can you keep food in a slow cooker longer than the suggested time?

Before we developed "slow cookers" it was common practice for families to keep a large pot going on a back burner at all times, just adding water as needed to keep things from sticking too badly [or burning.] With this big pot, leftovers were added whenever they happened and people would help themselves when ever they felt hungry. Sometimes the veggies got mushy, but they could just as easily be mashed into the broth.

This same technique works with the modern slow cooker - doesn't matter how long the food is in there, as long the it stays hot enough to prevent food poisoning and moist enough to not stick or burn.

If you have a family invest in a slow cooker. The recipes are quick, easy and done when you get home from work. Just make sure that you get one where the pot can be detached from the heating unit. It's a lot easier to clean. But you can cook slow cooker recipes in a dutch oven. You need a real heavy pot. A teflon pot will not do this. Put whatever recipe you have in the oven on 275 for as many hours as the recipe calls for. Be careful if your oven doesn't heat equally as well. You don't want burnt spots on your dishes. This happend in my oven. The back is A LOT hotter than the front.

I love cooking in a slow cooker. I almost nevr put my stuff on high. I always cook it slow. As the time, if it said to cook it 5 hours high I would then cook it on low for at least 7 hours give or take. I mostly check on the meat, nice and tender, and the veggies, tender but not mush. And because it is still cooking even when you shut the cooker off, tip the lid to let out excees steam. This could make it watery if you dont. It depends on how much time you have to get dinner ready. Always keep in mind the slow cooker was meant to cook slow. Give your self plenty on time to cook.

It should be okay to leave it cooking for another few hours. Just cook it on low for the entire amount of time. If it's a stew or something liquid-y, you could add about a half cup of water, to be sure it doesn't absorb too much of the liquid.

Also, don't leave cooked food in the crockpot, without being turned on, for any more than 4 hours.

Sydney...slow cooking method is variable, although the food does need to be well cooked. Chili for instance needs at least 8 hours on medium for the full flavor to permeate the dish. Try one third the normal time for slow cooking, then when you get home check the flavor and consistency before stopping the cooker.

Spartawo...

If you know you have 10 hours, use the Low setting.

Most things are not critical for cooking time.

Do you have a prgramble one? If so then after say the suggested 4 hours on med, then it will automatically switch to warm.

I ALWAYS leave stuff in that long as my work schedule is like that too. It's always fine. Just make sure you add a little extra liquid when you start it out so that it doesn't dry out.

my flatmate left a stew on for about 36 hours - it was really nice - though i guess it depends what you're cooking. he made stewing beef, which is chewy to start with, so it was nice when cooked for ages.

the food will start to break down when it cooks to long

it is edible but i would cook it on very low flame if you have to