Crock pot cooking has virtually improved many lifestyles. It has helped families with hectic schedules modify their old greasy meals to healthier recipes. The direct heat from the slow cooker, its several hours of cooking, and the steam within the tightly-covered pot, all work together making crock pot cooking safe and healthy.

Now that you too have discovered the benefits of using your own slow cooker, perhaps you are wondering how you can easily modify your family’s favorite meals into crock pot recipes. Allow me to share some hints and tips for adapting your traditional menus for slow cooking recipes.

After immersing food in water inside the pot, apply the lid and get the unit switched on. Cooking time will depend with the recipe and the quantity of food. In crock pot cooking, always remember that temperature is sufficiently slow.

1.) Insert vegetables like peas and broc
coli to your recipe in the last 15-60 minutes of the cooking time. Remember that veggies cook faster. If they are still frozen, take time adding them during the last 30 minutes.

2.) If you use dried beans, be sure to soak them first so they are completely softened before adding to the cooker. For recipes that include tomatoes, salt or sugar, always remember it is all the more important that your beans are soaked.

3.) In cooking recipes involving pasta, it is best to cook the pasta ahead just a bit tender prior to adding them to the cooker. If it calls for any kind of seafood, milk or other dairy ingredients, add your pasta during the last 60 minutes of cooking. You can use condense cream soups to substitute any dairy ingredients as they can withstand longer cooking times.

4.) If your recipe involves rice, always add an extra