Slow Cooker Time & Temperature Converter

Slow Cooker Guide

Slow Cooker Temperature Equivalents

A slow cooker on LOW reaches approximately 90°C (195°F); on HIGH approximately 150°C (300°F). This is why slow cooker times are so much longer than oven times — the lower temperature requires much more time to reach equivalent doneness. For most casseroles and stews: 1 hour oven at 160°C ≈ 6–8 hours LOW or 3–4 hours HIGH in a slow cooker. The extended cooking time at low temperature allows collagen in tougher cuts to convert to gelatin, making cheap cuts (shin, brisket, lamb shoulder) more tende

Liquid Reduction

Unlike oven cooking, a slow cooker does not allow moisture to evaporate. This means recipes designed for the oven or hob typically produce too much liquid in a slow cooker. Reduce the liquid in a slow cooker recipe by 25–50% compared to the original. If you end up with too much liquid, remove the lid for the last 30–45 minutes (on HIGH) to reduce. Alternatively, make a cornflour slurry and stir in during the last 30 minutes to thicken sauces.

Best and Worst Ingredients

Excellent in slow cooker: tough cuts (shin, brisket, oxtail, shoulder), root vegetables, lentils and dried beans (after soaking), stock-based soups. Poor in slow cooker: dairy (milk, cream, cheese — add in last 30 minutes to prevent curdling and splitting), pasta and rice (add in last 1–2 hours or they go mushy), delicate fish and seafood (add in last 30–45 minutes maximum), green vegetables (add in last 30 minutes to retain colour and texture), herbs (add fresh herbs at the end; dried herbs int

Food Safety in Slow Cookers

Food must reach 74°C (chicken, pork) or 63°C (beef, lamb) to be safe. Modern slow cookers (most post-2010) reliably achieve this within 2–3 hours on HIGH. Never put frozen meat directly in a slow cooker — it takes too long to reach safe temperature (risk zone: 4–60°C). Always defrost fully first. Do not lift the lid during cooking — each lift drops temperature and adds approximately 20 minutes to cooking time. Slow cooker inserts should not be put directly on a gas flame or hob.