I remember the first time I learned about crock pots and what they were used for. When I was growing up I watched a lot of food network with my parents and I remember a specific scene of a large family surrounding the stove top. I could tell it wasn’t their first time making a slow-cooker dish. They explained how to use an instant-read thermometer and they emphasized how important food safety is. One of my favorite things about this episode was how they were able to use inexpensive cuts of meat because their methods of seasoning were good enough to make the meal taste fantastic! I knew we had to try it out so I asked my mom to give it a shot. My mom always meticulously chose the perfect cut of meat for our slow-cooker meals, which is why her meals have always been the best. For our first-ever slow cooker meal, my mom learned how to make a pot roast with vegetables.
This was the best-slow-cooked meal I have ever had, (and best pot roast) although it had a long cooking process. My mom would prepare the meal and make it in the morning. My mom made it in her slow cooker pot and added delicate vegetables and the right cut of a pot roast. She always made sure to give the meat plenty of time to cook, and the extended time waiting was worth it. The best advice I can give is to give those extra minutes to your recipes for the most efficient cooking. Once I would get home from school the house would smell delicious and it always made me so hungry! My mom explained to me that the food was not ready yet, but once we ate it would be so worth it. I would do my homework in my room, and patiently wait until dinner was ready! Once it was ready I would quickly set the table, gather the drinks, and help serve the dishes to my family. We all were able to enjoy this delicious meal that my mother had made. I was always quick to remind my family that the slow cooker was originally MY idea!
Once I was around 16 years old I showed interest in cooking meals myself and my mom taught me. At first I thought it was going to be difficult to learn but I quickly got the hang of it. The hardest part was gathering the ingredients, and then I learned that you can pretty much just throw them together! Some recipes I have learned through the years are more advanced, and some are more simple. That is the beauty of the crock pot, it can be used for so many different types of meals! I have many years of experience using slow cookers and I am confident that I can share my experience in the tips below.
You can view many slow cooker recipes on our site, these recipes vary from meals with dairy products (like sour cream and parmesan cheese) to meals with root vegetables and fresh herbs. Slow cookers are easy to use but there are many tips below that you may not know about. These tips are great for anyone using a crock pot. No matter what kind of recipe you are using, these slow cooker tips will be a good idea to use!
1. High on most slow cooker is approximately 300 degrees F. Low is approximately 200 degrees F.
2. One hour on high equals about 2 to 2 1/2 hours on low
3. When using your crock pot… DON’T PEEK! It takes about 15 to 20 minutes for the crock pot to regain lost steam and return to the right temperature.
4. Browning the meat, onions, and veggies before putting them in the cooker improves their flavor. This extra step can be skipped in most recipes. – The flavor will still taste good either way.
5. Whole or leaf herbs gain flavor in the crock pot. Ground seasonings lose flavor. Add ground seasoning during the last hour and season to taste right before serving.
6. Slow Cookers work wonders for a side dish! One of my favorites are baked potatoes. Just fill the slow cooker with cleaned potatoes, place the lid on and cook all day until done. Peel them after they are cooked. You could use them for a potato salad or even just baked potatoes.
7. Liquids don’t boil down in a slow cooker. At the end of the cooking time, remove the cover, set the dial on High and allow the liquid to evaporate if the dish is soupier than you want
8. Less tender, and less expensive cuts of meat are better suited for slow cooking. When cooked on low for 6 to 8 hours makes the meat is much more tender compared to cooking on High for 3 to 4 hours.
9. Cooking with your crock pot is a great was to keep your house cool in the summer. My favorite part of cooking with the slow cooker is that it makes your house smell amazing all day long!
10. Using Crock Pot Liners make for a super easy clean up and it doesn’t effect the cooking of your crock pot. You can find these liners at most grocery stores. If you don’t have any liners, cooking spray will also make clean up easier.
11. Foods cooked on the bottom of the slow cooker are cooked faster than those on top. This also makes the food on the bottom more tender. I usually put my meat and veggies in first unless the recipes says otherwise.
12. Cut hard Vegetables so they are close to the same size. This way they will all cook evenly.
13. Add tender veggies during the last hour of cooking. (Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Zucchini, etc) If you add them before hand they might over cook and turn really mushy.
14. Foods in your crock pot do not cook properly if they are filled all the way to the top. When your Crock pot is 1/2 way full to 3/4 of the way full, your food will cook better. If your crock pot if less than half full, cooking time will be faster and could burn.
15. Find a Slow Cooker that works for you. There are so many kinds and brands out there. Do some research before buying one. Chances are… your friends and family have crock pots so ask them what they like.
Www.jbseatsandtreats.blogspot.com
~Jeneka
loveforbuttercups.com
Meat is a lot more tender when I use a lower temperature and cook it for 6 to 8 hours. Hope this helps!
Yee-haw for crockpots!