(For instance, chicken breasts will dry out pretty quickly while a whole chicken will stay very moist.) If you’re cooking a leaner cut, you can avoid it coming out tough and dry by choosing a large cut that’s harder to dry out. Slow cookers pair best with larger, fattier cuts of meat, because the “low and slow” cooking method melts the fat an helps keep the cut moist and delicious. Removing the lid will allow some of the water to evaporate, concentrating and thickening the soup or sauce for a thicker finished product. On the other hand, if your slow cooker creation is looking a little runny, you may want to remove the lid. Unless your recipe instructs you to stir during the cooking process, keep your hands off that lid! A lot of heat escapes from a slow cooker every time you remove the lid, and it can take up to 30 minutes to heat back up to where it was before you opened it. Searing meat at high temperatures creates caramelization on the surface, which will infuse your final dish with a deeper flavor than you’d be able to achieve otherwise. Sear Your Meatįor slow cooker recipes that call for meat, you can make the finished product more flavorful by searing the meat in a hot pan before putting it in in your slow cooker. ![]() You could also try sprinkling baking soda into the crock, pouring a bit of vinegar onto it, then giving everything a good scrub with warm, soapy water. You can erase the powdery mineral residue by wiping it with white vinegar. Erase White Residueĭespite your best cleaning efforts, the removable stone crock in your slow cooker may develop a stubborn white residue over time. Likewise, foods that are already cooked will break down quickly in your crockpot, so add cooked pasta, veggies, and beans towards to your crockpot near the end of the cooking process. If you’re adding cream or cheese to your crockpot recipe, add it toward the end of the cooking time to avoid any issues with curdling. Humidifiers can be a lifesaver in the winter, as the warm, dry air from your furnace can dry out your nasal passages and increase your chances of getting sick. Moisture will start to escape the crockpot after an hour or so and help to increase the humidity in the surrounding area. Use your crockpot as a humidifier by filling it with warm water and turning it on High. This is especially useful when you’re making things that will suffer from getting soggy, such as crockpot brownies or bread. ![]() Prevent Condensation DripsĬatch drips of condensation before they reach your food by placing a cloth or a thick paper towel under the closed lid of your slow cooker. This trick is great for melting chocolate, making salves, and more. Use your slow cooker as a double boiler by placing whatever you want to heat into a glass jar, placing the jar into the slow cooker, then pouring in a few inches of warm water. ![]() ![]() Now you can use your crockpot to cook or heat up two dips or soups! 2. Place a slow cooker liner over the top and push it down into the two cavities. Use tin foil to create a divider in the center of your crockpot. Continue Reading 10 Smart Slow Cooker Hacks (+ 4 Bonus Tips) 1. Cleaning with baking soda and vinegar can be really useful, but only if you know when it works and when it doesn't.
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