Slow Cookers: Expert Guides and Resources

A slow cooker is truly a pleasure to use. Manufacturers seem determined to outdo themselves in making slow cookers more user-friendly and convenient, so you have plenty of options when picking out a slow cooker: Shape: Slow cookers are available in two shapes: round and oval. The traditional round shape is perfect for making soups, chilis, and stews.

You can make easy and delicious meals in your slow cooker, with some helpful tips, you can even convert your favorite traditional recipes to the slow cooker. Make sure you use the slow cooker temperature guide to cook dishes thoroughly and convert temperatures, if necessary.Tips for using your slow cookerYou can prepare great food in your slow cooker without a lot of fuss.

Celebrate New Year's Day, St. Patrick’s Day, or any day you need some of the luck of the Irish with traditional corned beef and cabbage. Corned beef needs long, slow cooking for tenderness, but it's easy work with a slow cooker. In the morning, put everything in the pot, and you'll come home to a delicious, hot meal.

Discover tips on how to use a slow cooker the right way to create flavorful, one-pot meals. With this video, slow-cooker tips on browning meat, liberal seasoning, and keeping the lid on help you create easy, slow-cooked dishes.

Slow cooker recipes average 6 to 10 hours of cook time. If you want to convert your favorite recipes to the slow cooker, use the following guidelines. (You can always check to make sure your food has safely finished cooking by using a meat or instant-read thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the cooked food without touching bone or the cooking container to get an accurate reading.

Pick up a thermometer for a quick and easy way to determine if your meal is cooked to a safe temperature. Here’s a guide for using your slow cooker and cooking to a temperature that’s safe. Food Safe Cooking Temperature in Degrees F Eggs Cook until yolk and white are firm Egg dishes 160 Ground Meat and Meat M

You can prepare great food in your slow cooker without a lot of fuss. Use these tips for preparation and to get the most from your slow cooker to make convenient and delicious meals. Brown meats and poultry first. Although doing so may add a few extra minutes in prep time, food takes on a whole different look and flavor when first browned.

If you pull up a recipe for your slow cooker and the temperature is in metric, use this conversion chart to find the right temperature to make sure your dish is cooked correctly and thoroughly. Degrees Fahrenheit Degrees Celsius 140 60 145 65 160 70 165 75 170 80 180 85 250 120 275 135 300 150 325 160 350 175

Wash each component of your slow cooker when you first get it. Also wash each part of the slow cooker if you haven’t used it for an extended period. Always unplug the slow cooker before cleaning to avoid the risk of electrical shock. Use a clean, soapy cloth or sponge to wash the slow cooker’s housing. Never immerse the metal housing or the base in water.