The word 'crockpot' is a name which is actually a trademarked name, but is often used as a generic term. The terms 'crockpot' and 'slow cooker' have come to be used interchangeably.
'Rival' is the original holder of the trademarked term 'Crock-Pot'.
The Rival Crock-Pot / slow cooker has been one of the most important cooking tools for busy families since its introduction in 1971. Slow cooking is a great way to provide delicious home cooked meals for people and families on the go and produces flavorful meals time after time.
This appliance is made of fired clay and is usually glazed and surrounded by a metallic housing. It contains a controlled heating element to maintain the slow cooker temperatures whuich allow food to be cooked over longer periods of time.
Typically a slow cooker will have just two heat settings, and a glass lid is used to retain the heat and moisture. An important tip to be sure to follow is this: Don't lift the lid while it is cooking the food! Letting the heat escape in this way will add twenty minutes to the cooking time! The lid is important as it prevents escape of hot water vapor which would, if permitted, lead to lowering the internal water level, loss of heat and drying out of the contents.
A slow cooker works in a much different way than a pressure cooker which allows much higher temperatures than the boiling point of water. Because the lid of a slow cooker is on very loosely, the temperature inside will never get above the boiling point of water. Any vapor that does occur condenses on the lid and returns as moisture back onto the food.
Because of the nature of slow cooking, food can be cooked for longer than expected with no harm to the food. In fact, your meats become more tender when they are cooked like this over longer periods of time.
Recipes for these cookers must be adjusted to compensate for the nature of the cooking. Often water must be decreased. Most (probably all) come with recipe booklets. Many cookbooks with slow cooker recipes are available and there are numerous recipes on the Web. A small number of cookbooks seek to make complete dishes in a slow cooker using fewer than five ingredients while others treat the slow cooker as a serious piece of culinary equipment capable of producing gourmet meals. With some experience, timings and recipe adjustments can be successfully made for many recipes not originally intended for these cookers. The long, moist nature of the cooking method allows for lower quality cuts to be used.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Buel
Friday, October 31, 2008
3 Cheesy Crockpot Recipes
Crockpot meals are always easy, and very tasty as well. If you love a good cheesy meal or snack, these recipes are just right for you!
Recipe #1 - All Day Macaroni & Cheese
8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
4 cups(16 ounces) shredded sharp Chedder Cheese
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Place the cooked macaroni in crockpot that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Add the remaining ingredents, all except 1 cup of the cheese, mix well.
Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese and then cover and cook on low setting for 5 to 6 hours or until the mixture is firm and golden around the edges. Do not remove the cover or stir until it has finished cooking.
Recipe #2 - Artichoke & Cheese Dip
1 lb. shredded Mozzarella
1 c. grated Parmesan
1 c. (8 oz. jar) mayonnaise
1 c. (8 1/2 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
Minced onions
Mix ingredients together. Bake in casserole at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or in lightly buttered 3 1/2 quart slow cooker/Crock Pot on (high) for about 1 hour. Serve with broken up French bread or wheat crackers.
Recipe #3 - Broccoli & Cheese Soup
2 c. cooked noodles
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped broccoli,thawed
3 tbsp. chopped onions
2 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. flour
2 cups shredded American cheese
Salt to taste
5 1/2 c. milk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kara_Kelso
Recipe #1 - All Day Macaroni & Cheese
8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
4 cups(16 ounces) shredded sharp Chedder Cheese
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Place the cooked macaroni in crockpot that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Add the remaining ingredents, all except 1 cup of the cheese, mix well.
Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese and then cover and cook on low setting for 5 to 6 hours or until the mixture is firm and golden around the edges. Do not remove the cover or stir until it has finished cooking.
Recipe #2 - Artichoke & Cheese Dip
1 lb. shredded Mozzarella
1 c. grated Parmesan
1 c. (8 oz. jar) mayonnaise
1 c. (8 1/2 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
Minced onions
Mix ingredients together. Bake in casserole at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or in lightly buttered 3 1/2 quart slow cooker/Crock Pot on (high) for about 1 hour. Serve with broken up French bread or wheat crackers.
