Last updated: 2026-06-19

Slow Cooker Conversion

A slow-cooker conversion is the adjustment of a conventional oven or stovetop cooking time into the longer time a slow cooker needs at its lower operating temperature. Because a slow cooker holds food at roughly 80–95 °C rather than the 160–200 °C of an oven, the same dish takes several hours instead of minutes, and the conversion follows a standard chart rather than a single multiplier.

The conversion bands

The chart groups recipes by their original conventional time and assigns a Low and a High slow-cooker time to each band:

Across every band the High time is approximately half the Low time, because the High setting reaches the working temperature faster while both settings finish at a similar point.

Worked example

A braise that calls for 50 minutes in the oven falls into the longest band, since 50 minutes is greater than 45. The conversion therefore gives about 9 hours on Low or about 5 hours on High. The Low setting suits an unattended all-day cook, while the High setting fits a shorter afternoon window.

Choosing a setting

Low is generally preferred for tougher cuts of meat and for recipes left to run while away, since the gentler heat reduces the risk of drying out. High is useful when the available time is limited. The bands are estimates: the exact time varies with the model of slow cooker, the quantity of food, and the starting temperature of the ingredients, so doneness should always be confirmed with a food thermometer.

For roasting a whole bird by conventional methods, see Turkey Roasting Time Calculator.