Crockpot Meals

• Browning any meat on the stovetop before addingit to your slow cooker can give you a better taste, as well as cutting down onthe fat.  Draining the meat and pattingdry before adding it to the crock pot can help make the dish healthier.

• To ensureevenly cooked vegetables (especially dense ones like potatoes and carrots), cutthem no larger than in 1-inch thick, and make sure they're placed on the bottomso they get even heat.

•  If the recipe calls for any milk or dairyproduct, don't add it until the last hour of cooking.  They break down over the long cooking period.

• Add any noodles to a recipe during the last houras well.  They also don't hold up wellover long periods of time, and will break down.

• Don't ever lift the lid to during the cookingprocess!  Every time you take it off, youlose heat equivalent to 30 minutes of cooking time. 

•  Don't ever subject your crock pot to suddenchanges in temperature, like pouring cold water inside right after it's donecooking.  This can cause cracks in theceramic dish.

• Herbs can be tricky sometimes.  Any whole herbs, such as cloves, work bestover long periods, so adding them at the beginning of the cycle is a must.  Ground or dried herbs can lose their flavorquickly over the long haul, so these must be added close to the end of thecycle for best results.

There's no better way to save timeand create great meals than by using a slow cooker.  If you keep in mind these simple tips you'llbe ensured a great dinner for you and your family!
 

About the Author

Char Gietz is a freelance writer and a crock pot fanatic. Sheloves cooking with her Rival Crock Pot and writing about creative ways to useslow cookers. Her numerous articles offer tips and valuable insight for anybusy family.