6 Simple Tips to Help You Make the Most of Your Crock Pot Recipes

Crock Pot recipes is one of the most searched for terms on the internet as well as websites such as Pinterest. People love their crock pot, and for good reason. It’s basically like a cook that lives in your home with you and makes dinner while you’re at work, at practice or just getting other things done throughout the day. The slow cooker is supremely awesome. You can adapt just about any recipe to work in the crock pot, start it in the morning, prepare the night before and basically have very little to do when it comes to making dinner. It’s a win-win solution for the busy family who still wants to eat meals that are delicious, home-cooked and healthy.

If you’re interested in making the most of your crock pot recipes, you will want to follow some very simple advice from the pros. This advice is going to help you make the most of your crock pot recipes, bringing out the most natural flavors, the most health and the best taste. Not all crock pot recipes are healthy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t increase the nutritional value in yours with a few of these tips.

Use the Low Setting

According to many professional chefs, you can make the most out of all crock pot recipes by using the low setting and forgoing the high setting. Of course, we know that’s not always possible when it comes to your schedule and your list of things to do, but it’s definitely one of the best ways to enhance the natural flavor of your dishes. The low setting allows the meat in your dish to cook more evenly, allowing the flavors to develop and become bolder and more exciting as the day goes on.

When possible, use the low setting. If you cannot avoid using the high setting because of time constraints, don’t worry that your food won’t taste good. It could be more flavorful if cooked on low, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be cooked on high when necessary.

Leave the Crock Pot Alone

Crock pot recipes are supposed to be easy because they do not require any attention, and that’s just the truth of the matter. However, many people find it difficult to just ignore the crock pot all day while it’s cooking their dinner. Do it anyway; the more you go over there and stir, or check on the food, the more time it will need to cook. It’s designed to hold heat in during the day. If you open it repeatedly, the heat will escape and things will take that much longer to cook. It’s just better for all involved if you take the time to ignore the crock pot and let it do its job without interruption.

Don’t Add Too Much Liquid

When you add too much oil or butter or liquid to your slow cooker, you are adding it to the natural liquids that will appear when the meat you’re cooking cooks. This means that you are running the risk of messing up your dishes by making them taste a bit too soggy and overcooked. You may add a little of this stuff, but go easy on it or you’re going to change the flavor and the consistency of your meal. Since it’s not a good idea to mess with your food while it cooks, you don’t want to bother with that.

Use the Right Meat

Cheaper, fattier cuts of meat are the ones that cook well in the crock pot. Lean meats do not cook well in there. The slow cooking adds moisture to meat that might need it, but it sucks it out of leaner meats, resulting in tougher meals that don’t taste so well overall. The low heat and the slow roasting the meat does all day long makes for a much more moist, tender piece of meat. Try to consider then when it’s time to shop for the meat you’ll use when you cook meals in the crock pot. The more attention you pay to this meat, the better off your meal will be at the end of the day.

Find the Right Size

Did you know that not all crock pots are made the same size, and so not all recipes will work in all crock pots? Well, it’s true. If you’re not using the right size crock pot, you could experience some misfortune when it comes to cooking a good meal that everyone wants to eat. For example, using a small one is not a good idea for a big meaty meal. However, using a large crock pot designed for a roast or entire bird is not a good idea when it comes to making something like a cheese dip unless you are making it in epic proportions for a very large party or a very large gathering. The way your recipes cook in your crock pot does depend entirely on the size of the pot, and you should be aware of this information before you cook.

Planning Ahead

Many people love the concept of knowing that they can plan ahead for their slow cooker meals, but you have to be careful of a few things. For one, some meals require a bit more prep than others, so you’ll find yourself rushing around in the morning if you don’t plan ahead. Additionally, some people like to prep their entire meal the night before and then stick it in the fridge until it’s time to cook it in the morning. This is a great idea, but it’s not a good idea if you stick your meal in the crock pot bowl and stick that in the fridge, transferring it to the crock pot in the morning.

A cold crock pot bowl takes a significant amount of time to warm up, even in the crock pot. This could affect the length of time it takes to cook your meal, as well as the way that your meal cooks. It could often mean a dinner that doesn’t taste too amazing. A better idea is to put your meal in a Tupperware container and transfer it to the crock pot in the morning for the best results.

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