Do you know what the benefits of a slow cooker are besides using them for a stew or casserole? They are useful for busy families/professionals who want to come home to a hot pot of food. They save time in cooking and less cleaning from using only one pot. Of course, there are also disadvantages. If you over-cook your food, your vegetables will taste bland and the nutrients will be destroyed.
So how does a Pyrex slow cooker work? They are designed for moist-heat cooking. The steam in the pot which condenses on the lid, then returns to the pot, making it ideal for stews, soups and casseroles. It makes the meats tender and tasty as it keeps it moist. Pyrex’s Slow Cook is coated with a smooth enamel finish to ensure maximum durability and ease of cleaning, plus they are incredibly hygienic as no stains, flavours or tastes are absorbed. Each lid features a clever textured surface, which creates a self-basting effect for your dish, so your food will remain moist and tender for great results every time. They are oven safe, compatible with gas, electric, halogen hob and even induction.
Personally, I have only used electric slow cookers before. I love to cook my favourite Chinese dessert, red bean soup, and also barley water which is a Chinese herbal drink. I had not used a cast iron slow cooker before. Pyrex has kindly given me a red Round Casserole 20 cm Slow Cook and their latest mini 250ml jug for review. The jug is very small and light and the markings are very clear – perfect for measuring smaller quantities of liquids. As for the pot, my first impression is that it is very retro and heavy duty. The red colour range should fit well in most kitchens. It is unique and elegant. They also come in a wide handle for easy carrying.
Today, I am cooking Catalonian Cod using Catalonian Tuna’s recipe which serves 4 and takes 65 minutes to cook. These are the ingredients and cooking methods from Pyrex’s website. For more recipes, please visit their website or create your own!
Ingredients
- 1 kg of tomatoes
- 4 pickles in vinegar (40 g)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 chopped onions
- 4 pieces of tuna of 180 g each (I had replaced with cod)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 8 small onions in vinegar
- 2 tbsp tomato puree
- salt and pepper
Preparation
- Cut the tomatoes into eight and the pickles into slices.
- In the casserole, heat the oil and brown the onions.
- Add the tomatoes and leave to cook for 5 minutes on a low flame, without a lid, stirring from time to time.
- Add the paprika, the pickles, the onions and the tomato puree. Mix. Place the pieces of tuna on top of the tomatoes. Salt and pepper.
- Cover, poor 250 ml of cold water onto the lid and leave to cook for 1 hour on a low flame.
This is a very simple and easy dish and of course very healthy. It is recommended to eat two portions of fish a week. The fish is very tender and the tomato soup is very tasty. My family enjoyed eating it and even Ms C who always struggles to eat fish, enjoy it too. I love this Slow Cook as it is so easy to wash and is scratch free thanks to the shiny enamel base. The lid is so heavy that it seal the edge properly and keeps all the moisture in. The Slow Cook is very well made and the red colour finish is very beautiful, bright and shiny. I rate the Slow Cook 5 stars out of 5 and would highly recommend them to anyone.
Disclosure: We received the sample for the purposes of writing this review, however, all thoughts and opinions remain our own.
I really like the look of this slow cooker looks well made and like it will last for years!
Will have to try this recipe out, it’s so difficult to find recipes that don’t call for garlic or pepper neither of which I like and missing them out seems to leave food too bland.
That slow cooker is so pretty. Still don’t fully understand how it works though…
This looks good to add to my current cookware. You can’t go wrong with Pyrex, I’ve had items which have lasted years. Good stuff.
This looks a lovely pot, but am wondering if I’d find it as useful as my electric slow cooker, as you can’t leave this on and go out – it looks great though!
so many people have recommended slow cooking to me, I really need to purchase one
I am very tempted to get one of these and cook some slow cooked venison.
I never knew you could get a non-electric slow cooker, off to browse the Pyrex site now!
I have an electric one but it takes up so much space and has a funny smell when it’s cooking, I much prefer these.
I use pyrex products all the time..going to look out for the 250ml jug next time I am out shopping
I have a slow cooker but have always been afraid to use it! But after reading your blog and those delicious recipes….tomorrows dinner will be started at 8.30am! Thanks! 🙂
I used to use a slow cooker years ago. I had forgotten how good the meal smelt, already to eat as I walked in from work with hungry kids.
I haven’t seen this before but I love my slow cooker (just an ordinary electric one). To me, food cooked in a slow cooker retains the flavour of everything in it….delicious. You can’t beat coming home after a cold day outside, walking through the door and that wonderful aroma wafts up to you.
I have never really thought about a non electric slow cooking method like this before. Thank you. I have however got a thermal slow cooker! This is brilliant and works on a kind of vacuum flask with the heat cooking itself with no power at all.
I’ve been thinking about buying a slow cooker, thanks for the review.
I love my electric slow cooker but have looked at one of these Pyrex ones recently. Do you find it heavy to lift from the cooker?
Looks delicious! I think we need to invest in a slow cooker.
Would love a slow cooker and this one looks great!
i love my slow cooker, this one looks very pretty though
Oh I wish I had a slow cooker, they’re such a great invention x
This is a lovely looking slow cooker, much nicer than my black Murphy Richards. It reminds of Le Crueset and would look lovely put on the kitchen workbench.
The fact it keeps the meat moist is the best part for me!
I will look for your recipes in the summer holidays, as I bought one these from Pyrex when Tesco had the offer on collecting tokens. I had only thought about cooking a stew in it until now 🙂
Hmm, the taste difference thing though, it’s not like BBQ v oven where it’s open to the flame or heat. It’s sealed in a pot. I mean, I haven’t tried it so I don’t actually know, just giving my impression.
If you have a chance try to hold the lid and you can see the different. Those well fitting lid is not as heavy as this is. Water vapour is still able to push out from those well fitting lid and not the Pyrex lid.Also for electric slow cooker, there is the taste different from electric and gas. Just like BBQ chicken taste different when it is cook on BBQ or in the oven. You can exactly taste/smell the charcoal on your BBQ chicken etc
This is a good looking pan, but I’m not convinced what the difference is between this and any other good pan. I mean, doesn’t the moisture always stay in the pot if you use a well fitting lid? And one of the advantages of using an electric slow cooker is that you aren’t taking up space on the cooker, or turning the oven on.
Great recipe. I didn’t know this kind of slow cooker existed – sounds really good. Hazel Rea – @beachrambler
Love the recipe…and the slow cooker! need one like that, mine is super old lol
Love the recipe – easy and looks tasty – a good way to eat more fish.
I haven’t got a slow cooker but the recipe sounds yummy.
Haven’t tried one of these, would really like to now though 🙂
I find a slow cooker ideal for cooking many dishes which I can prepare in the morning leaving the afternoon free. I have only used an electric slow cooker so far but this one from Pyrex sounds pretty good so will put it on my wish list.
Yum this looks so good 🙂 i’ll have to look into getting a slow cooker!
I had forgotten all about slow cooking! It is so easy to get into a cooking rut these days, thanks!
What a great recipe! Thanks so much for sharing! I adore tuna and so do my kids!
I’m really looking forward to making the most of mine. I have a sausage and pepper casserole planned for a couple of days time 🙂 (I should have made it on Wednesday but events overtook me and I have no idea what anyone ate for tea, but I’m sure it wasn’t anything like as healthy!).
they are great! I had only used electrical ones before and i actually think these are so much more versatile