Basic Crock Pot Tips

Basic tips for using a slow cooker.

A slow cooker has got a glazed ceramic container or crock, encased in an outer metallic housing. Inside the metal case is an electric powered heating element. A tight fitting clear dome lid allows condensation to run down inside forming a water seal that aids in the retention of flavor and heat. These small electrical appliances became popular in the 1970’s. Today, a wide range of slow cookers are available. The one quart model is popular for singles and couples, the four to six quart for families, and the twelve quart for entertaining or large group meals.

When purchasing a slow cooker , find one with a detachable liner. These are generally less difficult to clean up. Line your crockpot by using a cooking bag and you are likely to have no cleanup at all. Spray the inside of the liner with cooking spray prior to filling it to make clean-up easier.

Only fill the crockpot one half to two thirds full. The ingredients definitely will not cook completely in cases where the unit is filled to the brim. If the food and liquid level is lower, the meals will certainly cook too quickly.

The initial temperature of the crock pot should be as high as possible. You can do this by browning the meat in the crock pot before cooking.

140 degrees is the temperature the food must reach as quickly as possible. If you happen to be at home throughout the cooking times, check the food temperature after four hrs of cooking on LOW - the temperature ought to be at least 140 degrees. In the event that it is not, there is a problem with your crockpot and you need to get a brand-new one.

Keep the lid on! Every time you raise the lid, you will need to add 20 minutes to the cooking time due to the heat lost.

The LOW setting is about 200 degrees, and the HIGH setting is about 300 degrees. Take note that these two temperatures are well above the minimum safe temperature of 140 degrees.

Experts recommend you do not place frozen food products in the crockpot. All ingredients ought to be defrosted prior to cooking so the food temperature can achieve 140 degrees in a timely manner.

Most meats need 8 hrs of cooking on LOW. Utilize lower priced cuts of meat - you don't only reduce costs, but these kinds of meats work better in the crock pot. Less costly cuts of meat have a lesser amount of fat, rendering them much more suited to crockpot cooking. Moist, longer cooking times bring about very tender meats.

Here are a few of my best crock pot tips.

Ground meats need to be prepared in a skillet before cooking in the crockpot.

Seafoods preferably should be included during the final hour or so of cooking time, or it will overcook and possess a rubbery texture.

Large bits of meat can be browned prior to cooking in the crockpot, but this measure isn't necessary. Browning adds color and aids in flavor development.

One hour on HIGH is identical to two hours on LOW.

Cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce tend to become bitter if cooked for a long time. Utilize a small amount and add toward the end of the cooking time.

Add soft veggies like tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini during the last 45 minutes of cooking time so they don't overcook.

To speed up the cooking time for most recipes, including soups and stews, follow the rule that 1 hour on high is equal to 2 hours on low.

Liquids do not boil away in the crockpot, so if you are making a recipe that wasn't specifically developed for the crockpot, reduce the liquid by 1/3 to 1/2 unless you are cooking rice or making soup.


Remove cooked food from the crockpot or liner before storage. Because the liner is made of such thick material, the food won't cool down quickly enough to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Stir in spices for the last hour of cooking. They will lose flavor if cooked with the rest of the ingredients for the long cooking period.

Follow the layering instructions carefully. Vegetables do not cook as quickly as meat, so they should be placed in the bottom of the appliance.

Don't lift the lid to stir, especially if you are cooking on the low setting. Each time you lift the lid, enough heat will escape that the cooking time should be extended by 20 minutes to half an hour. To check progress without lifting the lid, spin the cover until the condensation falls off. Then it's easy to see inside. .

Handle you crock pot with care. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. Be careful of extreme changes of temperature, as the crock may easily break. Handle it gently and it will last forever.