A slow cooker can be a great asset in the kitchen, especially if you’re always rushing around. With a slow cooker, you can turn it on and forget about it, meaning that you can go about your day without having to worry about dinner. I call it a magical piece of kitchen equipment. Throw some food in it in the morning and when you get home, voila! dinner.
In addition, slow cookers are great for making healthy meals. By cooking food slowly, you can retain more of the nutrients, making it a healthier option than other cooking methods. And, of course, let’s not forget that slow cookers also make life easier. No more standing over a hot stove or babysitting a pot on the stovetop.
Are Slow Cookers Energy Efficient?
Slow cookers are incredibly cheap to run. Not only are they energy efficient in themselves but they don’t heat up the house in the summer time like the oven. The food is in a small space and the temperature remains on a consistent low temperature. The low temperature results in the use of less electricity. Just don’t open the lid to stir, it is not necessary, and releases heat which results in a longer required cooking time.
How Slow Cooking Works
Slow cooking is a bit of a mystery to many people. How does it work? Why is it so popular? And what exactly can you make in a slow cooker? Here’s a quick primer on slow cooking to help you understand this cooking method a little better. Slow cooking is all about using low temperatures to cook food slowly over an extended period which allows for the flavors of the ingredients to meld or blend together, and it also helps to tenderize tough cuts of meat. Slow cookers typically have two or three settings low, medium, and high and can cook food for anywhere from two to ten hours.
One of the biggest benefits of slow cooking is that it’s hands-off cooking. You simply turn it on and forget it, which means you can go about your day while your meal is cooking. This is especially convenient for busy weeknights when you don’t have time to stand over the stove. Because it is cooking all in one pot, clean-up is a lightning fast too!
So, what can you make in a slow cooker? The possibilities are endless, but some popular dishes include stew, soups, chili, pot roast, and pulled pork. Appetizers and desserts are even made in the slow cooker.
Foods You Shouldn’t Cook in a Slow Cooker
Actually, some of the following foods can be used with modifications or a decreased cooking time.
- Fresh herbs should not be cooked in the slow cooker. They will turn dark and lose all their flavor when cooked for a lengthy time period. These should be added at the end of the cooking time. Dried herbs work better but I still suggest adding them at the end too.
- Rice does not work in the slow cooker. Rice requires an exact amount of time to cook. If you cook it too long, it can get soggy, mushy, or just plain gummy. Add precooked rice to your dish for the best result. You can also add instant rice at the end of the cooking time allowing just enough time for it to cook perfectly.
- Pasta can be cooked in the slow cooker but use a well-tested recipe. Check the number of stars and read the reviews before selecting a recipe. Like rice, it is best to add it at the end. Keep check on the pasta and taste test it regularly starting at the minimum cooking time. A lasagna or similar baked dish should do fine in the slow cooker.
- Couscous will get mushy from absorbing too much water.
- Eggs when cooked alone, don’t work.
- Milk and foods made from milk will curdle when heated. This will make the dairy lumpy and it will not integrate with the other ingredients like it should. Again, add dairy products at the end of cooking.
- Bacon does not get crispy in the slow cooker.
- Fish and shellfish cook too quickly to be suitable.
- Alcohol is not released in a low temperature environment.
- Frozen chicken, according to the USDA, is not safe to cook in the slow cooker. Between 40 and 140 degrees is the danger zone for bacteria to be able to multiply rapidly. Food should not be in this temperature range for longer than two hours.
- Dry beans require soaking overnight before cooking. Some beans also contain a toxin which can only be destroyed by raising the temperature to boiling.
- Poultry requires fat to cook otherwise it will dry out. I like to cook a whole chicken with the skin in the slow cooker. If it is without the skin, cook in water or in a sauce to maintain moisture.
- Non-starchy green vegetables like broccoli, kale, lettuce, and spinach will get mushy when cooked for a long period of time.
Cook with Cheap, Tough Cuts of Meat
Tough cuts of meat can be a delicious and budget-friendly option for the slow cooker. Slow cooking breaks down tough cuts of meat and infuses flavors resulting in a delicious and tender meal. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when cooking with tough cuts of meat. First, it’s important to brown the meat before adding it to the slow cooker. This will help to lock in the flavor and prevent the meat from drying out. It’s also nice for your meat to have a crust on it. This provides more flavor to your dish but is not necessary. When I am busy, I just put it in the slow cooker and don’t worry about it. Your dinner will still be good without the crust.
Second, tough cuts of meat require longer cooking times, so be sure to plan ahead. I love to put my food in the slow cooker in the morning, set it on low, and come home at the end of the day to a delicious home cooked meal that I didn’t have to touch all day.
Finally, when the meat is cooked, be sure to let it sit for a few minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more flavorful and tender end result. Carving it immediately will result in dry meat and all the flavors are in the juices.
Advantages of Using a Slow Cooker
Cook all day and the result is a delicious home cooked dinner the moment you walk in the door. As was previously stated, set it and forget it…all day.
Pre-cooking is not required.
Because the cooking temperature is low, the food can cook for a longer time and not compromise the quality or taste of the food.
Clean-up is quick and easy. Only one pot.
You can use cheaper cuts of meat.
Many food courses can be prepared in the slow cooker, from breakfast to dessert and many dishes in between. Just not all at the same time. =-)
The quantity of recipes available are vast. There’s something for everybody.
If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to cook a delicious meal, then try the lowly slow cooker. It’s an amazing, magical piece of kitchen equipment!
It’s smallish. You can take it to potluck dinners, to the in-laws (or not), or anywhere you need to go with food.
In conclusion, slow cooking is a fantastic way to create delicious, healthy meals with minimal effort. Whether you are cooking for a busy family or just looking for an easy way to prepare meals in advance, a slow cooker is a must-have appliance. Happy cooking!
Leave a Reply