Slow cooking explained
Posted by Philip, on 22nd July 2009, at 12:20 pm · No Comments
Filed under: Hints and Tips
Crock Pot slow cooker: The gadget I cannot live without!
The gadget I cannot live without, is my slow cooker. You can use cheaper cuts of meat and it is so tender, you can also cook cakes in it which are wonderfully moist and all for just the energy of a light bulb!
Once you have tried one, you will never want to use anything else!
The slow cooker is an electrical appliance designed to cook gently and safely, unattended, for many hours. Food will not burn, boil, or dry up in a slow cooker.
This is because it cooks at such a gentle temperature, it really is a great asset to the kitchen, and is especially useful if you don’t have much time to cook, but like to have a home cooked meal in the evening.
You can make delicious stews, casseroles, curries and soups with very little effort. Slow cookers are great when you have different members of the family wanting to eat at different times.
Once the meal is cooked, just leave it on the “keep warm” setting and members of the family can help themselves to dinner when they are ready.
They can also save you money, as the slow cooking method uses less energy than a conventional oven and makes cheaper cuts of meat such as stewing and braising steak, more tender and succulent.
If you are about purchase a slow cooker, consider where you will store it, what sort of meals you will be cooking and how many people you will be feeding, before you buy. If you intend use your crock pot regularly to cook family meals, whole chickens and joints of meat, you will be better off choosing a larger slow cooker, with a volume of 5+ litres.
If you will just be cooking soups and stews, you may find a smaller cooker suits your needs and is easier to store (2-3 litres). Other features to look for are a removable bowl (dishwasher safe and oven proof) and a keep warm setting.
Finally, why not check out our Free Recipes and put your slow cooker to good use!
