It is much easier to convert a regular recipe to a slow cooker recipe than to do it the other way around.

That said, there are some general guidelines. “General” being the key word in that sentence. These are by no means etched in stone and the guidelines won’t always work.

If original recipe calls for low for 4 to 8 hours or to cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours cook in the oven or stove top for 1/4 to 1/2 hr. (This is were the problem comes in as you would not cook a roast for 15 to 30 minutes although you would cook it for around 6 hours in the crock pot. This guideline works better for say a casserole that would be in the oven for 30 minutes, it would be great to cook in a crock for 4-5 hours)

If original recipe calls for cooking on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours in general it will take 1/2 to 1 hr in the oven or on the stove.

If original recipe calls for cooking on low for 8 to 16 hrs. or cook on high for 4 to 6 hrs, you would need 1 to 3 hrs in oven or stovetop cooking time.

Low on a crock pot is 180 to 200 degrees. High on a crock pot is around 300 degrees.

Because crock pots do not allow much moisture to escape, they tend to have half the amount of liquid a regular recipe calls for, so you’ll need to double the amount of liquid.

Crock recipes do not call for the browning of meat prior to cooking it, so this step will need to be added back into crock pot recipes.

Most vegetables are added raw and are not sauteed before being put into a crock pot, so this too will need to be a step added to the recipe.

Because of the slow gentle heat, most crock pot recipes do not require stirring, so you’ll need to check you food often and stir as needed, especially when cooking on stove top.

Pasta and rice are normally cooked separately or only during the last hour as they tend to get very mushy when in a slow cooker for hours on end. You will need to add your pasta or rice sooner in your recipe.

Spices may need to be reduced or increased. Whole herbs and spices increase their flavoring power in crock pot cooking while ground spices may have lost some flavor. You’ll need to switch this around by halving your whole herbs and doubling your dried spices when cooking.

Also you’ll be directed to add ground spices during the last hour of cooking in a crock pot, so this will need to be reversed for cooking on stove top or oven.

As I said, these are guidelines. Happy crocking!