Recipe #3 - Broccoli & Cheese Soup
2 c. cooked noodles
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped broccoli,thawed
3 tbsp. chopped onions
2 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. flour
2 cups shredded American cheese
Salt to taste
5 1/2 c. milk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kara_Kelso
Crockpot Cooking Safety Tips
Although I have never had a bad experience with my crockpot (and I'm sure you won't either), there are a few safety measures you need to follow to ensure food safety. Some of them are pretty basic and common sense and you are probably doing them already. But it never hurts to go over them and to just continue to be aware of the importance proper food handling and preparation techniques.
Always start clean, a clean cooker, clean utensils, a clean work area. And wash your hands before and during food preparation.
Be sure to handle ingredients carefully. Since slow cookers can take a while to get to temperatures hot enough to kill off bacteria, it is imperative to keep the ingredients constantly refrigerated prior to food preparation. Remember that bacteria multiply on food quickly at room temperature. Therefore perishable foods should remain refrigerated until you need them.
Defrost your meats and poultry prior to putting them in your slow cooker. This helps the crockpot achieve proper cooking temperature faster, eliminating the possibility of bacteria growth on your food.
Cutting food into smaller chunks helps to ensure that the food is cooked thoroughly. For example, don't cook large pieces of meat such as a whole chicken in the slow cooker. Doing this increases the opportunity for bacterial growth because it takes a longer time to get to proper cooking temperature. Meats and vegetables can be cut up in advance but make sure you store them separately in covered containers.
Keep the lid on. Experts say that removing the lid can add 20 minutes to the cooking time! This is because it takes that long to re-generate the lost heat and steam. Remove it only to stir the food or check for doneness.
Since vegetables cook slower than meat, place the vegetables on the bottom. Then add the meat and cover the food with your broth, sauce, or water.
If possible, set the slow cooker setting on high for the first hour of cooking to get the food warmed up quickly. Then switch it to low for the rest of the day. If it is not possible, the Food Safety and Inspection Service says it is still safe to cook foods on low for the entire time, since the temperatures stay hot enough for long enough to prevent any bacterial growth on the food.
If you are away during the entire slow-cooking process and you know that there has been a power outage, don't take any chances. Throw the food out. Although it may look done, it could also be unsafe for consumption. You can know if there was a power outage by the time flashing on your other appliances such as microwave or VCR.
If you are home during a power outage, complete the cooking another way -gas stove, etc.
A food thermometer can be used to test for 'doneness' on your meat and poultry to make sure they have reached a safe internal temperature:
Poultry - 170 deg for chicken breast - 180 deg for chicken thigh
Ground Meat- 160 deg
Roasts -145 degrees (medium rare) -160 degrees (medium) -170 degrees (well done)
Casseroles -165 degrees
Stuffing - 165 degrees
Soups - 165 degrees
And when it comes to leftovers, make sure you refrigerate them within two hours after cooking is finished. Store them in shallow covered containers.
It is not recommended that you use a slow cooker to reheat these leftovers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Buel
Always start clean, a clean cooker, clean utensils, a clean work area. And wash your hands before and during food preparation.
Be sure to handle ingredients carefully. Since slow cookers can take a while to get to temperatures hot enough to kill off bacteria, it is imperative to keep the ingredients constantly refrigerated prior to food preparation. Remember that bacteria multiply on food quickly at room temperature. Therefore perishable foods should remain refrigerated until you need them.
Defrost your meats and poultry prior to putting them in your slow cooker. This helps the crockpot achieve proper cooking temperature faster, eliminating the possibility of bacteria growth on your food.
Cutting food into smaller chunks helps to ensure that the food is cooked thoroughly. For example, don't cook large pieces of meat such as a whole chicken in the slow cooker. Doing this increases the opportunity for bacterial growth because it takes a longer time to get to proper cooking temperature. Meats and vegetables can be cut up in advance but make sure you store them separately in covered containers.
Keep the lid on. Experts say that removing the lid can add 20 minutes to the cooking time! This is because it takes that long to re-generate the lost heat and steam. Remove it only to stir the food or check for doneness.
Since vegetables cook slower than meat, place the vegetables on the bottom. Then add the meat and cover the food with your broth, sauce, or water.
If possible, set the slow cooker setting on high for the first hour of cooking to get the food warmed up quickly. Then switch it to low for the rest of the day. If it is not possible, the Food Safety and Inspection Service says it is still safe to cook foods on low for the entire time, since the temperatures stay hot enough for long enough to prevent any bacterial growth on the food.
