Slow cookers are appliances celebrated by busy families, meal-prep enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to cook efficiently.

Just when we thought this kitchen staple couldn't get any more practical, a clever mum stirred the pot with a new trick dividing the internet.

Could this be the time-saving solution you've been looking for, or is it a shortcut too far?

The trick involved using oven bags to cook two meals simultaneously in the slow cooker.

The idea is to prepare the ingredients for each dish, place them in separate bags, and let them cook side by side in the slow cooker.

This method promises to save time and effort, allowing you to cater to different tastes or dietary requirements without doubling your workload.

The mum who shared this tip on social media was thrilled with the results.

Thanks to this mum's trick, gone are the days when home cooks have to deal with hours of cooking and cleanup. Image Credit: Facebook/Nykita Stephens

'I tried this oven bag idea and love it! It's so easy! I made butter chicken and beef Massaman curry simultaneously,' she shared.

'I placed all ingredients in respective bags, set and forget for four hours on auto. Chicken and beef were both cooked to tender. The easiest way to get out the bag is to pour into a jug and serve.'

The response was immediate and varied.

'Genius,' one replied.

'My husband always complains that I never cook anything spicy (myself and the kids don't like it). I will be searching for these.'

'I was today years old when I learned this! Thanks,' another shared.

'I have been cooking in oven bags in my slow cooker for years now and no nasty cleaning up after as well,' a third wrote.

However, some are sceptical about the approach.

'I'm not sure I'd want my simmering food to sit in plastic bags for hours,' one wrote.

'It may work, but the risk of consuming byproducts from plastic bags is a bit of a turn-off.'

'Why not get some Pyrex dishes and use them instead - or some oven-to-freezer dishes?' another asked.

'Slow cooking with the lids on means they aren't much work to clean, and you have them in a serving dish if people are helping themselves.'

The debate about slow cookers has been simmering for quite a while—but let's take a step back and consider the broader picture.

The slow cooker is a marvel of modern kitchen technology, allowing us to prepare wholesome meals with minimal fuss.

It's a boon for home cooks who find extensive food prep challenging or for those who want to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying other activities.

Key Takeaways

• A mum shared her slow cooker trick on social media, cooking two meals simultaneously in oven bags inside the slow cooker.
• This trick divided opinions online, with some applauding the convenience while others raised concerns about plastics inside the cookware.
• People were also worried about potentially harmful substances leaching from plastic bags into the food.
• Using glass dishes within the slow cooker was also raised as an alternative for those concerned about oven bags.

Have you tried cooking with oven bags in your slow cooker? Do you have any other time-saving kitchen tricks to share? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below!

 

[Littleboy8]

Sorry gotta chuckle but that’s not a new idea been doing the oven bag thing like forever.

 

[PattiB]

Ted wouldn’t cope if I started doing that, he loves to lift the lid & stir everything. I keep telling him not to but selective hearing.

 

[Littleboy8]

Ted wouldn’t cope if I started doing that, he loves to lift the lid & stir everything. I keep telling him not to but selective hearing.

Huh I can’t hear you

 

[Luckyus]

Nothing new in this idea.

 

[Jest]

not too happy with what looks like zip ties.

 

[mylittletibbies]

My slow cooker is always full of whatever I am making at the time, that way I can get two, three or sometimes even four meals (for two people) depending on what I'm making.
I always have a freezer full of home made meals on hand, gives me many nights of not having to cook.

 

[Littleboy8]

My slow cooker is always full of whatever I am making at the time, that way I can get two, three or sometimes even four meals (for two people) depending on what I'm making.
I always have a freezer full of home made meals on hand, gives me many nights of not having to cook.

Love my slow cooker

 

[mylittletibbies]

Love my slow cooker

I don't really see the benefit except for the cooking time
you're still having to prepare two meals for fussy eaters.
If my husband doesn't want or like what's being prepared for tea I tell him I'm not running a restaurant and point him to the freezer where he can choose what he wants from previously prepared meals and zap it himself in the microwave.
I spent too many years pandering to his fussy tastes, so now it's either have what's being cooked, do your own or go without
His choice.