12
TIPS FOR SLOW COOKING (CONT.)
Suitable Foods for Slow Cooking & Preparation
Most foods are suited to slow cooking methods; however there are a few guidelines that need to be
followed.
•
Cut root vegetables into small, even pieces, as they take longer to cook than meat. They should
be gently sautéed for 2-3 minutes before slow cooking. Ensure that root vegetables are always
placed at the bottom of the ceramic pot and all ingredients are immersed in the cooking liquid.
•
Trim all excess fat from meat before cooking, since the slow cooking method does not allow fat
to evaporate.
•
If adapting an existing recipe from conventional cooking, you may need to cut down on the
amount of liquid used. Liquid will not evaporate from the slow cooker to the same extent as with
conventional cooking.
•
Never leave uncooked food at room temperature in the slow cooker.
•
Do not use the slow cooker to reheat food.
•
Insert a meat thermometer into joints of roasts, hams, or whole chickens to ensure they are
cooked to the desired temperature.
•
Authentic ceramic stoneware is fired at high temperatures therefore the ceramic pot may have
minor surface blemishes, the glass lid may rock slightly due to these imperfection. Low heat
cooking does not produce steam so there will be little heat loss. Due to normal wear and tear
through the products life, the outer surface may start appearing “crazed”.
•
Do not put the ceramic pot or glass lid in an oven, freezer, and microwave or on a gas/electrical
hob.
•
Do not subject the ceramic pot to sudden changes in temperature. Adding cold water to a very
hot pot could cause it to crack.
•
Do not allow the ceramic pot to stand in water for a long time (You can leave water in the pot to
soak).
•
There is an area on the base of the ceramic pot that has to remain unglazed for manufacturing
purposes. This unglazed area is porous, therefore will soak up water, this should be avoided.
•
Do not switch the slow cooker on when the ceramic pot is empty or out of the base.
13
COOKING TIME TABLE
The cooking charts below are for your reference only. Cooking times may need to be adjusted
according to preference.
If Recipe for
Oven Says:
Cook on LOW in
Slow Cooker:
Cook on HIGH in
Slow Cooker:
15 to 30 minutes
4 to 6 hours
1 1/2 to 2 hours
35 to 45 minutes
6 to 10 hours
3 to 4 hours
50 minutes to 3 hours
8 to 18 hours
4 to 6 hours
HIGH Setting – Try using this setting when a shorter cooking time is desired or for recipes that are
typically baked.
LOW Setting – Appropriate for most recipes when there is time for long, slow cooking. It’s an ideal
setting for food started before going to work in the morning and served for
dinner in the evening.
Foods to Cook
on HIGH:
Foods to Cook
on LOW:
Egg-based
puddings,puddings/steamed cake
Beef chuck/roast lamb shanks
Broth-based soup
Dressing/stuffing
Egg-based strata
Split pea soup, cheese or cream-based
soup/rice pudding
Beef roast,pork roast
Stew, beef roast/pork roast
Chicken/turkey pieces, stewed
chicken
Beef short ribs/pork ribs
Chicken/turkey casserole
Chicken/turkey pieces, stewed chicken
Wild Rice
Dried beans/lentils/wild rice
Dumplings, steamed potatoes
Chicken wings/cornish hens
Cobbler/fruit dessert
Pork chops, soups with less tender cuts of meat
