Every Sunday, I take the time to visit my beloved grandma for a cooking lesson. She always prepares the most delicious dishes. So I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to learn her cooking techniques. For our most recent session, I was eager to learn slow cooking in an oven since I adore the tender and succulent texture of the meat that comes with this method.

What is Slow Cooking and How Does it Work?

Slow cooking uses low temperatures over extended periods to tenderize the meat and provide intense flavors in dishes. It is a food preparation method that creates deliciously hearty meals such as soups and stews.

The process works by sealing in moisture and allowing flavors to release into the dish, resulting in richly flavored meals that are easy to prepare. Slow cooking requires very little attention. All you have to do is set it up at the start and let it work its magic until it’s done! With this convenient form of cooking, you can easily prepare delicious meals with minimal effort.

For slow cooking, grandma often uses a slow cooker to prepare dishes. But I still need to purchase one for myself. So, I asked Nana if she could instead teach me to do slow cooking in an oven since that’s what I have in the house.

She said for me not to worry about having a slow cooker because I could literally do slow cooking with an oven with a similar result. Moreover, she added that slow cooking in an oven has a lot of advantages; for instance, when braising, simmering, or stewing.

This type of cooking has the great advantage of retaining moisture due to the lower temperatures and more extended time involved in the process. Furthermore, its prolonged exposure to heat helps soften tougher cuts of meat, making them more tender and succulent.

How to Choose the Best-Suited Slow Cooker Oven for Your Needs

Before Nana began to demonstrate the technique of slow cooking with an oven, she advice to select the best slow cooker oven to use. She taught me that it is essential to select an oven that is specifically designed to prepare slow-cooked meals. Here are some of her tips on how to identify the best slow cooking option in terms of size, shape, and power level that would suit my culinary needs.

Nana recommends that the perfect oven for slow cooking is one specifically designed with this purpose in mind. It should possess certain features ideal for slow cooking, such as a low and consistent temperature setting. This type of oven can be extremely advantageous when making meals that require lengthy, slow cooking times.

Additionally, it should also have an even heat distribution throughout its interior, which will ensure that the food cooks evenly and consistently. With these features in place, anyone looking to perform slow cooking can do so with confidence, knowing that their meals will always turn out perfectly cooked every time.

Slow cooking can be done in both electric and gas ovens. However, electric ones generally suit better due to their ability to maintain consistent temperatures. An added bonus of using an electric oven for slow cooking is that it will often have features like timers and temperature control settings. This will allow you to easily customize your meals. Additionally, since the heat from an electric oven radiates more evenly than a gas one, this ensures even cooking throughout the entire dish.

How to Use Your Oven as a Slow Cooker

If you also don’t have a slow cooker at home and you want to cook a tender pork belly, you can also use your oven for slow cooking. Slow cooking in your oven will ensure that your pork belly is cooked thoroughly and retains its softness and flavor. Here are some tips from my Nana when slow cooking in an oven.

Learn Heat Distribution When Slow Cooking in an Oven

One of the most effective techniques for cooking a delightful slow-cooked meal is to be aware of the heat distribution within your oven. It is essential to understand how the heat is spread throughout your oven to create an evenly cooked meal that has been cooked at a consistent temperature over a prolonged time.

The recommended oven temperature for slow cooking should be set to around 250°F (121°C), although sometimes it requires 200°F (93°C). This lower temperature allows food to cook slowly and evenly, resulting in more tender and flavorful dishes. It also helps preserve the nutrients in the ingredients, making it an ideal way to retain vitamins and minerals in your meals.

Use the Right Cookware

According to Nana, a cast iron Dutch oven is a great choice for slow cooking. It is able to trap plenty of moisture and spread heat evenly, making sure the food doesn’t become dry or overcooked. This type of cookware also ensures maximum flavor due to its efficiency in evenly distributing heat.

Although a dutch oven is ideal for this cooking method, she suggests using the heaviest pot available if you don’t have one. To ensure an even heat distribution and seal in moisture, you should cover it with aluminum foil before closing with a lid.

Choose the Right Ingredients when slow cooking

When slow cooking, it is important to select the proper ingredients in order to achieve the desired result. Careful consideration should be given to each item that goes into a slow cooker oven. Nana recommends to choose those items with low-fat content, and high nutritional value can help ensure a delicious, healthy meal.

Slow-cooked meals require long cooking times, so choosing hearty ingredients such as root vegetables or tough cuts of meat that can withstand extended periods of simmering is vital. Additionally, seasonings like herbs and spices lend flavor while adding minimal calories and fat. It makes them ideal for creating flavorful dishes without compromising health benefits.

Check the Temperature

When slow-cooking meat in an oven, it is essential to always use a reliable and accurate meat thermometer to check the interior temperature of the meal. This is an important step to ensure that the food is cooked thoroughly and safely. This will allow you to confidently guarantee that it will be fit for consumption.

Slow cooking is a fantastic way to prepare meals full of flavor without investing too much time in the kitchen. So, if you’re ready to get started with slow roasting or baking in an oven, check out these top-notch recipes!