Did you know that you can use your roaster oven just like a slow cooker? It only takes using the right temperature settings on the roaster oven. And the best part is that there is no need to make any adjustments to the recipes. Turn the knob to the correct level, and you have a huge slow cooker at your service right away. The benefits include being able to prepare a big batch of food for your family and friends. Keep in mind that this trick can save you lots of space on the counter during the holidays. You do not need multiple pots on the stove to cook food for a large crowd.

A roaster oven is a highly versatile cooker that can overcome many cumbersome tasks in the kitchen. It is best for roasting festive meals like the leg of a lamb, Thanksgiving turkey, prime ribs, and Easter ham. However, you can cook soup, stew, chili, casserole, bread, and lasagna too. Read on and learn how!

How to use your electric roaster oven as a slow cooker?

Using your roaster oven as a slow cooker is easier than you think. However, this is not the case with traditional ovens; you need to adjust both the temperature and cooking time. So, the next time when someone asks, ¨ Can I slow cook in a roaster oven? ¨, say yes and mention the method below.

1. Make sure you close the lid of the roaster oven after you place the food inside.
2. Check the recipe to see if it calls for the low or hi setting on the slow cooker.
3. Set the roaster oven’s temperature to 200° F for the LO, and 250° F for the HI to adjust.

Go watch a movie or read some book while your meal is getting prepared with full flavor over low heat.

How do I adjust the temperature level when slow cooking in a roaster oven?

Match the correct temperature level when slow cooking by following the quick guide below.

Slow Cooker Setting	Corresponding Electric Roaster Oven Temperature
LO	200° F
HI	250° F

How do I adjust the liquid level when slow cooking in a roaster oven?

The good news is that you do not need to adjust your recipe’s liquid level when slow cooking in a roaster oven. Making no changes is because of the simple fact that we are using the same temperature level in both cookers. However, you might have to increase the ingredients’ quantity because a roaster oven is much bigger than a slow cooker in capacity.

How to slow cook beef stew in a roaster oven?

Stew is probably the most popular food for slow cooking. It is also the traditional food of winter in our house. The meat is slowly cooked over low heat to have a soft texture and juicy taste. The potatoes, carrots, and the rest pull in the savory aroma. This process of dreamy smoothness continues for hours to maximize yumminess.

You will need to preheat the roaster oven first to 300° F in order to brown the meat, and then drop it to 250° F. It takes around 10 minutes to reach 300° F generally. This recipe is simple, yet you need to do a lot of slicing and dicing. So, I hope you have a handy mandolin slicer in your kitchen; otherwise, good luck with your cutting board.

You can increase the quantities if you are expecting a large company. The following serves up to 6-8 people. It takes around 3 hours to cook. Make sure you remove the cover and stir occasionally.

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds of boneless beef cut into cubes (chuck roast)
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup of olive oil to sauté
• 2 cups of red wine (your choice)
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of beef broth
• 3 large carrots
• 4 large potatoes
• 1/2 cabbage
• 2-3 stalks of celery
• 1 pound of fresh green beans
• 3 large onions
• 3-4 large garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 4-5 bay leaves
• Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Make sure you wash and dry your vegetables well.
2. Peel and dice the onions and garlic.
3. Slice the potatoes, carrots, and celery according to your preference.
4. Cut the green beans in halves.
5. Shred the cabbage.
6. Preheat the roaster oven to 300° F.
7. Pour the diced tomatoes and olive oil.
8. Put the beef, and black pepper into the inner pan.
9. Brown the beef by stirring with a spatula.
10. Drop the temperature to 250° F.
11. Put all the sliced and diced vegetables.
12. Add the wine and water.
13. Add the beef broth.
14. Add the bay leaves.
15. Stir well for a minute or so, and close the lid.
16. Just before you turn off the heat, add the parsley, dried thyme, and salt.
17. Stir one last time.

Tip Alert

If you want to have softer meat, then skip the browning part, and add all ingredients at the same time.

Is a roaster the same as a slow cooker?

A roaster oven and a slow cooker are two different appliances. However, you can easily convert a slow cooker recipe by only using the appropriate temperature levels on the electric roaster oven. There is no need to change the liquid levels in the formulas. Just set the temperature setting of the roaster oven to 200° F if the recipe calls for the LO setting of the slow cooker, and 250° F correspondingly if you need to use the HI setting.

Is a slow cooker healthy?

A slow cooker enables you to keep the healthy nutrients and moisture in foods by cooking over a more extended period and at low temperatures. Remember, keeping your food below 200° F while cooking helps to conserve the vital nutrients inside. It is probably the best way to consume a nutritious meal at home. You can add various vegetables into slow cooker recipes and improve your intake of vitamins and fibers significantly.

Is it better to cook on low or high?

Cooking slowly on low heat can improve the flavor of your dishes tremendously. This type of cooking corresponds to the lowest heat level in most cooking appliances. You can convert any recipe that requires the HI setting by prolonging the cooking time. The only downside is the extra-long time necessary. Nevertheless, you can compensate for the extended period with increased flavor and a healthier diet in return.

What is low setting on a roaster oven?

Note that the slow cookers only have two choices for temperature settings; LO and HI. Unlike our lives, they are not complicated. The knob only turns either to the left or right. Most electric roaster ovens have the 200° F as the lowest available level, which equals LO on a slow cooker. In other words, 200° F on the roaster is the LO setting on the slow cooker.

Tricks

• If your beef stew turns out too liquid, then mix 1 tablespoon of corns flour and 1/2 cup of water in a small bowl, and add to the stew.
• Use small golden potatoes when making stew for better starch release.

Warnings

• Be careful when browning meat in a roaster oven. It is a large appliance and gets very hot. It would be best if you watch out to prevent any burning on your skin.

In Conclusion

I have a quick answer in case if you are wondering why you would turn your roaster oven into a slow cooker. It allows you to cook soup, stew, chili, and other similar foods in a massive volume. Slow cooking is healthy, and you can mimic the same method smoothly with your roaster oven. Consequently, having a slow cooker is not necessary unless you are generally preparing food in small amounts. Go ahead and match a slow cooker’s temperature settings by using the same levels on the roaster oven. Try this when you are expecting a large company for dinner, and you can thank me later!