Figuring out how to convert oven temperatures to slow cooker settings can seem tricky. Ovens and slow cookers cook food differently, so you can’t just substitute one temperature for another. However, with some simple guidelines, you can easily adapt your favorite oven recipes for the slow cooker.
How Ovens and Slow Cookers Work Differently
Ovens and slow cookers use different methods to cook food, which is why you can’t use the same temperatures interchangeably. Here’s a quick overview of how each appliance works:
- Ovens use dry ambient heat that surrounds the food. They can reach temperatures up to 500°F very quickly.
- Slow cookers use moist indirect heat. The pot heats up to around 200°F but food hovers around the simmer point of 212°F because the pot is sealed.
So ovens rely on intense dry heat while slow cookers use gentler moist heat over a longer period of time. This means you can’t just take an oven recipe and plug in the temperature to a slow cooker. The cooking time and liquid amounts also need adjusting.
General Oven to Slow Cooker Conversion
Here are some general oven temperature conversions to slow cooker settings:
| Oven Temperature | Equivalent Slow Cooker Setting |
|---|---|
| 250°F (very low) | Low |
| 325°F (low) | Low |
| 350°F (moderate) | High |
| 375°F (high) | High |
As you can see, oven temperatures under 350°F convert to the Low setting, while temperatures 375°F and up equate to High. But this is just a starting point since cooking time and liquid need adjusting too.
Converting Cooking Time from Oven to Slow Cooker
Cooking time is another major difference between the appliances. Here are some time conversions to keep in mind:
- Food that bakes for 30 minutes in the oven for 30 minutes may take 4-6 hours on Low in a slow cooker.
- Food that bakes for 1 hour in the oven may take 6-8 hours on Low.
- Food that bakes for 2 hours or more in the oven may take 8-10 hours on Low.
You can see that slow cookers require significantly more time to cook food through. The benefit is you get tender, flavorful meals with less hands-on effort.
Adjusting Liquid for Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow cookers require more liquid since the heat comes from the steam created in the covered pot. Follow these tips for converting oven recipes:
- Add about 1/4 cup extra liquid per hour of cooking time needed. So if a recipe takes 8 hours, add 2 cups more liquid.
- Include broth, water, juice, or milk when possible instead of simply adding water.
- Avoid too much extra liquid that will thin out the dish. Go for a loose but not watery consistency.
Recipe Example: Coq au Vin
Let’s look at how to adapt a coq au vin recipe from the oven to the slow cooker using the conversions above.
Oven Coq au Vin:
- Cooks chicken for 1 hour at 350°F
- Uses 1 cup chicken broth
Slow Cooker Adaptation:
- Cook 6-8 hours on Low (equivalent to 350°F)
- Increase broth to 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 cups
The temperature converts directly to Low. And since the oven cooks for 1 hour, the slow cooker will need 6-8 hours. Finally, increasing the broth slightly prevents the dish from drying out.
Tips for Converting Oven Favorites to the Slow Cooker
Here are some more tips for adapting oven recipes to the slow cooker:
- For casseroles, add extra broth and use cream soup as extra liquid.
- Increase herbs and spices slightly since the flavors develop over hours.
- Cut root vegetables like potatoes and carrots into 1-inch pieces to cook fully.
- Cook chicken, fish and seafood for the minimum time to prevent overcooking.
- Drop biscuit dough over stews the last 30 minutes to bake through.
- Let dishes with rice, pasta or dairy cook only until tender to avoid mushiness.
Handy Conversion Chart
Use this handy oven to slow cooker conversion chart for easy reference:
| Oven Temperature | Slow Cooker Setting | Oven Time | Slow Cooker Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250°F | Low | 30 minutes | 4-6 hours |
| 325°F | Low | 1 hour | 6-8 hours |
| 350°F | High | 1-2 hours | 8-10 hours |
| 375°F+ | High | 2+ hours | 8-10 hours |
Conclusion
Converting oven recipes to the slow cooker requires adjusting the temperature, cooking time, and liquid. Use the general conversions for temperature and time provided. Be sure to add extra liquid to replace moisture lost from long cook times. While it takes some trial and error, you can adapt most oven favorites like casseroles, roasts, baked pasta, and more to the slow cooker. The result is tender, flavorful meals ready when you are.