10
Meat
•
Trim all excess fat and sinew from meat before slow cooking, as the slow cooking method does
not allow fat to evaporate.
•
Browning your meat before adding it to your slow cooker helps add real flavour to the finished
dish. Note: Browning mince meats, such as minced beef and mince turkey, before placing in
the appliance removes excess fat and reduces the risk of food-borne illnesses.
•
Meats can be browned and/or cut up the night before slow cooking. Cover and refrigerate in a
separate container. Do not place in cooking pot until ready to cook.
•
ALWAYS ENSURE THAT ALL MEAT PRODUCTS ARE COOKED TO APPROPRIATE INTERNAL
TEMPERATURES.
•
Always insert a meat thermometer into joints of roasts, hams or other meats to ensure they are
cooked to the desired temperature.
•
If you want a thicker sauce for your end result, try dredging the meat in flour before browning.
•
You can use whatever meat you choose in your slow cooker, but slow cooking is a perfect way
to use cheaper cuts of meat.
•
Don’t use frozen meat unless it has been thoroughly thawed out beforehand.
Troubleshooting
Questions
Answers
The food in my slow
cooker is not cooking
evenly.
To ensure even cooking, cut foods such as vegetables into small, evenly
shaped pieces.
Foods such as root vegetables need to be placed at the bottom of the slow
cooker so that they are in direct contact with the cooker. Root vegetables take
longer to cook, so in order to have everything cooked evenly, this is a must.
My food is too watery.
Too much liquid has been added to the slow cooker. Only small amounts
of evaporation occur in slow cookers, so it’s important to add up to 50% less
cooking liquid to a dish than you would if you were stovetop or oven cooking.
If you notice throughout the cooking time that you’ve added too much liquid,
remove the lid approximately an hour before the cooking has finished, and
cook the food on the high setting. This allows the liquid to evaporate and
thicken.
Can I heat the cooking
pot when it is empty?
No. The cooking pot must never be placed on a stovetop, in the oven, or
heated in the slow cooker when empty.
The slow cooker is
smoking when it is first
turned on.
There may be manufacturing oil on the heating element or housing. This can
cause a slight smoking and/or burning smell during the first few uses of your
slow cooker, but will stop after that.
Check that there is no spilled food residue on the heating element or
housing.
Unplug your slow cooker and allow it to cool fully before cleaning it
thoroughly. Towel-dry the unit thoroughly before your next use.
Food is sticking to the
bottom of the cooking
pot/burning.
You may need to add more liquid to your slow cooker. If you do not add liquid,
food will dry up as it is cooking, causing it to stick and burn.
Cooking with the slow cooker uncovered can also cause these problems.
You should not cook with the lid of the slow cooker removed unless you are
thickening up the liquid towards the end of the cooking process. If you cook
with the lid off, the cooking liquid evaporates, causing the food to dry out and
burn.
Can I cook a roast in the
slow cooker without
water?
Yes, if the slow cooker is set to LOW. The liquid is needed to soften and cook
the vegetables properly. The more fat the meat has, the less liquid is needed.
How can I remove hard
water stains from my
slow cooker?
Many things can cause a build-up of calcium deposits and lime scale inside
your slow cooker, including hard water or cooking dried beans.
To remove stains, empty your slow cooker once you have finished cooking
and fill the cooking pot with hot water. Add a small amount of washing up
liquid and about 250ml vinegar to the hot water and leave it to soak overnight
if possible, or for a couple of hours. Once it has soaked, empty the cooking pot
and clean as normal.