If you are away during the entire slow-cooking process and you know that there has been a power outage, don't take any chances. Throw the food out. Although it may look done, it could also be unsafe for consumption. You can know if there was a power outage by the time flashing on your other appliances such as microwave or VCR.
If you are home during a power outage, complete the cooking another way -gas stove, etc.
A food thermometer can be used to test for 'doneness' on your meat and poultry to make sure they have reached a safe internal temperature:
Poultry - 170 deg for chicken breast - 180 deg for chicken thigh
Ground Meat- 160 deg
Roasts -145 degrees (medium rare) -160 degrees (medium) -170 degrees (well done)
Casseroles -165 degrees
Stuffing - 165 degrees
Soups - 165 degrees
And when it comes to leftovers, make sure you refrigerate them within two hours after cooking is finished. Store them in shallow covered containers.
It is not recommended that you use a slow cooker to reheat these leftovers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Buel
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Adapting Your Recipes for the Slow Cooker
Now that you've started using your crock pot slow cooker regularly, you're probably wondering how you can adapt your traditional recipes to use in a crock pot. The ease of preparing a meal with a slow cooker has literally changed the lives of busy families. With the help of their slow cookers, families are eating healthier and consuming less greasy fast-food.
Here are some hints for adapting your favorite traditional recipes for crock pot cooking.
1.) Add vegetables like peas and broccoli to your recipe in the last 15 - 60 minutes. If you're using frozen vegetables, remember to add them to your crock pot recipe during the last 30 minutes.
2.) Make sure to soak your dried beans so that they are completely softened before adding them to your recipe. If your recipe includes tomatoes, salt, or sugar, then your beans should definitely be soaked before cooking.
3.) If your recipe calls for pasta, any kind of seafood, milk or other dairy products, then only add them during the last 60 minutes of cooking, and cook pasta to just a bit tender before adding them to the cooker. Condensed cream soups are good alternatives to dairy products because they can withstand longer cooking times.
4.) When cooking a recipe with rice, add an extra ¼ cup liquid for every ¼ cup of rice.
5.) Always remember to reduce the liquid in your recipe by ½ when you're using a traditional recipe in your crock pot.
6.) A good idea for cooking stews and soups that call for vegetables is to put the veggies on the bottom and sides of the slow cooker and then place your meat on top.
Traditional Recipe to Slow Cooker Use:
15-30min traditional = 1.5-2 hrs High or 4-6 hrs Low in Crock pot
35-45min traditional = 3-4 hrs High or 6-10 hrs Low in Crock pot
50min-3hrs traditional = 4-6 hrs High or 8-18 hrs Low in Crock pot
If you're like most families, your slow cooker supplies lots of food per meal, so you'll very likely have leftovers. Always remember to never reheat your leftovers in the crock pot. One of the additional rewards of slow cooking is the ability to make lots of food and freeze for future meals. Happy slow cooking!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherry_Frewerd
Here are some hints for adapting your favorite traditional recipes for crock pot cooking.
1.) Add vegetables like peas and broccoli to your recipe in the last 15 - 60 minutes. If you're using frozen vegetables, remember to add them to your crock pot recipe during the last 30 minutes.
2.) Make sure to soak your dried beans so that they are completely softened before adding them to your recipe. If your recipe includes tomatoes, salt, or sugar, then your beans should definitely be soaked before cooking.
3.) If your recipe calls for pasta, any kind of seafood, milk or other dairy products, then only add them during the last 60 minutes of cooking, and cook pasta to just a bit tender before adding them to the cooker. Condensed cream soups are good alternatives to dairy products because they can withstand longer cooking times.
4.) When cooking a recipe with rice, add an extra ¼ cup liquid for every ¼ cup of rice.
5.) Always remember to reduce the liquid in your recipe by ½ when you're using a traditional recipe in your crock pot.
6.) A good idea for cooking stews and soups that call for vegetables is to put the veggies on the bottom and sides of the slow cooker and then place your meat on top.
