Slow Cooker Tips & Tricks

After a long day of work, does preparing a big meal seem too time-consuming? Try a slow cooker. These convenient kitchen helpers are often used in the fall and winter, but they can be a great way to have a nice meal when schedules get hectic in the summer as well.

With the help of a slow cooker, you can be cooking great dinners with just a few minutes of prep time!

Here are a few things to keep in mind when cooking with a slower cooker:

The size of the slow cooker is important. Make sure you're using the right size slow cooker for the recipe. The slow cooker should be between 1/2 and 2/3 full.

Choose the right cut of meat. Cheaper, fattier cuts of meat work better in a slow cooker than lean meats. The heat helps them break down over several hours, resulting in juicy, tender meat.

Keep the lid on! It might be tempting to peek or stir, but opening the lid allows precious heat and steam to escape. This affects the cooking time and temperature dramatically.

Brown the meat. Cooking the meat before tossing it in the slow cooker will lend itself to better flavor.

So, next time you start to tell yourself you are too busy to cook, remember your slow cooker. You can prep the food the night before and just toss it in the slow cooker in the morning. Coming home to a great meal—and a house that smells like wonderful food—is something that can’t be beat!