| Crock-pot cooking can offer some very tasty meals | | | | Contrary to popular belief, cooking raw meat in the |
| and desserts however some basic rules should be | | | | crock-pot is very safe. During the cooking process, |
| followed when using a crock-pot to cook with. For | | | | the meat's internal temperature reaches |
| more help visit to: You should be careful not to over | | | | approximately 170 degrees in beef and 190 degrees |
| stir their food while it's cooking in a crock pot. Taking | | | | in poultry. Two important things to remember |
| the lid off during cooking causes vast amounts of | | | | however is to always cook the meat for its |
| heat to escape, therefore the food should only be | | | | complete time recommended in the recipe |
| stirred if it is clearly stated in the recipe. | | | | recommend time. Secondly, do not remove the lid on |
| Some elements can only be added at the end of the | | | | the slow cooker. There is no requirement to brown |
| cooking time. When using milk and sour cream be | | | | meat beforehand unless the you prefer the look and |
| sure to wait until the last fifteen minutes of cooking | | | | taste of browned meat. |
| time before adding these ingredients. Unless the | | | | When cooking in a crock-pot the best flavors will |
| recipe states otherwise, seafood only needs to be | | | | come from whole herbs and spices. Crushed herbs |
| included during the last hour of cooking time. | | | | and spices rapidly lose their flavor during the long |
| Pasta and rice cook requirements are quite different | | | | cooking time, but whole spices keep their flavor |
| for crock-pot cooking. For the best results with | | | | during the entire cooking time because they take |
| pasta, cook in boiling water until just tender, and then | | | | longer to let go of their flavor. |
| add the pasta to the main dish during the last thirty | | | | Crock-pots can be used to make desserts and baked |
| minutes of cooking time. You should also try to use | | | | goods as well. You should be sure not to over beat |
| long grain converted rice for the best results. If the | | | | breads and cakes; and should always follow the |
| rice does not appear cooked completely through, you | | | | recommended recipe guidelines. Never add water to |
| can add another 1-1.5 cups of liquid per cup of rice. | | | | the crock-pot unless it specifically says to do so. |
| Always boil beans before adding them to the | | | | Always allow cakes and breads to sit and cool for |
| crock-pot for cooking. | | | | five to seven minutes before taking them out of the |
| Frozen foods can be used in crock-pot cooking. For | | | | pan. |
| more help visit to: When cooking frozen means you | | | | Vegetables like potatoes and carrots should be cut |
| should use at least one cup of warm liquid along with | | | | no larger than 1" thick, and put in the bottom of the |
| the meat. When preparing these types of meals you | | | | pot, since they require more time to cook. Crock-pot |
| should all for and additional four to six hours on low | | | | cooking can be delicious for both meals and desserts |
| temperature or two hours on high. | | | | when some basic guidelines are followed. |