Traditional Recipe to Slow Cooker Use:
15-30min traditional = 1.5-2 hrs High or 4-6 hrs Low in Crock pot
35-45min traditional = 3-4 hrs High or 6-10 hrs Low in Crock pot
50min-3hrs traditional = 4-6 hrs High or 8-18 hrs Low in Crock pot
If you're like most families, your slow cooker supplies lots of food per meal, so you'll very likely have leftovers. Always remember to never reheat your leftovers in the crock pot. One of the additional rewards of slow cooking is the ability to make lots of food and freeze for future meals. Happy slow cooking!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherry_Frewerd
Crock Pot Recipes for Your Turkey Leftovers
The age-old question of 'what to do with this left-over turkey' lives on today, but with the revival of the slow cooker, we now have more options for stretching our food dollars by creating some delicious crock pot turkey recipes.
Today's turkey crock pot recipes are creative and fun to cook, and should be taken advantage of throughout the year, not just during the holiday season. Gather your ingredients, plop em' in your crock pot in the morning before you leave for work, and when you arrive home in the evening your meal is waiting, and your home smells fantastic! Using leftover frozen turkey makes meal prep even easier. Here are some Turkey Crock Pot Recipes that your family will love.
Crock Pot Turkey Stew
1 large bag of frozen mixed veggies
2 lbs boneless, skinless turkey, cut into bite size pieces
2 tbl flour
1 cup chicken broth
1-1/2 tbl tomato paste
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Place veggies and turkey into crock pot. Mix flour, broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in a bowl and then add to crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW setting for approximately 8 hours. During the last hour, stir once or twice, breaking apart any turkey that has stuck together. Be careful not to remove the lid for more than a minute or so. Stir in parsley just before serving.
Crock Pot Turkey Sandwiches
6 c. shredded turkey
3 c. shredded cheese
1/2 c. Miracle Whip
1 onion, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
Mix everything together and cook in crock pot for 4 hours. Stir twice during cooking, remembering not to have the top off very long. If the mixture is really thick, add some hot water at end of cooking. Serve on hoagie buns.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherry_Frewerd
Today's turkey crock pot recipes are creative and fun to cook, and should be taken advantage of throughout the year, not just during the holiday season. Gather your ingredients, plop em' in your crock pot in the morning before you leave for work, and when you arrive home in the evening your meal is waiting, and your home smells fantastic! Using leftover frozen turkey makes meal prep even easier. Here are some Turkey Crock Pot Recipes that your family will love.
Crock Pot Turkey Stew
1 large bag of frozen mixed veggies
2 lbs boneless, skinless turkey, cut into bite size pieces
2 tbl flour
1 cup chicken broth
1-1/2 tbl tomato paste
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Place veggies and turkey into crock pot. Mix flour, broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in a bowl and then add to crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW setting for approximately 8 hours. During the last hour, stir once or twice, breaking apart any turkey that has stuck together. Be careful not to remove the lid for more than a minute or so. Stir in parsley just before serving.
Crock Pot Turkey Sandwiches
6 c. shredded turkey
3 c. shredded cheese
1/2 c. Miracle Whip
1 onion, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
Mix everything together and cook in crock pot for 4 hours. Stir twice during cooking, remembering not to have the top off very long. If the mixture is really thick, add some hot water at end of cooking. Serve on hoagie buns.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherry_Frewerd
Monday, October 20, 2008
Crockpot Cooking - Advantages and Disadvantages
In my 'un-biased' opinion, the crockpot / slow cooker
is one of the most convenient and easy to use appliances
in my kitchen. The time savings features of the
slow cooker and the delicious dinners that have
resulted more than offset any minor drawbacks.
Before I list my top reasons why the crockpot is the
most useful appliance in any kitchen, I will list
a few of the areas where it does not perform as well.
- Large cuts of meat such as boneless prime rib or
leg of lamb are still best when oven roasted.
- Except for stews and chowders, the slow cooker
does not cook fish very well.
- The slow cooker collects a lot of the juices
since the steam does not escape during cooking and these
juices can become diluted and watery, which can affect
the flavoring of the food.
- If not careful, a slow cooker can overcook food -especially
some of the more tender meats and poultry.
These drawbacks are relatively minor compared to the
positives which I will list now.
- The slow cooker needs virtually no tending while
it cooks, freeing you up to do other chores or recipes.
- The slow cooker will tenderize less expensive, tough
cuts of meat and make great stews out of them.
- The slow cooker allows you to be out of the kitchen
for extended periods of time -sometimes even all day.
- Burning your food is rarely a problem. The slow cooker
will make many dishes for you better than any other
appliance -especially those that tend to stick to
the bottom of a pan.
