10 Essential Tips for Slow Cooking

Slow cooking is a technique that has been used for centuries, but it is still as popular as ever. Many people prefer slow-cooked meals because the meals are healthier, cheaper, and more delicious. So, if you are someone who enjoys cooking or wants to start it and would like to know more about the slow cooking technique, then you will enjoy these slow cooker tips.

The following tips can help you get the most out of your slow cooking and make delicious meals.

1. Plan in Advance

Slow cooking is time-consuming, and you should have everything ready to ensure you get everything right. You don’t want to be halfway through the cooking process and realize you didn’t have the right ingredients or recipe. So please plan and set aside the time to do it right.

By planning early and getting all the ingredients you need ready, you are guaranteed to enjoy the cooking process and cooking delicious meals. Therefore, always plan your slow cooking.

2. Cook Food on Low Flame

Cooking food for long durations can be a hassle since you have to stand there and stir it to prevent burning or drying out the food. But you can make slow cooking more convenient by doing it on a low flame. 

Cooking food on low flame during slow cooking prevents food from burning. The food will cook evenly, and it will be a lot more convenient to make. You won’t as easily burn the food and quickly cook it more smoothly even when cooking a big batch.

3. Thaw Your Frozen Ingredients

You should put frozen ingredients into a slow cooker. Usually, the internal temperature of the meat rises slowly. Also, slow cooking ingredients taken straight from the freezer will require more cooking time, and the meat will cook unevenly. 

Therefore thaw the ingredients taken from the freezer before putting them into a slow cooker. 

4. Brown the Meat Using Less Amount of Oil 

While slow cooking may imply putting ingredients in the slow cooker and leaving them to cook, you need to prepare them before slowly cooking them. Browning meat is one of the crucial steps to enhance the taste of the meals. Always use a little oil to brown your meat before putting it into a slow cooker. 

5. Cook the Food With the Lid Closed

Iessentialtant to close the lid while slow cooking to ensure that your food stays moist and tasty. The lid traps steam inside, which allows the food to moisten. 

It’s not just necessary to have the lid on, but it’s also vital not to lift it while it’s cooking. Notably, it’s unnecessary to check food every few minutes, especially when the cooker has a steam release. 

6. Avoid Stirring Your Food While Cooking

Slow cooking is a great time-saving tool when it comes to preparing food. Stirring your food can disrupt the delicious way it’s been cooked and how the ingredients have been combined. If you want to avoid bland food and unappetizing meals, you should minimize stirring it. 

Stirring can distribute the heat unevenly, leading to burning and sticking. Also, frequent stirring will release more moisture from the food, leading to mushy mixed dishes. While it’s tempting to stir a pot of food when it’s slow cooking, you should avoid touching it as much as possible.

7. Add Chopped Veggies While Cooking

Vegetables are a great ingredient to add to slow cooking meals because they add flavor, color, and texture. Also, they create nutritional value and provide minerals beneficial to your health and well-being. 

However, you should not serve the vegetables with the meal, especially when they are overcooked. You can use puree them or serve them with freshly cooked vegetables.

Therefore, next time don’t hesitate to add vegetables to your meals in slow cooking. 

8. Add Fresh Herbs or Spices After Cooking

Adding herbs and spices too early can make them lose flavor. Although it’s a good idea to add the herbs and spices early, the fresh herbs tend to become mushy and lose flavor when cooked for long. 

For the best results, add the fresh herbs and spices during the last hour of slow cooking. 

9. Fill Two-Thirds of the Slow Cooker Only

Overfilling the slow cooker with ingredients and liquid can be unsafe or create a mess. To ensure your meal cook nicely and evenly, you should never fill the slow cooker beyond the full mark. 

If the slow cooker does not have the full mark, you should always ensure the slow cooker is two-thirds full and not beyond that. 

10. Reduce the Liquid You Use by a Third

When cooking food in a slow cooker, the food does not lose a lot of moisture since the oven is tightly closed using a lid. 

To ensure you use the right amount of liquid, always reduce the normal liquid by a third. Notably, the liquid should slightly cover the food ingredients.   

Slow Cooking Recipes

My favorite slow-cooked foods are soups, stews, and other chunky dishes. You can try the following slow cooking recipes.

1. Slow Cooker Cannellini Bean Soup With Ham

2. Slow-Cooked Garlic Balsamic Pork Loin Roast

3. Slow Cooker Turkey Legs

4. Moroccan Inspired Slow Cooked Turkey Breast

Conclusion

If you love homemade food but don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen, you can apply the above tips to make your slow cooking process convenient.

Slow cooking is always an excellent way to make great meals at any convenient time. It’s a perfect cooking method for you when you don’t have much time to cook during the week.