Tips

Here are some of my tips and hints for Crock Pot cooking!

• ALWAYS spray it first with PAM or any other cooking spray.  Always.  I've tried those slow cooker liners and just don't like them.  They don't fit properly and in my opinion, leave the food with a somewhat funky taste.
• When cooking a whole chicken, make some aluminum foil balls and place the chicken on top.  This elevates the chicken and you don't end up with it swimming in grease.
• Any recipe that calls for water, I usually replace with broth.  Just adds a better flavor I think.
• AuJus mix makes any beef dish taste a whole lot yummier.  Mix the packet in with beef broth and pour over a roast, cubed steak .... etc.
• Never open the slow cooker during the cooking time.  It's tempting, but just don't do it.  Unless of course the recipe calls for adding another ingredient at the end.
• Have a meat thermometer handy.  All brands of slow cookers cook differently.  Better safe than sorry.  Unless your slow cooker comes with a thermometer attached then obviously you don't need one.
• Rival brand is notorious for cooking fast.  I have three Rivals and one Hamilton Beach.  For recipes I make in a Rival I always cut down on the cooking time.
• When making a roast, brown it lightly on all sides in a frying pan first.  It helps, I think, to lock in the flavor.