Slow cookers a.k.a Crock-pots is a cooking appliance used for simmering and it’s a very popular kitchen appliance. The slow cooker made it’s first appearance in a 1950 advertisement issue of The Rotarian magazine. Irving Naxon developed the Naxon Beanery All-Purpose Cooker after hearing a story from his grandmother about having to cook stew in the oven for many hours. A company, The Rical Company, bought Naxon and reintroduced the slow cooker under the name Crock-Pot in 1971. Now you can find a slow cooker in almost every household. However, there are some common mistakes people do when using the appliance.
Don’t use raw meat.
Sear/brown raw meat before adding it to your slow cooker. A slow cooker doesn’t reach temperatures high enough to sear meat properly. (Chicken is the exception. Remove the skin before adding it so you don’t have rubbery skin)
Don’t raise the lid while dish is still cooking.
We’re all guilty of wanting to know how our dish is coming along, but opening the lid of a slow cooker when the dish isn’t ready can ruin your meal. Just don’t do it! According to the Gardening Cook, a crock pot is designed to cook food over a long period of time and taking the lid off even for a few seconds means that the crock pot will lose the heat it has built up. The only exception is when you add food at the very end which needs a short time (dairy and fresh herbs.)
Don’t use too much alcohol.
Cooking with alcohol in a slow cooker is completely different than cooking with it on a stove top. The slow cooker doesn’t reach the temperatures like a stove top. Be careful when using alcohol, the right amount is key to a delicious meal.
Don’t add fresh herbs or dairy too soon.
Adding ingredients too early or too late can change the way a dish tastes. When adding herbs or dairy to your slow cooker meal, it’s best to add them closer to the end (about an hour before it’s ready). Herbs can lose their flavor and dairy can curdle if added too soon.
Don’t overfill or underfill.
The last thing you want is overcooked or undercooked meal. According to the Huffington Post, to ensure things don’t simmer over or cook to a burnt mess, make sure the slow cooker is filled at least halfway and no more than two-thirds full.
These are only a few of the common mistakes everyone makes when using a slow cooker. Can you think of any other? Let us know in the comment section!