8
Note: Do not use frozen meat. Thaw any meat before slow
cooking.
4) Brown ground meat, such as ground beef and ground turkey, before placing
in crock to remove excess fat and reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses.
5) Unplug the slow cooker when not in use and before cleaning.
6) Always use oven mitts when lifting the crock.
7) No peeking – always cook with the cover on. Removing the cover allows
heat to escape and add 15 to 20 minutes to the cooking time.
8) Your slow cooker has two temperature settings. Low is recommended for
slow, all-day cooking. High is recommended for cooking from 2 to 4 hours.
One hour on high is equal to 2 to 2 ½ hours on low.
9) Use fresh or dried herbs instead of ground; they keep more of their flavor
during the long cooking time.
10) Spray the inside of the crock with nonstick cooking spray for easy cleanup.
11) Add dairy products, such as milk and cheese, toward the end of the cooking
time, unless recipe states otherwise.
12) Whole poultry, such as chicken and Cornish hens, should not be cooked in
slow cookers because safe cooking temperatures cannot be reached quickly
enough near the bone.
13) To thicken the flavorful juices developed during slow cooking, remove 1 cup
of juice from slow cooker. Place in small saucepan. Combine 1 tablespoon
water and 1tablespoon cornstarch. Stir into saucepan. Cook and stir over
medium heat until mixture boils. Boil and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until slightly
thickened.
14) Vegetables can be peeled and cut the night before slow cooking. Cover and
refrigerate in a separate container. Do not place in crock until ready to cook.
15) Meat can be browned and/or cut up the night before slow cooking. Cover
and refrigerate in a separate container. Do not place in crock until ready to
cook.
16) Slow cooking retains most of the moisture in foods. If a recipe results in too
much liquid at the end of the cooking time, remove the cover, turn the control
dial to HIGH and reduce the liquid by simmering. This will take 30 to 45
minutes.
17) The crock should be at least half-filled for best results.
18) If cooking soups or stews, leave a 2inch space between the top of the crock
and the food so that the recipe can come to a simmer. If cooking a soup or
stew on HIGH, keep checking the progress as some soups will reach a boil
on HIGH.
19) When removing the glass cover, tilt it so that the opening faces away form
you to avoid being burned by steam.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
