| Crock-pot cooking can offer some very tasty meals | | | | popular belief, cooking raw meat in the crock-pot is |
| and desserts however some basic rules should be | | | | very safe. During the cooking process, the meat's |
| followed when using a crock-pot to cook with. You | | | | internal temperature reaches approximately 170 |
| should be careful not to over stir their food while it's | | | | degrees in beef and 190 degrees in poultry. Two |
| cooking in a crock pot. Taking the lid off during cooking | | | | important things to remember however is to always |
| causes vast amounts of heat to escape, therefore the | | | | cook the meat for its complete time recommended in |
| food should only be stirred if it is clearly stated in the | | | | the recipe recommend time. Secondly, do not remove |
| recipe. Some elements can only be added at the end | | | | the lid on the slow cooker. There is no requirement to |
| of the cooking time. When using milk and sour cream | | | | brown meat beforehand unless the you prefer the |
| be sure to wait until the last fifteen minutes of cooking | | | | look and taste of browned meat. When cooking in a |
| time before adding these ingredients. Unless the recipe | | | | crock-pot the best flavors will come from whole herbs |
| states otherwise, seafood only needs to be included | | | | and spices. Crushed herbs and spices rapidly lose their |
| during the last hour of cooking time. Pasta and rice | | | | flavor during the long cooking time, but whole spices |
| cook requirements are quite different for crock-pot | | | | keep their flavor during the entire cooking time |
| cooking. For the best results with pasta, cook in boiling | | | | because they take longer to let go of their flavor. |
| water until just tender, and then add the pasta to the | | | | Crock-pots can be used to make desserts and baked |
| main dish during the last thirty minutes of cooking time. | | | | goods as well. You should be sure not to over beat |
| You should also try to use long grain converted rice | | | | breads and cakes; and should always follow the |
| for the best results. If the rice does not appear cooked | | | | recommended recipe guidelines. Never add water to |
| completely through, you can add another 1-1.5 cups of | | | | the crock-pot unless it specifically says to do so. |
| liquid per cup of rice. Always boil beans before adding | | | | Always allow cakes and breads to sit and cool for |
| them to the crock-pot for cooking. Frozen foods can | | | | five to seven minutes before taking them out of the |
| be used in crock-pot cooking. When cooking frozen | | | | pan. Vegetables like potatoes and carrots should be |
| means you should use at least one cup of warm liquid | | | | cut no larger than 1" thick, and put in the bottom of the |
| along with the meat. When preparing these types of | | | | pot, since they require more time to cook. Crock-pot |
| meals you should all for and additional four to six hours | | | | cooking can be delicious for both meals and desserts |
| on low temperature or two hours on high. Contrary to | | | | when some basic guidelines are followed. |