If you're on the go, think "slow." A slow cooker is perfect for busy couples because it does all of the work — simply add your ingredients in the morning, turn on the slow cooker, and you'll come home to a hot, delicious and wholesome meal. These tips will help you get started.
- For easy cleanup, spray the crock with nonstick cooking spray before adding the food. Or, try the new slow cooker liner bags. (To clean your slow cooker, follow the manufacturer's instructions.)
- Slow cookers cook best when they are two-thirds to three-quarters full. That's because most slow cookers' heating units are coiled inside the outer walls that surround the crockery insert rather than on the bottom of the crock.
- Keep a lid on it! The slow cooker can take as long as 20 minutes to regain the heat lost when the cover is removed. If the recipe calls for stirring or checking the dish near the end of the cooking time, replace the lid as quickly as you can. Otherwise, unless the recipe instructs you to remove the lid, don't, or food will take much longer to cook.
Selecting the Right Meat
Slow cookers are perfect for less tender cuts of meat. Tender meat cuts, such as loin chops or filet mignon, will literally fall apart after a few hours in a slow cooker. Even the toughest cuts come out fork-tender and flavorful in a slow cooker.
Preparing Vegetables
Some vegetables can take longer to cook than meat. Pay careful attention to the recipe instructions to ensure that vegetables are cut in the proper size and then add them to the slow cooker in the correct order. Frozen vegetables should be thawed before adding to the slow cooker. Pay attention to the cooking times since frozen foods lower the temperature inside the cooker.
Reducing Fat
Slow cooking can be reduced-fat cooking. First, less expensive cuts of meat that are ideal for the slow cooker are lower in fat than other cuts. When using fatty meats, try browning them first in a skillet on the stovetop before cooking in the slow cooker to cook away some of the fat.
Secondly, as we noted earlier, slow cookers retain moisture, so you don't have to begin with as much fat. Actually, much of the time, you don't have to begin with any fat; any flavorful liquid, such as Swanson® Broth, Campbell's® Soup, or Pace® Salsa or Picante Sauce, can stand in for fat and become an excellent sauce or gravy for the meal.
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