The common used name for slow cookers Crock-Pot® is actually the Rival Manufacturing Company's trademarked name.
That is their product only.
Not another name for slow cookers....
Slow Cookers is great for families that work, single people, students, and anyone on the go. If you love home cooked meals but have little time to cook, slow cooking in slow cookers may be the way to go for you.
Slow cooked meals are easy, nutritious because you use prepare your meals with fresh and healthy ingredients. They mix ingredients and flavors while they cook over a long period of time, while locking in nutrients.
Cooking with a slow cookers that takes little time and effort, and less electricity than an oven!!
Slow cookers cook foods at very low temperatures for a long period of time.
Just add your meal's ingredients and plug the slow cooker in and let it do it's thing for 3 to 12 hours, depending on your meal that you are preparing.
With a little preparation the night before or in the morning, all you have to do is turn it on before you go to work or do your errands, and a hot dinner will be waiting for you when you return home.
One plus for slow cookers is that it does not heat up the kitchen on summer days!
Here are just some of the more popular dishes...
stews,
soups,
chili con coni,
pot roast,
goulash
and more...
But slow cookers aren't great for cooking fish....Sorry!
Another bonus is...
When you have a lot of cooking and baking to do for the holidays, preparing a meal in the slow cooker can free up your oven and stove for other holiday meals that you may need to cook.
Slow Cookers come in different sizes.
The 1-quart cooker is good for cooking meals for 1 to 2 people.
You can also keep party foods like dips, swedish meatballs, etc. warm in slow cookers when you have a party.
Larger families will need a larger cooker, like a 6-quart slow cooker.
Slow cookers operate at low watts.
Depending on the model, the wattages can vary from 75 to 300 watts.
Most Slow Cookers come with adjustable heating levels, and you can turn the heat up when you get home to finish the meal quicker if you like.
You can buy divided slow cookers (dual cookers), which have separate temperature gauges for each side.
If you want a side dish with your meal. You can cook 2 different dishes at the same time.
Another type of slow cookers is the cool-touch slow cooker, it is 30% cooler than other slow cookers, and is safer for homes with younger children!!
The heat from the slow cooker creates steam when the temperature rises. When the lid is left in place, temperatures during cooking process will destroy bacteria!!
The low, moist heat also tenderizes less expensive cuts of meat.
Tips for Cooking in Slow Cookers
Don't lift the lid while the food is cooking, it will increase required cooking time!
Never leave the food standing in the pot for more than 2 hours before you turn it on.
While cooking vegetables in the slow cooker, leave the skins on the vegetables. Doing that will help them keep their shape. Be sure to scrub the skins of potatoes, carrots, etc., before chopping them up and adding them to the pot.
Thick vegetables like potatoes and carrots should be cut into pieces 1 inch thick or less, or they may not cook completely through, because they actually take longer to cook than meats in slow cookers.
Remember to completely cover potatoes with water to prevent discoloring of the potato.
Drawback - One disadvantage to a slow cooker is that some vegetables, like celery, may become mushy.
Here is how the ingredients you are using should be placed in the slow cooker for the best cooking...
Place fresh vegetables near the bottom and the slow cooker's sides where they will be completely covered by the liquid that you will add. Then place the meat on the top and cover with liquids. Liquids can be water, broth, or barbecue sauce, etc.
The Slow Cooker should be no more than two-thirds full.
Use a small amount of liquid in your slow cooker. One half to one cup of liquid is plenty for any recipe, except with rice.
Liquids do not become to a full boil in the slow cooker. With the Slow cooker, the lid is always kept on and the liquid does not evaporate like it does in regular conventional cooking.
Sometimes the liquid makes the meal watery. You can prepare a paste of about 1/4-cup flour or cornstarch to 1/4 cup water or 4 tablespoons melted butter. Pour the completely smoothed mixture, into the liquid into the slow cooker and be sure to stir well. Let it cook 15 to 30 minutes, until the liquid is thickened.
Dairy products, such as milk and sour cream, can break down with the extended cooking times of slow cookers. Add these ingredients during the last hour of cooking.
Condensed soups may be substituted for milk and can cook for the longer extended times of slow cookers.
Slow cookers can dilute flavors. For a bolder flavor, season with salt, garlic powder, pepper, and other spices near the end of the cooking.
Frozen meat and poultry, or large pieces of meat will cause a recipe to cook slower. So it is recommended that you defrost the meat/poultry first.
It is best to cut the meat and poultry into smaller pieces if possible.
The lid should be left on the Slow Cooker except for stirring and checking to see if the meal is finished.
Always read the manufacturer’s guidelines for your slow cooker.
Read carefully directions for converting conventional recipes to slow cooking recipes.
Be Careful...
Putting cold ingredients into a hot cooker can crack the crockery insert.
Also trying to cool a hot slow cooker quickly by filling it with cool water can crack it.
Always let the slow cookers insert cool completely before removing and washing it. It can be put in the dishwasher.
Never immerse the outside which is the electric unit in water. Just wipe it clean with a damp sponge.
Don't store the leftovers in the crockery liner.
Two Types of Slow Cookers to Look For:
Continuous slow cookers
These are the most common models. They allow only slow cooking. There are usually two temperature settings--low and high--and a heated coil that surrounds the liner on the bottom and around the sides.
Intermittent slow cookers
These models are also known as multicookers and have other uses, such as frying. They usually have an adjustable thermostat, but their heating units only line the bottom and are not as conducive to slow cooking.
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