Coming home to a delicious hot casserole on a cold winter's night is a wonderful experience. The mouthwatering aroma as you fill a bowl of your favorite comfort food will waft through your kitchen, exciting your taste buds. If you do not have the luxury of employing a personal chef -- and lets face it, most of us do not -- this can still be possible using a slow cooker.
A slow cooker gently cooks your meal over an extended period of time while you do other things. Before leaving for work simply place all the ingredients into the cooker and switch it on. Several hours later your completed meal will be piping hot and waiting for you to come home.
To make the most of your slow cooker here are five important tips:
1. Cheaper cuts of meat are best
It is common knowledge that cheaper cuts of meat, such as gravy beef or chuck steak, are more flavorsome than more expensive cuts. The only drawback is they are tougher and need to be gently cooked. Your slow cooker is perfect for this task, turning it into a delicious, succulent meal which will melt in your mouth. To maximize the flavor of your casseroles and stews cook cheaper cuts of meat on the low setting to gently simmer the toughness away.
2. Avoid opening the lid unless absolutely necessary
Each time you open the lid of the slow cooker hot steam and moisture escapes. This can reduces the cooking time by about 20 minutes. To avoid lifting the lid unnecessarily follow the recipe carefully, add additional ingredients quickly and avoid the temptation to take a peek.
3. Precook &/or reduce the size of the vegetables
Vegetables often take longer to cook than the equivalent size of meat. To avoid serving partly raw vegetables it's advisable to cut the vegetables into smaller, even pieces and place root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots on the bottom or against the sides of the dish for maximum heat. Onions also take awhile to cook so dice these finely or lightly saute them before adding to your slow cooker.
4. Reduce the amount of liquid if using a regular recipe
Slow cookers retain moisture as they cook leaving you with more liquid than when you started. As the meal cooks it produces steam, which condenses on the underside of the lid and drips back into the food. Unless you are using a recipe specially designed for a slow cooker you will need to reduce the amount of liquid to compensate. This does not apply to soup based recipes.
5. Brown meat and onions to maximize flavor
It is quite acceptable to place all of the ingredients directly into the slow cooker raw. However to increase the flavor of your meal it is advisable to brown the outside of your meat or chicken, and saute your onions before adding. By including this step during the preparation stage you will make your meal more flavorsome, as well as reduce some of the fat content.
By adopting these simple tips you can maximize the use of your slow cooker and produce mouthwatering, succulent meals with ease. Say goodbye to convenience meals and fast foods -- with a slow cooker you can have the luxury of a personal chef with one simple kitchen appliance!
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