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How’s it going so far? Have you taken the plunge to pull your crockpot out from hiding and dust it off? I know everyone these days is in an Instapot craze…but the sweet thing about crockpots is that most of us already have one, and if not, they are CHEAP.
For families on the go or parents who work, slow cookers are an excellent way to have food “cook itself,” so you don’t have to rack your brain for meal ideas when you’re mentally and physically exhausted after a long day. If you’re not used to using one, knowing some tips and tricks ahead of time can help reduce the learning curve. Even if you do use your slow cooker frequently, it’s nice to expand your recipe repertoire and learn something new about this standby of busy kitchens.
Here are some tips and tricks for successful slow cookery.
1. Don’t Peek!
When using your slow cooker, leave the lid on unless the recipe specifically instructs you to remove it. If you take the lid off during cooking, it can take up to 25 minutes for the food to regain its proper cooking temperature, which extends your cooking time.
2. Warming “Plate”
You can use your slow cooker to keep foods warm, even if you didn’t cook them in it. From soups to meatballs, a slow cooker on Low with the lid off or Warm with the lid on can keep foods hot while you transport them or serve them from your buffet or table.
3. Hot Weather Friend
Have you ever considered how little heat a slow cooker generates in the kitchen? This makes it ideal for cooking during hot weather. You can even do baking in your slow cooker, helping to keep your kitchen cool.
(Slow cookers use less energy than an oven, too.)
4. High, Low, and Making Adjustments
A good rule of thumb to remember is that 1 hour on High is roughly equivalent to 2 to 2 1/2 hours on Low. Knowing this allows you to adjust the timing of your dish, whether to speed it up or slow it down.
5. Blanch Veggies
Blanched vegetables retain fewer nutrients than those cooked raw. (Blanching means dipping the vegetables in boiling water for a minute or two, then in cold water to stop the cooking process.)
6. A Special Warning about Raw or Dried Kidney and Fava Beans
If you plan to use these beans in your slow cooker, opt for canned whenever possible. Dry or raw kidney and fava beans contain a toxin that is neutralized when the beans are boiled for 10 minutes. The low temperature of a slow cooker is insufficient to eliminate this toxin. So either use canned beans or pre-boil them.
7. What Size?
Generally speaking, a family of four can do well with a slow cooker that’s about 5 to 6 quarts. However, having more than one slow cooker size can come in very handy. You can have a hot drink going in the small one while you make chicken stock in the large one, or bake bread in the large one while heating soup in the other (for example).
8. Fast-Cooking Foods
If you plan to be away for a while and still want to cook thin cuts of chicken or fish fillets in your slow cooker, you can place them in the cooker while they are frozen. This increases the cooking time and decreases the chances of overcooking.
Be sure and check out the other posts in this series!
Crockpot Revisited: Choosing Recipes for Your Slow Cooker
CrockPot Cooking: Cooking Times for Your Slow Cooker
Crockpot Revisited: Tips and Tricks for Successful Slow Cookery
Crockpot Revisited: Adapting Your Favorite Recipes for the Slow Cooker
