Crockpot Cooking Made Easy
A crockpot can save more time in the kitchen than any other cooking appliance. The reason is that you don’t have to BE in the kitchen to use it. Listed below are some smart tips to save you more time when you use your crockpot.
1. Cooking bags can make crockpot cleaning easier. Cooking bags are great time savers. In a crockpot a cooking bag will eliminate all the mess of cleaning up.
2. Before you fill the crockpot, spray the inside with cooking spray. Spraying the inside of the crockpot will avoid any foods sticking to the pot. This is real time saver when cooking chili or spaghetti sauce.
3. To cook foods at an optimum temperature, do not fill the crockpot over 2/3 of capacity. The foods will cook faster if the appliance is not filled to the top.
4. If your recipe calls for meat, place the meat at the bottom of the crockpot. You can layer the food for a beef stew, starting with the meat, potatoes and then the foods that take the least time to cook.
5. For a more flavorful dish, brown the meat before placing in the crockpot. Brown the meat in a large skillet and add onions and spices. This simple step adds more flavors to your dishes.
6. Use cheaper cuts of meat to cook in your crockpot. You will save money and your meals will taste better. These meats have lower fat content and cook better in the crockpot.
7. Always precook ground meat before placing in a crockpot. This will ensure that the meat is completely cooked through before serving.
8. A quick idea for an easy sauce is to add ½ teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with 1/2 cup of water. Stir the mixture thoroughly and add to the crockpot during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
9. Add seafood during the last hour of cooking. Seafood doesn't take a long time to cook. By adding late it will ensure the seafood is not overcooked, which in turn, can cause your seafood to be rubbery.
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