Slow-cooked broth and dishes are favourites of everyone. But you need practice to attain the right temperature in a slow pot.
That’s why our researchers at the Kitchen Magician team decided to guide you properly. This article will tell you the right and safe cooking temperature and how hot your slow cooker can get.
But first, here’s the essential information you don’t want to miss:
Usually, all slow cookers have three settings i.e. lower, medium, and high. On low, the temperature of the slow pot is 87°C (190°F). At high, it reaches 148°C (300°F).
It is best to use it on medium settings as 110°C (230°F) is best for most foods. But does the high heat means minimum cooking time?
Or, you must be thinking, how much energy a slow cooker will use? Well, we got you covered. So, keep on reading to know in-depth information.
Slow Cooker Temperatures
Slow cookers take 4-5 hours to cook your food. A pot doesn’t reach high heat within seconds.
It can take 35 to 40 minutes for your cookerpot to cook at high settings. During this timeframe, it usually remains slow, eventually reacting to your desired temperature.
What Temperature Is A Slow Cooker On Low?
On low settings, it cooks at 87°C (190°F). On low, it can take 6 hours for proper cooking.
That’s why most chefs recommend setting it high for 2 hours to minimize time. After 6 hours, it can keep your food warm for another two hours.
What Temperature Is A Slow Cooker on a high?
At high settings, it can reach up to a whopping 148°C (300°F). At this extreme temperature, you can roast 5lb of beef within 4 hours.
Usually, most dishes won’t need such extreme heat. Because there will be no nutritional value left after this high temperature.
How We Did Our Research?
There are several brands of slow cookers. But we studied the top six. Even testing those six was also a bit difficult. So, we took favours from the internet!
We bake chicken thighs, beans, pork shoulders, beef, and mixed veggies for testing. We also have to rely on several forums and appliance manuals for more accurate results.
What about electricity? With soaring energy prices, isn’t it expensive to run for several hours? Well, let’s find out.
How Much Electric Does A Slow Cooker Use?
Most of the slow cookers in the UK use 1.3kWh in six to eight hours. Keeping the current energy cap of 34p in mind, it’ll cost you around 6-8 pence per hour.
Compared to the induction hob power consumption, it is still budget-friendly. So, in a nutshell, a slow cooker is not expensive to run for eight hours.
Slow Cooker Temperature Guide And Cooking Time
Based on our research and cooking, here’s how long it takes to cook several foods in it.
| Cooking Time vs Temperature Settings | |||
| Food | Weight | Low Settings | High Settings |
| Stew Meat | 3lbs | 6 Hours | 5 Hours |
| Pork Shoulders | 5lbs | 8 Hours | 6.5 Hours |
| Beef Roast | 5lbs – 7lbs | 7.5 Hours | 5 Hours |
| Whole Chicken | 2lbs – 3lbs | 4 Hours | 2.5 Hours |
| Sea Food | 2lbs | 3 Hours | 2 Hours |
| Vegetable | 1lbs – 3lbs | 2.5 – 3.5 Hours | 1.5 – 2 Hours |
| Frozen Food | 4lbs | 5 Hours | 4 Hours |
- In a nutshell, it takes almost 2 – 3 years less on high as compared to a lower temperature.
- For a perfectly juicy roast, it is best to use both high and low combinations.
- Compared to any regular 60cm gas cooker with lid, a slow pot takes almost 200% more time.
- It is best not to put frozen vegetables directly into it. As you may end with a mussy texture and sogginess.
Low vs High Temperature – Which One Is Best?
It is best to use low heat settings for mouth-watering food and delicious taste. But, it usually varies from dish to dish.
It can be tricky to decide which one is best if you’re not a professional chef. So, if you’re short on time, here’s the comparison for you.
- 2-3 hours on high = 5-6 hours on low
- 4-5 hours on high = 7 hours on low
- 5-6 hours on high = 8 hours on low
So, if you need to dish out your food early, then high heat is best for you.
Slow Cooker Temperature In Oven
Most Brits has Bosch single ovens installed in their kitchen. And, frequently, they use it for baking and cooking.
It is important to keep in mind that a slow cooker and slow cooking in a regular oven are two separate things.
With the health concerns of slow cooking, many people prefer to use their ovens for slow-cooking meals.
So, if you want to use your electric or gas oven, here’s your cooking time comparison.
| Time In Oven | Time In Slow Cooker | Average Temperature |
| 10 Minutes | 1.5 – 2 Hours | 230°F (110°C) |
| 30 Minutes | 3 – 4 Hours | 220°F (104°C) |
| 1 Hour | 5.5 Hours | 210°F (98°C) |
| 2 – 3 Hours | 7 – 8 Hours | 200°F (93°C) |
| 3 – 4 Hours | 10 Hours | 190°F (87°C) |
| 6 Hours | 15 – 16 Hours | 180°F (82°C) |
- Most of the slow-cooking pots don’t go under 190°F. But some do come with an overnight function.
- Usually, due to the heating element in built-in double electric ovens, the juice in meat evaporates after 3 hours.
- The general rule of thumb is a slow cooker takes 1.5x – 2x more time compared to an oven.
What Are The Best Settings For a Slow Cookerpot?
Based on the survey and our chef’s personal experience, it is best to keep your cookerpot at medium.
On high heat, there is always a threat of food burning. And, on extreme low, it can take overnight to a lump of stew meat.
So, for the tender meat and juicy flavours, it is best to keep your slow pot at 230°F (110°C) maximum.
Slow Cooker Guide FAQs
Should you stir a slow cooker?
No, you should never stir a slow cooker. By opening the lid, the essential heat will leak out, and it will take around 2 hours to reach that temperature again.
Can I leave food in the slow cooker overnight?
It is not a safe practice to leave your food overnight in a slow pot. The maximum hour limit is 20.
Editors’ Final Words!
A slow cooker can reach up to 148°C (300°F). The lowest it can go is 87°C (190°F). Some pots do come with a function of overnight cooking but are not safe.
Slow cooker pots are not expensive to run. It is best to never oven lid once you set the temperature.
So, you can enjoy your slow-cooked meat stew the whole winter without giving energy bills a second thought.
We hope that our article will help you in future. Well, in the meantime, keep on enjoying the food and life!
