Slow Cooking 101

Slow Cooking Basics

Slow Cookers have been around for a long time and for good reason. The fact of the matter is they are so simple and easy to use and can produce great results while you go about your busy life. 

Slow cooking braises foods and uses moist heat to cook at a low temperature. It can produce similar results to cooking in a Dutch oven. The big difference is that with this method of cooking you can simply fill the slow cooker with the ingredients and let your food cook unattended for most of the cooking process.

In terms of design and function, a slow cooker is a round or oval electric pot, with a stoneware or stainless steel insert that cooks food at a very low temperature over a long period of time. Slow cookers are always covered with a lid, which not only traps the heat and steam, but allows moisture to condense and fall back into your food. Some slow cookers have lids that clamp down on the pot, which are helpful for travel and to prevent any heat loss as the food cooks. Some slow cookers have heating elements at the bottom of the unit only. This heats up the insert and spreads to the sides of the crock or insert to cook the food inside. Some units have a base element as well as elements around the sides to heat more evenly and quickly.

Economical

Slow cooking can produce great results using inexpensive cuts of meat that need low heat and a slow cooking time.  The moist heat breaks down the meat making it more tender and flavorful.

Health Benefits

With this method of cooking, you can produce a great range of healthy comfort foods such as homemade soups, pot roasts and stews and they rarely call for added oils or fat to cook them.  With the small amount of time needed to prepare meals in a slow cooker, chances are you will be less tempted by processed or prepared take-out foods. You can limit your ingredients to those that suit your preferences and your diet.

Easy Clean Up

Another great feature of the slow cooker is that many slow cooker recipes are, in fact, one pot meals which can include any or all of the food categories that are in your diet – meats, vegetables, grains, legumes, and some starches as well.  You will usually end up with one crock pot or insert to clean after the meal. Any other clean up can be done during your preparation stage. Less clean up means more time to spend with family and friends.

Portable cooking

Slow cookers are great to use in situations where an oven is not available such as camping, picnics or when traveling.  They are also a popular appliance for pot luck events.

An added bonus in summer months is that slow cookers will not heat up your whole kitchen.

What to look for when purchasing a slow cooker

Energy efficiency

Some units are designed for better energy efficiency. Look for the “Energy Star Label” to know if that particular unit will use less energy during the long cooking process. The larger the unit, the more energy it will use.

Removable Insert

Chose a slow cooker with a removable insert. Having an insert is best for cleaning and also distributes the heat while cooking.  I tend to prefer a heavy stoneware crock as it retains the heat better than a metal insert.

Tight Fitting Lid

Make sure the unit has a tight fitting lid. Some slow cookers have lids that clamp down on the pot to prevent any heat loss as the food cooks, helping to retain the moisture in the food. This type of lid is also helpful for travel when taking your dish to potluck dinners or parties.

Internal Thermometer

A slow cooker with an internal thermometer is a useful tool because the unit will switch to the warming setting once the food has reached the desired doneness and temperature.

Beef and Pork Ribs – Ribs are an excellent choice for the slow cooker whose low  temperature and longer cooking times produce very tender and fall-apart ribs.

Brisket – This cut of meat also benefits from the lower temperature and longer cooking time resulting in tender and tasty meat that can be sliced or shredded.

Lamb Shanks– slow cooking this cut of lamb can result in a very tender and rich dish

Using your Slow Cooker for Leftovers

Have some chicken and veggies in the fridge. The slow cooker is great to make a soup or casserole with anything you may have on hand. Add some stock and seasoning and you could create an amazing meal with what you have in your fridge or pantry.

More Information…

Be sure to check out the other articles in the cooking school on how to convert recipes to slow cookers, great tips and tricks on using slow cookers and of course, the slow cooker cooking charts.