In my opinion the slow cooker is one of the most
under-utilized and yet superior of kitchen appliances.
When used for what it does best, you will find that you
are able to prepare great dishes in less time than you
though possible!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Buel
is one of the most convenient and easy to use appliances
in my kitchen. The time savings features of the
slow cooker and the delicious dinners that have
resulted more than offset any minor drawbacks.
Before I list my top reasons why the crockpot is the
most useful appliance in any kitchen, I will list
a few of the areas where it does not perform as well.
- Large cuts of meat such as boneless prime rib or
leg of lamb are still best when oven roasted.
- Except for stews and chowders, the slow cooker
does not cook fish very well.
- The slow cooker collects a lot of the juices
since the steam does not escape during cooking and these
juices can become diluted and watery, which can affect
the flavoring of the food.
- If not careful, a slow cooker can overcook food -especially
some of the more tender meats and poultry.
These drawbacks are relatively minor compared to the
positives which I will list now.
- The slow cooker needs virtually no tending while
it cooks, freeing you up to do other chores or recipes.
- The slow cooker will tenderize less expensive, tough
cuts of meat and make great stews out of them.
- The slow cooker allows you to be out of the kitchen
for extended periods of time -sometimes even all day.
- Burning your food is rarely a problem. The slow cooker
will make many dishes for you better than any other
appliance -especially those that tend to stick to
the bottom of a pan.
In my opinion the slow cooker is one of the most
under-utilized and yet superior of kitchen appliances.
When used for what it does best, you will find that you
are able to prepare great dishes in less time than you
though possible!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Buel
Converting Recipes for Your Crockpot
Crockpots vary but the low setting is typically around 100
degrees and its high setting is around 300 degrees.
Knowing this, it is fairly easy to convert most recipes for
use in your slow cooker. Some adjusments to cooking times
will be a judgement call on your part, but some simple
guidelines should help. Just follow a few simple rules
and you're on your way.
You should decrease the liquid since it does not boil away
in a crockpot.
Add cheeses and other milk product towards the end of your
cooking since they tend to break down if they are cooked
for too long.
Brown any ground beef before adding to the crockpot. It
will taste better and have better texture this way.
Add rice and noodles at the end of your cooking as well.
They will turn mushy if they are cooked too long. You can
cook these separately and then combine them when it's time
to serve.
Add your spices at the end.
If a stovetop recipe calls for 15-30 minutes, the crockpot
should cook it for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hrs at a high temperature
and 4 - 8 hours at its low temperature setting.
If a stovetop recipe calls for 35-45 minutes, the crockpot
should cook it for 3-4 hrs at a high temperature setting
and 6 - 10 hours at its low temperature setting.
If a stovetop recipe calls for 50 min to 3 hours, the crockpot
should cook it for 4 - 6 hrs at a high temperature setting
and 8 - 16 hours at its low temperature setting.
Following these guidelines will allow you to be
able to convert a stovetop recipe to its delicious
slow cooking counterpart!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Buel
degrees and its high setting is around 300 degrees.
Knowing this, it is fairly easy to convert most recipes for
use in your slow cooker. Some adjusments to cooking times
will be a judgement call on your part, but some simple
guidelines should help. Just follow a few simple rules
and you're on your way.
You should decrease the liquid since it does not boil away
in a crockpot.
Add cheeses and other milk product towards the end of your
cooking since they tend to break down if they are cooked
for too long.
Brown any ground beef before adding to the crockpot. It
will taste better and have better texture this way.
Add rice and noodles at the end of your cooking as well.
They will turn mushy if they are cooked too long. You can
cook these separately and then combine them when it's time
to serve.
Add your spices at the end.
If a stovetop recipe calls for 15-30 minutes, the crockpot
should cook it for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hrs at a high temperature
and 4 - 8 hours at its low temperature setting.
If a stovetop recipe calls for 35-45 minutes, the crockpot
should cook it for 3-4 hrs at a high temperature setting
and 6 - 10 hours at its low temperature setting.
If a stovetop recipe calls for 50 min to 3 hours, the crockpot
should cook it for 4 - 6 hrs at a high temperature setting
and 8 - 16 hours at its low temperature setting.
Following these guidelines will allow you to be
able to convert a stovetop recipe to its delicious
slow cooking counterpart!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Buel
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