Slow-Cooker Tips There is nothing more comforting than coming home to a hot meal at the end of the day. A slow-cooker is the best tool for the harried cook, looking for a way to provide healthy comfort food with little time to spend in the kitchen. While the basics of slow-cooking are simple, these tips will help you get the most out of your crockpot. - Root vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, and turnips, should be placed in the bottom of the pot. Meat should then be added on top. This ensures that the vegetables will cook properly. All meat should be trimmed of fat before cooking, as excess fat will cause the temperature in the pot to rise, resulting in overcooked meat. You can also prevent overcooked meat by browning your meat first on the stovetop, eliminating much of the fat. Browning your meat first will also allow the meat to cook more evenly and give it a nice flavor and color. - Prepackaged and cleaned ingredients can cut your preparation time and make meal preparation a snap. Consider using canned tomatoes, soup mixes, frozen vegetables, scalloped potato mixes, and pre-made sauces. Any frozen ingredients should be thawed before adding. - If you find you are getting a late start to your slow-cooking preparation, you can speed the cooking time by using the High setting on your crockpot. One hour on High equals two hours on Low. - Dont fill your crockpot insert to the brim. Your meal will cook better if it is no more than three-quarters full. - Because the lid of your pot will stay on for such a long time, steam will tend to accumulate inside of the pot. This can lead to watered down dishes. To compensate, you may need to start with less liquid than you normally use in stovetop cooking. You may also use thickeners such as flour, cornstarch, or tomato paste to obtain the proper consistency. - Dont peak during cooking! Each time you lift the lid of your pot, you are adding 15 to 20 minutes to the total cook time. You will also allow the release of steam, which can change the consistency of your dish. Meals cooked in your crockpot do not need to be stirred. - Most crockpots are made with a removable stoneware insert. This stoneware is susceptible to quick changes in temperature. Thus, you should not place a hot pot on a cool surface. Likewise, if you have refrigerated your filled pot overnight, it should be brought to room temperature before placing in the slow-cooker base. - For easier cleanup, spray the insert with nonstick cooking spray before filling. Most ceramic or stoneware inserts can be safely placed in the dishwasher.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 02:45:04 +0000
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