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CARE AND CLEANING
This appliance contains no user serviceable parts. Do not try to repair it yourself. Refer it to
qualified service personnel if servicing is needed.
PRECAUTIONS
• Always unplug unit and allow to cool before cleaning.
•
Always handle cooking pot and cover carefully. Avoid hitting pot or cover against faucet or
other hard surfaces.
•
Do not touch sides of slow cooker base while food is cooking. Always use handles on the base.
Use potholders or oven mitts to lift the cooking pot.
TO CLEAN:
This appliance should be cleaned after every use.
After unit has been allowed to cool, wash cooking pot and cover in warm, soapy water. Rinse well
and dry. If food sticks to the surface of the cooking pot, fill the pot with warm, soapy water and
allow it to sit for a few hours before cleaning.
Wipe interior and exterior surfaces of the base with a soft, slightly damp cloth or sponge. NEVER
IMMERSE THE BASE IN WATER.
NEVER USE ABRASIVE CLEANSERS OR SCOURING PADS TO CLEAN THE COOKING POT OR BASE,
AS THESE CAN DAMAGE THE SURFACES.
Dishwasher Cleaning
Stoneware cooking pot and glass lid may be cleaned in an automatic dishwasher. To prevent
damage, position them in rack so they do not hit each other or other items during cleaning.
Special Cleaning
If cooking pot becomes stained, clean with a non-abrasive cleanser or apply a paste of baking
soda with a soft cloth. To remove water spots or mineral deposits, wipe with distilled white vinegar,
or pour a small amount into pot and let it soak. After cleaning, wash pot in warm, soapy water,
rinse and dry.
TO STORE:
Be sure all parts are clean and dry before storing. Store appliance in a clean, dry place. Never
store it while it is hot or wet. To store, place cooking pot inside the base and the glass lid over the
pot. Never wrap cord tightly around the appliance; keep it loosely coiled.
HELPFUL HINTS IN USING THE SLOW COOKER
•
The lid of the slow cooker does not form a tight fit on the cooking pot but should be centered
on the pot for best results.
Do not remove the cover unnecessarily
–
this will result in a major
heat loss.
•
Stirring is not necessary when slow cooking. However, if cooking on HIGH, stirring occasionally
will help to distribute flavors throughout the recipe.
•
For best results, the slow cooker should be at least half-filled.
•
If cooking soups or stews, allow a 2-inch space between the food and the top of the cooking
pot, so ingredients can come to a simmer.
•
Less tender, cheaper cuts of meat are better candidates for slow cooking than more expensive
varieties. When possible, remove excess fat before cooking. If recipe calls for browning the
meat, brown it on a rangetop using a separate cooking utensil before placing meat in
cooking pot.
•
Add fresh or thawed fish or seafood to cooking pot an hour before serving, as these ingredients
can fall apart during long hours of cooking.
•
Since raw vegetables usually take longer to cook than meats, cut vegetables into uniform,
bite-sized pieces (about 1/2 inch in diameter) before adding them to cooking pot.
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•
If recipe calls for milk, sour cream or other fresh dairy products, add them just prior to serving,
as these ingredients tend to break down during long hours of cooking. If preferred, substitute
condensed creamed soups (undiluted) or evaporated milk. Processed cheese may be
substituted for naturally aged cheese.
•
Rice or pasta may be cooked separately or added uncooked to recipes no more than two hours
before serving. If adding uncooked pasta, there should be at least 2 cups of liquid in the pot.
Stir occasionally to keep pieces from sticking together.
•
To thicken juices or make gravy at the end of the cooking process, make a smooth mixture
consisting of 2-4 tablespoons of cornstarch or flour and 1/4 cup water or 2 tablespoons of
butter. Remove cooked food from pot, letting juices remain. Add mixture to juices, set control
at HIGH, and stir until liquid thickens.
•
Don’t worry if food is allowed to cook a bit longer than specified. Remember, the slow cooker –
as its name implies – cooks very slowly.
•
To keep foods warm for serving, turn control to the LOW setting.
ADAPTING RECIPES
General Hints
•
The LOW or AUTO setting is recommended for all-day cooking. Most meat-and-vegetable
combinations require at least 7 hours on LOW. On the AUTO setting, slow cooker will begin
cooking on HIGH and then will shift to LOW after approximately 2 hours of cooking time.
•
For best flavor, use whole-leaf herbs and spices during initial preparation. If ground herbs and
spices are used, stir in during last hour of cooking.
•
Many factors can affect how quickly a recipe will cook. The water and fat content of food,
its temperature, and the size of the item(s) will all affect the cooking time. Food cut into pieces
will cook faster than whole roasts or poultry.
•
Recipes for vegetable-type casseroles must contain liquid to prevent scorching on the sides
of the cooking pot.
•
If using a specific recipe, one item may be substituted for another, if an equal quantity is used.
For example, if recipe calls for a 12-oz. can of chicken broth, a 10-oz. can of tomato soup plus
2 oz. of something else (water, wine, canned tomatoes) may be substituted.
•
Canned beans may be added directly to any recipe, but dried beans, especially red kidney
beans, should be soaked in water (if desired) and boiled first. After covering and boiling in
3 times their volume of unsalted water, add beans to recipe and discard water. Beans must be
softened completely before they are combined with sugary and/or acid foods, as these have
a hardening effect on beans. In this case, beans should be allowed to simmer until tender
(about 1-1/2 hour) after boiling.
Recipe Amounts
Recipes included have been designed to work in either a 4-qt. or 6-qt. slow cooker. However, they
may be adjusted to accommodate individual requirements. Use the number of servings suggested
by each recipe as a guideline. Some helpful tips:
•
If using a 6-qt. cooker, recipe amounts may be increased by 1/2 (50%), but cooking time may
need to be extended.
•
Remember the rule of substitution when increasing recipe amounts: Items may be substituted,
so long as they are replaced with an equal amount of something else.
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