Slow Cooker Recipes

📖 The Scoop

Slow Cooker Recipes - Over 500 Best and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipe all in one book. Slow-cooker meals are versatile and easier on the budget. Less expensive cuts of meat become perfectly tender and delicious when cooked in a slow cooker and less expensive fresh foods can replace more expensive packaged and processed foods. Slow-Cooking Benefits Hands-free all-day cooking Safe to leave plugged in all day Saves cooking time and energy Portable for potluck occasions, use in campers, etc. All-in-one-pot convenience Easy cleanup and no other pots and pans needed Versatile for many kinds of foods from appetizers to desserts Meets multiple cooking needs -poaching, stewing, braising, roasting, and baking Warm setting keeps food ready for family members' varying dinner times Frequently Asked Questions About Slow Cookers 1. Do I need to stir ingredients while cooking? No. Valuable heat is lost every time the lid is lifted, requiring an increase in cooking time. 2. What size slow cooker should I buy? This depends on the number of people you're cooking for and the type of cooking you're doing. For a couple and small families, a 3- to 31/2-quart cooker is adequate. Larger families will want a 5- to 6-quart size. If you want to have leftovers to freeze and serve again, the larger size slow cookers will hold bigger quantities. Most roasts will fit best in a 6-quart or larger cooker. If you entertain a lot, a 1- to 11/2-quart slow cooker is perfect for making and serving dips, snack mixes, meatballs, etc. 3. Can slow cookers be left unattended? Yes. One of the main benefits of a slow cooker is that you can put in your ingredients, leave home and come back to a delicious meal. Slow cookers operate on a low 120 wattage, just slightly more than light bulbs, which generally use 100 watts. Ovens use about 220 watts of electricity, small stovetop burners use about 300 watts and large burners require about 1,500 watts. 4. Can I use my slow cooker to prepare roasts, whole chickens and other meats so that they can be sliced, rather cooked to falling-apart doneness? Yes. To cook meat to perfect doneness for slicing and serving, use a meat thermometer and cook to the temperature recommended for the type of meat. The use of foil handles facilitates removal of whole roasts and chicken from the slow cooker. Cut 2 long strips of heavy duty foil that will fit into the slow cooker, going across the bottom and extending to the top of the sides of the crock. Fold the strips in half 2 or 3 times to increase their strength; fit into slow cooker and add the roast or chicken. 5. Sometimes my recipe is done cooking but it is too watery. How can I thicken the juices? If you want to thicken the juices, turn the slower cooker to high and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon cornstarch or 2 tablespoons flour with 1/4 cup cold water for every cup of juices. Stir 2 or 3 minutes, until thickened. Or, the dish can be uncovered and cooked on high to the desired consistency, 20 to 30 minutes. 6. What if I don't have all day to cook food-can I still use my slow cooker? Higher cooking temperatures can be used to cook foods faster. The following conversion chart compares cooking times for high and low settings: High Low 3 hours 7 hours 4 hours 8 hours 5 hours 9 hours 6 hours 10 hours 7 hours 11 hours 8 hours 12 hours Manufacturers' recommendations on times can vary and should be checked in the instruction manual."

Genre: Cooking / Methods / Slow Cooking (fancy, right?)