Article archived: December, 2009
Chilly nights, football games, Sunday dinners, and get-togethers with family or friends: Fall and winter are when we crave comfort foods — the easier, the better! Our expert meat cutters have pulled together some of their very favorite easy cold-weather recipes, sure to bring warmth, satisfaction, and smiles to your dinner table. And, they share slow cooker cooking tips (as if it wasn't easy enough).
Slow cooker cooking: comfort and convenience
A slow cooker is designed to cook savory, slow-braised meats and vegetables — so it's perfectly suited to this time of year. And when your schedule gets hectic, your slow cooker might just be an indispensable time-saver.
The beauty of slow cooker cooking is that you don't need to fuss over your dish. Simply prepare your ingredients earlier in the day — and within six to 12 hours you'll have a hearty, one-dish dinner and the aroma of comfort food to greet and tempt you!
Slow cooker cooking tips
- Leave that lid on! Even a quick peek inside your slow cooker allows vital heat to escape and lengthens your cooking time by 15-20 min. To see inside, simply spin the cover of your slow cooker until the vapors drip off.
- Cut back on liquids. Because slow cookers cook food at low temperatures, liquids don't reduce. In fact, as meats and vegetables release their natural juices, the amount of liquid inside the slow cooker will increase. If a recipe calls for what seems like a scant amount of liquid, resist the temptation to "correct" it.
- Location, location, location. Place densely textured vegetables such as potatoes or carrots and large cuts of meat at the bottom of the cooker. Proximity to the heat source and immersion in liquid ensures even cooking.
- It's OK to procrastinate. Not all foods do well under slow cooker conditions. Delicate herbs such as basil or cilantro lose flavor; frozen vegetables turn to mush; fish dissolves into nothing, and shrimp becomes leather-tough. As a rule of thumb, quick-cooking ingredients (including pasta and rice) and fresh herbs should be added during the last hour of cooking.
- It's best to leave your slow cooker on the same heat setting throughout the entire cooking cycle. However, if you’re pressed for time — or if a dish seems to be cooking too fast — one hour of cooking on high is roughly equal to two and a half hours on low.
More cooking delights