Crockpot Tips
Crockpots, or slow-cookers, are a wonderful time-saver which is no doubt the reason they have been popular for so long.
Newer models offer more sizes and features than older models yet are still very inexpensive. There are so many creative ways to use your crockpot that if you don't have one yet, you really need to invest in this versite kitchen essential!
Types of Slow-cookers:
There are typically round or oval shaped pots which come in different sizes:
The oval shaped pots are a new creation and are particularly suited for larger cuts of meat.
The round models are great for soups and stews. The very small round pots are great for keeping dips and fondues warm for parties.
If you use your slow cooker to slow cook for 8 hours or more while you are at work all day, some foods can dry out and start to burn. The best solution to this is to buy one of the new programmable crockpots.
I use the
Rival 5-qt. Round Programmable Crock-Pot, White
 . What's great about these programmable slow-cookers is they aren't even very expensive. There are high-end models with many features and even built in recipes but this simpler model will not cost you much more than a regular crockpot. This crock-pot can be set to any cooking time you want with a high and low-temperature setting. After the cooking is finished, it will switch to a warming mode from 2 - 4 hours which keeps the temperature just right until you get home. This is a must for the working home cook! The warming mode is also a great feature because newer crockpots cook at higher temperatures than older models to ensure food safety and you can easily overcook food.
What are the advantages of the slow cooker?
Slow-cookers use a low heat with a small amount of liquid which is essentially a
braising technique.
The advantage to this method of cooking is that the ability to create tender, juicy meals out of very inexpensive cuts of meat that would normally be quite tough. Create inexpensive stews and pot roasts out of cheaper cuts of beef which will come from the muscles that do most of the work. Try chuck roasts, bottom round, briskets and short ribs.
Crockpots use little electricity and do not heat up your house even while cooking all day.
They are safe to leave on all day and are the best time saving device for busy moms and those with full-time jobs that still want to come home to a home-cooked meal.
One of the disadvantages of slow-cookers is that the flavors are often not as rich as when roasting and the low-slow cooking can break down herbs.
Cooking Tips:
- Use dried herbs for long cooking times. Fresh herbs will break down quickly. Except for basil, many common Italian herbs ( oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary and sage) are excellent dried and do well in the crockpot.
- Add fresh herbs at the very end of the cooking time just before serving. You can also try added some fresh herbs in the beginning and save the rest for adding at the very end. It depends somewhat on the dish and your personal taste so experiment a little until you find what works best for you.
- One of the best ways to add flavor to your crockpot meals is to brown the meat first. Coat cuts of beef in flour, season with salt & pepper and brown in a small amount in a skillet on your stove until browned on all sides. You can also then briefly saute vegetables in the same pan to coat them and add a little more flavor.
- After browning meat in a skillet, deglaze the pan with stock or wine and add that liquid to the crockpot.
Return to Crockpot Recipes...
Return to Home Page
|
