Everyone loves a good home cooked meal, but not everyone wants to spend time in the kitchen after a hard day at work. The answer to this is not processed, pre-packaged food, but slow cooked food. Get out your slowcooker and get ready.

Slowcooking has evolved a lot since the arrival of the first crock pots on the market in the 1970s. There are tons of great recipes both online and in cookbooks. For the slowcooking newbie, there are a few tips that you need to know in order to prepare the best meal possible with your slowcooker.

1. First of all, remember the real reason for using a slowcooker; preparing and then leaving. Some folks refer to this as \’set and forget\’, but however you state it, leave the lid on the pot. Once you have plunked everything into the pot that\’s required for your recipe, put the lid on the slowcooker and go. You don\’t have to worry about leaving the house while the crockpot is on. Every time you lift the lid you may lose valuable cooking time. Given that most crock pots these days have clear glass lids, you can peek in and see what\’s going on without having to open the pot.

2. Slowcooker recipes will usually give the option of cooking either on low or high. Although you should always follow the recipe directions, after you become used to your slowcooker, you can create your own recipes. Keep in mind that generally one hour cooking on high is the same as two hours cooking on low.

3. Frozen foods can be placed into the slow cooker as is. You don\’t need to thaw first, but a good idea is to add some warm liquid to act as a buffer so you don\’t need to add more cooking time.

4. For best results, you should cook your rice or pasta to just about done before placing in the cooker. You may also add rice in the last 30 minutes of cooking time.

5. Some folks swear by browning meat first, but it\’s not a requirement for crockpot cooking. Although it can reduce the amount of fat in a recipe, the food will taste great due to the long cooking time and enhanced flavor of herbs over the process.

6. Popular sizes are 3 1/2-, 4-, and 5-quart models. Most have removable liners. The 3 1/2-quart models are fine for most dishes and needs, but the 5-quart models allow you to insert other dishes, such as souffle, spingform pans, or pudding molds, giving you a wider range of options. Manufacturers usually recommend filling the pot half to three-quarters full, so if you\’re cooking for two, this might be an important consideration.

Hopefully, you\’re inspired to use your slow cooker now, and with these helpful tips you can prepare a wonderful meal for your family without all the fuss in the kitchen. Remember to put the lid on and leave it alone unless the recipe calls for the occasional stir or it you need to add another ingredient after a specific amount of cooking time. Cooking your food slow helps retain so much of the flavor, and keeps you free to live your life, you\’ll wonder why it\’s taken you so long to start cooking so slow! Enjoy.

Author Bio: Eat well by preparing your family\’s meals. A good recipe to start with is a crock pot recipe for pot roast. Get this and more crock pot recipes at Family Crock Pot Recipes.

Category: Cooking
Keywords: crock pot, crockpot, slow cooker, slow cooking, recipes