9
TM
Tips f
or Sl
ow Cooking
• For best results, the slow cooker should be filled at least halfway.
• Do not fill the slow cooker more than three-quarters full.
• Spray the inside of the stoneware crock with non-stick cooking spray for easy clean up.
• Vegetables cook slowly. Keep pieces small to medium in size and place in the bottom of the
pot.
• Vegetables can be peeled and cut the night before slow cooking. Cover and refrigerate in a
separate container. Do not place in removable crock until ready to cook.
• Meats should be trimmed, browned or broiled before placing in the slow cooker to eliminate as
much fat as possible.
•
DO NOT USE FROZEN MEAT. THAW ALL MEAT BEFORE SLOW COOKING.
• Brown ground meats, such as ground beef and ground turkey, before placing in slow cooker to
remove excess fat and reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses.
• Whole poultry, such as chicken and Cornish hens, should not be cooked in slow cookers
because safe cooking temperatures near the bone cannot be reached quickly enough.
ALWAYS ENSURE THAT ALL MEAT PRODUCTS ARE COOKED TO APPROPRIATE
INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
• Meats can be browned and/or cut up the night before slow cooking. Cover and refrigerate in a
separate container. Do not place in removable crock until ready to cook.
• Use fresh or dried herbs instead of ground as they keep more of their flavour during long
cooking times.
• Add dairy products, such as milk and cheese, towards the end of the cooking time, unless your
recipe states otherwise.
• To thicken the flavourful juices produced during slow cooking, remove 1 cup (250 mL) of juice
from the slow cooker. Place in a small saucepan. Combine 1 tablespoon (15 mL) water and
1 tablespoon (15 mL) cornstarch. Stir into saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until
mixture boils. Boil and stir for 1 - 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add the mixture back to
the slow cooker.
• When cooking soups or stews, leave a 2" (5 cm) space between the top of the removable
crock and the food so that the recipe can come to a simmer. If cooking a soup or stew on MAX,
check its progress regularly as some soups will reach a boil on MAX.
• When removing the glass lid, tilt it so that the opening faces away from you to avoid being
burnt by steam.
• If there is a loss of power while slow cooking, the food being cooked may be unsafe to eat. If
you are unable to determine how long the power was out, we suggest that the food inside of
the slow cooker be discarded.
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2017-05-05 2:07 PM
