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Using the Slow Cooker for Easy Meals
By Patrice Powers-Barker, OSU Extension, Lucas County
The Truth Contributor
Although a slow cooker appliance can be used throughout the
year, wintertime is often the time people think to use them
the most. Fall is also great time to use the slow cooker
(also known as a crock pot) to help make easy, healthy and
economical dishes.
For many recipes, food ingredients can be put in the crock
and it cooks during the day without any other attention.
It’s simple to prepare recipes all in one step. Many slow
cooker recipes can cook for eight to 10 hours. The
exceptions to this rule are milk products and some tender
vegetables and herbs. They should not cook for many hours
and should be added only during the last hour of cooking.
Using a slow cooker to prepare recipes can be a good value.
First, it’s economical to operate. Using a low wattage of
electricity over a long time is less expensive than using
high wattage for a short time.
In addition to using less energy, the slow cooker won’t add
extra heat to the kitchen like the stove during these final
days of summer and early warm autumn weather. Another
advantage of cooking food slowly helps keep it tender. This
allows for the use of less expensive cuts of meat that are
lower in fat because slow cooking tenderizes the meat.
Liquids do not boil away as they do on the stovetop and slow
cooking keeps more of the natural juices and flavors of
foods. Lastly, having a healthy home-cooked meal can limit
the need for picking up food at a restaurant, which in turn
can help with the household food budget.
Cooking food in the slow cooker can be tasty and safe. Keep
these tips in mind:
-
Completely thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator before
cooking it in the slow cooker. The slow cooker is great
for cooking meals all day but it will not reach a high
enough temperature fast enough for frozen meat.
-
Do not fill food to the very top of the slow cooker.
When adding ingredients, only fill the crock pot half
way or three fourths of the way full.
-
Do not leave cooked food to cool down in the slow
cooker. Once you turn it off and eat the meal, place
left-over food in the refrigerator.
-
Don’t use the slow cooker for reheating food. You can
use the slow cooker to keep food warm on a buffet table
but for reheating food, use the stove or microwave.
-
Most slow cookers have clear lids so you can see the
food while it’s cooking. Every time you lift the lid,
you have to add an additional 15 -30 minutes of cooking
time.
-
Spray with cooking spray for ease of cleaning or look
for coupons or sales on slow cooker liners which are
placed in the crock before the food and can be thrown
away when done cooking.
While the slower cooker is a great option for less expensive
cuts of meat, don’t forget, the slow cooker can also be used
for soups, side dishes including vegetables and fruits and
even overnight for hot breakfast options. When deciding what
to prepare in the slow cooker, use the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans and the MyPlate icon. As you try new recipes,
keep the following food preparation tips in mind for quick,
healthy meals. (1) How can you add more vegetables to your
day? (2) Are you preparing and eating lean meats? (3) If the
recipe calls for canned soup, look for a low-sodium variety.
(4) Remove the skin from poultry before cooking in order to
reduce the amount of fat in the recipe.
Ready to slow-cook some winter squash? The directions listed
here are for butternut squash but the same steps can be used
for other winter squash such as acorn squash, spaghetti
squash, pumpkins and others that have a hard shell to cut.
Instructions: Take one winter squash and wash the outside
with clean running water. Place it in the slow cooker and
cook until soft and easily pierced with a fork. It will
take about four-to-six hours on high or six-to-eight hours
on low. Remove from slow cooker and allow to cool for about
15 minutes.
When cool enough to handle, slice it in half with a knife
and scoop out the seeds. Use a large spoon to scoop out the
cooked squash from the peel. Enjoy as a side dish or use as
the main ingredient for Butternut Squash Soup. |
