Slow cooking
The slow cook setting gives a very low heat in the oven. It is particularly
useful when you are cooking soups, stews and casseroles because
the long slow cooking will make cheaper, tougher cuts of meat more
tender.
You need to cook food at gas mark 6 for 30 minutes before you turn the
oven down to the slow cook setting. This makes sure that the
temperature of the food gets hot enough to start the food cooking.
Some foods such as pastry and biscuits are not suitable for slow
cooking because the temperature is too low.
Cover all food during cooking to prevent it from drying out. You can
uncover food for the last half hour if it is normally served golden brown.
Food preparation - slow cooking
Joints of meat and poultry
l
Do not cook meat joints over 2.7kg (6lb).
l
Do not cook poultry over 2kg (4lb 8oz).
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Cook on the middle shelf of the oven or above.
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Cook stuffing separately.
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Cook for at least 6 hours.
l
Only cook joints of Pork if you can make sure, by using a meat
thermometer, that the temperature inside the joint is at least 88
o
C.
l
For good air circulation always stand joints on a rack in the roasting
tin or casserole.
l
Thaw all frozen meat and poultry before you cook it.
l
Prime cuts of meat do not benefit from slow cooking.
l
Cut off unwanted fat and skin unless it is browned first.
l
Cook for 30 minutes at gas mark 6, then reduce to the slow cook
setting.
M E T R O P O L I T A N
16
MAIN OVEN
MAIN OVEN
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