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