Get The Best Results Every Time From a Slow Cooker

Cooking is an essential task at home. It is a way of showing how much you care for your family. However, with a busy schedule, you may not always find time to cook for your family. If you still want to serve the most delicious meals after coming from back work, a slow cooker is your best friend. With this innovative kitchen appliance, you can do your job and serve your family at the same time. Enjoy a beautiful meal without spending too much time cooking it.

A slow cooker is not expensive, it’s economical and it can transform budget ingredients into a 5-star dish. It’s time that you make the most out of your weekends by enjoying flavorful home-cooked meals using your crock-pot.

Your slow cooker is a terrific time saver in your kitchen. With some prep work, you can “set it and forget it,” then clean up your kitchen long before you serve your meal. But like any cooking, you need to follow a few guidelines to get your best results.

To get the best meals from your slow cooker, never fill it to the top. If you have to stir, do it quickly and replace the lid. It can take fifteen to twenty minutes to regain lost heat from taking the lid off. Because the slow cooker captures moisture, use care in adding liquids. You can always add more if needed at the end of the cooking cycle.

Read on for tips about choosing the proper sized slow cooker for your recipe, using the right cut of meat, and how to mix your ingredients in the appropriate order.

Slow Cooker Correct Size

Slow cookers come in different sizes measured by quarts. Selecting the right fit for your family is essential, particularly if you want a crock is large enough for meals like roast beef or pot roast. Using the proper sized slow cooker is one of the most vital keys to successful slow cooking. If the pot is overfilled, it may not cook everything thoroughly or evenly. If the pot is not filled enough, the contents can easily burn.

Ideally, the pot of your slow cooker should be filled one-half to two-thirds full. You may be able to use two smaller cuts of meat to fill the pot to the right amount. Once you’ve determined the right sized meal for your slow cooker, keep this number in mind when you shop.

Use The Right Cut of Meat

Some cuts of meat are best for dry (oven) roasting, and others far better in a slow cooker. Look for tougher cuts like shoulder and rump to slow cook. They come from the heavily exercised part of the animal. If you have a favorite recipe for braised meat, that should also work well in the slow cooker.

When adapting braising recipes, be very aware of how much liquid is included. Crackpots cook out a lot of liquid.

Layering and Adding Ingredients Properly

For best results, always layer pieces of meat on top of vegetables. This helps fill the crock pot to the proper level and provides additional flavor. If you are making a soup or stew, layering is not necessary.

Pasta, rice, and cooked beans can often wait until the last half hour to keep them from getting mushy. When adding cream and milk products, do it at the end to keep them from separating or curdling.

Start Slow Cooking with Confidence

Slow cooking is an easy, flexible cooking method. It will allow you to keep your family healthy while not worrying about whose cooking or when it will get done. With the tips you just read, you’ll make a great slow cooked meal with confidence.

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