**Slow Cooker Hints & Tips **:
Do not fill your slow cooker more than ¾ full. This will allow food to expand and juices to form and also prevents spillovers.
Do not lift the lid once heat has built up. Due to the nature of a slow cooker, there is no need to stir the food unless it specifically says to in your recipe. In fact, taking the lid off to stir food causes the slow cooker to lose a significant amount of heat, extending the cooking time required 15 minutes or more
You can thicken juices and concentrate flavors by removing the lid and cooking on HIGH for the last half hour of cooking time.
For food safety reasons, it's a good idea to cook on HIGH for the first hour to quickly bring the temperature up to 140 degrees. Then turn the dial to LOW and finish cooking.
The LOW setting is about 200°F, and the HIGH setting is about 300°F. Note that both of these temps are well above the minimum safe temperature of 140°F.
Experts recommend you do not put frozen foods in the crock pot. All foods should be defrosted before cooking so the food temperature can reach 140°F as soon as possible.
Most meats require 8 hours of cooking on LOW. Use cheaper cuts of meat - not only do you save money, but these meats work better in the slow cooker. Cheaper cuts of meat have less fat, which makes them more suited to crock pot cooking. Moist, long cooking times result in very tender meats.
Large pieces of meat can be browned before cooking in the crock pot. Due to the nature of a slow cooker, meat does not brown as it would if it were cooked in a skillet or oven. It is not necessary to brown meat before slow cooking, however, if you prefer the flavor and look of browned meat, brown your meat in a skillet with a little oil, then place the meat in the stoneware and follow the recipe as usual, but, again, this step isn't necessary.
Ground meats must be cooked in a skillet before cooking in the crock pot.
Certain ingredients tend to break down during extended cooking. When possible add these ingredients toward the end of the cooking time. These include:
• Milk, cream and sour cream - add during the last 15 minutes of cooking time.
• Seafood - add in the last hour of cooking time, unless the recipe specifies otherwise. Seafood will overcook and have a rubbery texture.
One hour on HIGH is equal to two hours on LOW.
Here are some tips on the use and care of your stoneware:
• Do not preheat the slow cooker.
• Your slow cooker makes a great server for hot beverages or dips. Keep it on the Low setting to maintain the proper serving temperature.
• Because there is no direct heat at the bottom, always fill the stoneware at least half full to conform to recommended times. Small quantities may be prepared, however, cooking time will be affected.
*~Below are some slow cooker recipes:
