Crock pot cooking is for multi task-ers its time, cost and energy efficient...in other words easy!
To test your crock pot fill it 3/4 way full of water and place on high. After four hours test the tempeture with a instant read thermometer..it should read 180 degrees. If not its time to replace the crock pot!
Do not cook on high as it defeats the purpose (most cookers have two settings)
High tempetures cook at about 300 degrees
Low tempetures cook at about 200 degrees
Always cook with frozen meat because it tastes better. If you start in the evening to cook make sure you check it in the morning. I meat is starting to tender turn it to warm temperature
For stew meat buy in large chunks and cut into bite size to save money.
Never add water to a crock pot unless the recipe states differently
When layering a dinner always put the root vegetables in the bottom with the frozen meat second.
Bev Nowak suggest the following tips from her files..
1. Before adding ingredients, spray non stick coating inside the slow cooker for quicker cleaning.
2. Tempetures vary on slow cookers, generally, 1 hour on high is equal to 2.5 hours on low.
3. Cooker should be at least half full. but no more than 3/4 full for food to cook properly.
4. Place foods that take longer to cook (meats, carrots, potatoes and other root veggies) near the bottom of the cooker.
5. Large pieces of meat should be cooked on hight for at least the first hour and then low to prevent bacteria from growing.
6. Ground Beef should be browned and drained before adding to a slow cooker
7. Frozen meat can be used in a slow cooker. Just add 2 hours to the cooking time for high heat and 4-6 hours for low heat.
8. To prevent curdling of dairy products, add milk, cream, sour cream and cream cheese during the last hour of cooking (evaporated milk will not curdle and can be used as a substitute)
9. Lifting the lid lengthens the cooking time sometimes as much as 1 hour.
10. Cool ceramic insert before cleaning. Do not submerge electrical base in water.
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Three Ingredient Recipes
Chicken breast with cream of chicken soup PLUS one can chicken gravy (canned preferred) and 1 can mixed canned veggies drained
Roasts: chuck, round bone or any inexpensive cut works the best
2 cans golden mushroom soup or 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg. lipton's dry onion soup mix
sprinkle over frozen meant and add the can of soup undiluted.
Try using your favorite meat loaf recipe: To cook a meat loaf in a crock pot form the meat into a "veggie steamer" and cook for 6 hours. The holes and the legs of the veggie steamer will keep the grease away from the meat. Form an indention all around the meat so the sauce will not run off during cooking. Sauce can also be added towards the end.
Bev Nowak's recipe for meat loaf sauce
3 Tbs brown sugar
1/4 C. Ketchup
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. dry mustard
Combine all together. I add the sauce the last ten minutes or put in a dish to serve with the loaf.
Baked potatoes in a crock pot: 4 Baked potatoes - wash dray and rub with canola oil, it adds a nice flavor to the skin. Stand teepee style so the potatoes dosen't rest on the side of the crock pot. Cook six hours
Caramel or chocolate sauce
Makes two cups
1/3 C. cream
1/3 C. butter
1 C. brown sugar
2 Tbsp light Karo syrup
Mix together in a sauce pan and bring to a boil on the stove. remove and serve
For chocolate add 6 oz. chocolate chips to the above recipe or even the whole bag!
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