the slow cooker to reach the simmer point. On high, that's around three to four hours, and on low, it's seven to eight, according to Crock-Pot. So imagine if your dinner is cooking away on high all day while you're at work.

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.

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.

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.