Beginning with the Crock Pot
Slow cooker is another way to say “crock pot.” Most of us are used to hearing the latter, but the terms are interchangeable meaning the same thing. Now, if you are considering using a slow cooker. There are a few things you should know before you start to enhance your chances of creating a successful meal. Yes, even a slow cooker meal can be horrible if some basic tips are not adhered to. No one wants to come home with a hearty appetite and find a pot full of yucky mush.
Let’s start with the purchasing of a crock pot. You can purchase crock pots in various sizes. From as small as one quart to as large as five quarts, you’re sure to find one that fits your needs. Depending on your family size or the amount of people you’ll be preparing meals for, you may find the larger the slow cooker the better it will work.
Crock pots also come with removable inner pots that allow for easier serving at the dinner table. A removable inner core allows everyone to sit and relax as they spoon their food onto their plate instead of standing at the stove. Some even come equipped with a non-stick inner pot, making clean up less messy.
Temperature settings vary among slow cookers. Many offer a range of temperature settings to meet the needs of the cook. Some have as little at two setting, low and high. There are others that include up to five settings that vary from high to really very slow cooking. There may also be a warm setting in case the food has finished cooking but any accompanying side dishes still need to be prepared. This setting is also great for times when everyone isn’t ready to eat their meal just yet.
Be careful with your heat settings. As with ovens, temperatures and settings on the dial are a rough estimate. Be careful not to overcook your meal. Even though it is set to the eight hour setting to cook throughout the day, some slow cooker have a high temperature and will cook boneless meats quickly.
To avoid such a food crisis, test your crock pot on the weekend when you are at home. Start a meal in the late morning hours, using the lowest setting and see how long it actually takes for the meal to cook. You may need to make adjustments to cooking times when you are away based on what you discover.
A crock pot can be an extremely useful tool for busy families and even single people alike. With the suggestions above you’ll get used to preparing meals with your slow cooker while you’re not around in no time.
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