Have you ever been disappointed because you wanted to make a certain meal but you found there just was not time? Most meals can be put in the crockpot, but unless a recipe is specifically written for this appliance, many people do not think to use this timesaving device. In fact, many standard recipes can be easily converted for use in the crockpot.
In general, the low setting on a crockpot is approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The high setting is usually around 300 degrees Fahrenheit. One hour of cooking on high is about equal to 2 or 2.5 hours of cooking on low. Most recipes you find for crockpots recommend cooking your food for 8 to 10 hours on low.
Advice for Converting Recipes
If you are thinking of trying your favorite recipe in your crockpot for the first time, there is a little advice you may want to follow for the best results. When changing any recipe for the crockpot, you will want to reduce your liquid. The crockpot does not let liquid evaporate like the oven, so you will want to reduce the amount you initially put in by about half. You will be surprised how much liquid is there when your dish is done.
Adjust your spices. Ground spices tend to lose flavor with many hours of cooking, so wait to add them until the last hour before serving. Whole spices, on the other hand, tend to become intensified in the crockpot. Unless you want to be overwhelmed with the flavor of that spice, you may want to cut it back by half.
If you are planning to make a chicken soup recipe, or any other soup for that matter, add just enough liquid to cover the rest of the ingredients. You can always add more liquid later in the cooking process for a thinner soup. For cream soups, hold off on the dairy products until close to the end of your cooking time to keep them from curdling.
Dried beans work well in the crockpot, too. Instead of soaking them, try cooking them on low overnight in the crockpot. To do so, just add your beans into the pot and cover them with water. Do not forget to add a teaspoon of baking soda. When you wake up, drain the water off, and combine your beans with whatever ingredients you need for your recipe. Chili, bean soup or tortilla soup are only a few ideas of the tasty meals you can make with dried beans.
Some foods do not hold up to 8 to 10 hours of cooking. Pasta, rice, seafood, dairy products, and Chinese vegetables will all suffer with such a long cooking time. Add these ingredients a couple hours before serving if your crockpot is set on low. If you set it on high, wait until the last hour to add them into the crockpot. If you really need to use milk in a recipe that must cook for 8 to 10 hours, use evaporated milk.
Browning of the meat is optional. If you choose to do so before putting the meat in the crockpot, it will add a beautiful color to the surface. It also helps reduce the fat content on some meats. If you do not have time for it however, browning is not necessary to have a delicious roast waiting when you come home in the crockpot.
In general, the low setting on a crockpot is approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The high setting is usually around 300 degrees Fahrenheit. One hour of cooking on high is about equal to 2 or 2.5 hours of cooking on low. Most recipes you find for crockpots recommend cooking your food for 8 to 10 hours on low.
Advice for Converting Recipes
If you are thinking of trying your favorite recipe in your crockpot for the first time, there is a little advice you may want to follow for the best results. When changing any recipe for the crockpot, you will want to reduce your liquid. The crockpot does not let liquid evaporate like the oven, so you will want to reduce the amount you initially put in by about half. You will be surprised how much liquid is there when your dish is done.
Adjust your spices. Ground spices tend to lose flavor with many hours of cooking, so wait to add them until the last hour before serving. Whole spices, on the other hand, tend to become intensified in the crockpot. Unless you want to be overwhelmed with the flavor of that spice, you may want to cut it back by half.
If you are planning to make a chicken soup recipe, or any other soup for that matter, add just enough liquid to cover the rest of the ingredients. You can always add more liquid later in the cooking process for a thinner soup. For cream soups, hold off on the dairy products until close to the end of your cooking time to keep them from curdling.
Dried beans work well in the crockpot, too. Instead of soaking them, try cooking them on low overnight in the crockpot. To do so, just add your beans into the pot and cover them with water. Do not forget to add a teaspoon of baking soda. When you wake up, drain the water off, and combine your beans with whatever ingredients you need for your recipe. Chili, bean soup or tortilla soup are only a few ideas of the tasty meals you can make with dried beans.
Some foods do not hold up to 8 to 10 hours of cooking. Pasta, rice, seafood, dairy products, and Chinese vegetables will all suffer with such a long cooking time. Add these ingredients a couple hours before serving if your crockpot is set on low. If you set it on high, wait until the last hour to add them into the crockpot. If you really need to use milk in a recipe that must cook for 8 to 10 hours, use evaporated milk.
Browning of the meat is optional. If you choose to do so before putting the meat in the crockpot, it will add a beautiful color to the surface. It also helps reduce the fat content on some meats. If you do not have time for it however, browning is not necessary to have a delicious roast waiting when you come home in the crockpot.
About the Author:
If you like to use your crockpot, you will probably use it occasionally to make soup. ChickenNoodleSoups.com has quite a few recipes for soup or stew that could easily be adapted for the crockpot. You will be able to come home to a nice hot bowl of homemade soup in the evening!
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