make using a slow cooker more enjoyable and give you better results. If you’ve never used a slow cooker before, these tips will prove to be very helpful. This is the easiest form of cooking you’ll ever do, but it doesn’t hurt to know a bit before you begin.
The Basics of a Slow Cooker Pantry
You can use a slow cooker for just about any meal. It’s great to have when you know you’ll have a busy day and just want to have dinner ready when you get home.
If you want to be able to put together some dishes fast, having the right ingredients available will be a big time saver. Keep these items on hand, and you’ll be able to put together a delicious meal at a moment’s notice.
Refrigerated Items
Unsalted butter
Heavy cream
Cheese
Whole milk
Fruit
Fresh lemons, oranges, and limes
Fresh herbs to add at the end of cooking
Frozen Items*
Meats, such as frozen chicken breasts, roasts, and pork chops
An assortment of fruits and vegetables
* Do not put any frozen food in your cooker, including vegetables. They will reduce the temperature of the cooker and add extra moisture. Always thaw these ingredients before use.
Canned Goods
Beans
Tomatoes
Tomato paste
Chicken, beef, and vegetable broth
Canned chilies
Prepared salsa
Oil/Vinegar/Flavoring
Vegetable oil, for sautéing foods when you don’t want to add a lot of flavor
Olive oil, for adding a depth of flavor to certain dishes
Sesame oil, for Asian dishes
Balsamic vinegar
Apple cider vinegar
Red wine vinegar
Soy sauce
Mustard
Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce
Starches
Hard durum wheat pastas, which are best for the slow cooker
Brown, white, wild, arborio, and jasmine rices
Grains such as barley, bulgur, and millet
Dried beans, peas and lentils
Dried Herbs and Spices
Allspice
Basil
Bay leaves (always remove these before serving, as they can be a choking hazard)
Cayenne pepper
Chili powder
Cinnamon (both ground and whole sticks)
Cloves
Coriander
Cumin (ground)
Curry powder
Fennel seeds
Herbs de Provence
Jerk seasoning
Marjoram
Powdered mustard
Nutmeg
Oregano
Paprika
Rosemary
Saffron (it’s expensive, but a little goes a long way)
Sage
Thyme
Cooking Methods
You’ll find that while you can cook almost anything in a slow cooker, some foods work better than others. The following foods can be put in the cooker and will be tender and delicious after an eight-hour slow braise:
Tough cuts of meat such as whole chuck roasts, pork roasts, chicken breasts and thighs, lamb, and veal
Hearty vegetables including potatoes, carrots, turnips, beets, and celery
Greens including spinach, kale, collards, and mustard greens
Cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower
Beans and lentils
Some foods will not be able to withstand that much cooking. The following list contains foods that either need a much shorter cooking time or must be added near the end of the cycle:
Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and sour cream, all of which should be added just before serving or they are likely to curdle. Some dairy products may be added in the beginning but cooked on the low setting.
Fresh herbs, which should be added in the last 15 minutes of cook time, with the exception of rosemary, which can be added at the beginning.
Seafood and shellfish, which will overcook if left for too long and will become chewy and rubbery.
The key to excellent results in your slow cooker is to experiment and use common sense. By doing so, you’ll soon be creating amazing recipes on your own, and your slow cooker will become one of your favorite cooking appliances.
Before You Begin
Slow cookers come in a variety of sizes, and, yes, size does matter. If you don’t already have one, you should ask yourself how many people you are going to feed on a regular basis, and buy accordingly. For the best results, you do not want to fill the pot less than half or more than three-quarters full. This means if you buy an extra-large pot, you’ll be making extra-large amounts of food. If you’re not sure what capacity to get, or you think you will alternate the amount of food
