Slow Cooker Cooking

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Slow cookers are the perfect appliance for busy families, or just anyone looking to save time in the kitchen.

Cooking with a slow cooker is an excellent way to cook healthy meals without having to watch the pot.

A slow cooker can also be used for cooking side dishes or desserts, but it’s most commonly used for cooking delicious meals with the touch of a button.

If you’re new to using a slow cooker, here are some helpful tips on how to use it:

close up view of red slow cooker cooking a meal with onions and peppers next to it.

Slow Cooker Cooking Tips

  1. Make sure your slow cooker is at least half full when cooking so that your food does not dry out or burn.
  2. Choosing foods that are specifically suited for cooking in a slow cooker is ideal. That way you don’t need to supplement with extra water, butter, or other liquids during cooking time.
  3. A general rule of thumb when it comes to how many hours to cook something is 6-8 hours on low and 3-4 hours on high unless specified otherwise by your slow cooker’s manufacturer.
  4. Pre-cooking any meat for a recipe before placing it in your slow cooker can help to reduce the cooking time.
  5. It is usually best to pre-cook ground meats when mixing them with other ingredients for a slow cooker recipe.
  6. You can use your slow cooker to batch cook meat such as ground beef or shredded chicken. Then place your cooked meat in freezer bags for easy meal prep.
  7. Do not cook frozen meat in your slow cooker on low as it may not reach the proper temperature in time. Always cook frozen meat on the high setting.
  8. If you have a slow cooker with a locking lid, do not lock the lid while cooking. The locking lid is only for travel.
  9. If your food is done, and you are not quite ready to eat, you can put your slow cooker on the warm setting safely for up to 4 hours.
  10. Once you are done cooking, be sure to turn your slow cooker to off and make sure to unplug it as well for safety.
Close up view of slow cooker cooking a mix of diced potatoes, green beans and carrots.

Slow Cooker Cleaning Tips

  1. Most slow cookers have removable parts for easy cleaning. Most ceramic pots that come with slow cookers are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
  2. After unplugging your slow cooker, you can easily wash out the inside with a small amount of warm soapy water. Just be careful not to get any soap onto its electronic components. Just make sure it is completely dry before storing.
  3. If you have stuck-on food left inside your slow cooker, you can clean it by letting it soak in warm soapy water for 15-20 minutes prior to washing.
  4. Use food-grade slow cooker liners when using your slow cooker to make clean-up time incredibly easy.
  5. Sometimes slow cookers can end up with some stubborn burnt bits at the bottom. If this happens, Use a bit of warm water, baking soda, and a soft-bristled brush to clean it.

Slow Cooker Recipes