wow am i magic or what? hahahaha glad they are a help to you Delma ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sugarsyl" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2007 1:29 PM Subject: [RecipesAndMore] Re: Basic Crockpot cooking tips
> > Delma, > you are a sweetiheart, thanks for sending this, and wow, just in perfect > timing. > I just got 2 new crockpots, and I really never knew the "basics" so thanks > Syl > > When we are grateful for the good we already have, > we attract more good into our life. > On the other hand, when we are ungrateful, we tend to shut ourselves off > from the good we might otherwise experience. > -Sylvia > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "delma bliss" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]>; "VIPKitchen" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "JanetsKitchen" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "world_recipes" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "CatsRecipes" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2007 10:23 AM > Subject: [RecipesAndMore] Basic Crockpot cooking tips > > >> >> >> Basic Crock-Pot Cooking Tips >> >> >> When purchasing a crock-pot, look for one with a removable >> bowl. They are much easier to clean. If you have a nonremovable bowl, >> however, all is not lost! Line your crock-pot with a crock-pot >> cooking bag liner and you'll have no cleanup at all. Spray the >> inside of the bowl with cooking spray before you fill it to make >> cleanup easier. I also use the crock-pot bag liners on my removable >> crock-pot bowl just so there is little or no cleanup at all. >> >> Only fill the crock-pot one half to two thirds full >> (Leave about 2 inches from the top). The foods will not cook >> properly if the appliance is filled to the brim. If the food >> and liquid level is lower, the foods will cook too quickly. >> >> Foods cooked on the bottom of the slow cooker cook faster >> and will be moister because they are immersed in the simmering >> liquid (Meats and fresh vegetables should be place in the bottom >> for thorough cooking). >> >> >> Remove skin from poultry, and trim excess fat from meats. >> Fats will melt with long cooking times, and will add a greasy >> texture to the finished dish. Fatty foods will also cook too quickly. >> >> You can thicken the juices and concentrate flavors by >> removing the lid and cooking on HIGH for the last half hour >> of cooking time. >> >> 140 degrees is the temperature the food needs to reach as >> quickly as possible. If you are at home during the cooking times, >> test the food temperature after four hours of cooking on >> LOW - the temp should be at least 140 degrees. If it isn't, >> there's a problem with your crock-pot and you should get a new one. >> >> For food safety reasons, it's a good idea to cook on HIGH >> for the first hour to quickly bring the temperature up to 140 >> degrees. Then turn the dial to LOW and finish cooking. >> >> The LOW setting is about 200 degrees, and the HIGH setting >> is about 300 degrees. Note that both of these temps are well >> above the minimum safe temperature of 140 degrees. >> >> Experts recommend you do not put frozen foods in the >> crock-pot. All foods should be defrosted before cooking so >> the food temperature can reach 140 degrees as soon as possible. >> >> Most meats require 8 hours of cooking on LOW. Use cheaper >> cuts of meat - not only do you save money, but these meats work >> better in the slow cooker. Cheaper cuts of meat have less fat, >> which makes them more suited to crock-pot cooking. Moist, long >> cooking times result in very tender meats. >> >> Ground meats should be cooked in a skillet before cooking >> in the crock-pot. >> >> Seafood should be added during the last hour of cooking time, >> or it will overcook and have a rubbery texture. >> >> Large pieces of meat can be browned before cooking in the >> crock-pot, but this step isn't necessary. Browning adds color >> and helps in flavor development. >> >> One hour on HIGH is equal to two hours on LOW. >> >> Cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce tend to become bitter >> if cooked for long periods of time. Use small amounts and add >> toward the end of the cooking time. >> >> Add tender vegetables like tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini >> during the last 45 minutes of cooking time so they don't overcook >> and turn mushy. >> >> Dairy products should be added during the last 30 minutes of >> cooking time, unless the recipes states otherwise. >> >> Liquids do not boil away in the crock-pot, so if you are >> making a recipe that wasn't specifically developed for the crock-pot, >> reduce the liquid by 1/3 to 1/2 unless you are cooking rice >> or making soup. >> >> Remove cooked food from the crock-pot or liner before storage. >> Because the liner is made of such thick material, the food won't >> cool down quickly enough to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. >> >> Stir in spices for the last hour of cooking. They will lose >> flavor if cooked with the rest of the ingredients for the long >> cooking period. Follow the layering instructions carefully. >> Vegetables do not cook as quickly as meat, so they should be >> placed in the bottom of the appliance. >> >> Don't lift the lid to stir, especially if you are cooking >> on the low setting. Each time you lift the lid, enough heat will >> escape that the cooking time should be extended by 20 minutes >> to half an hour. To check progress without lifting the lid, >> spin the cover until the condensation falls off. Then it's easy >> to see inside. >> >> Put the unpeeled onion in the freezer and leave it there >> for about ten minutes. Remove the onion from the freezer and >> peel it. The onion can now be sliced, chopped, or minced >> without tears. >> >> Burn a candle on the counter near where you're cutting >> the onion. It'll burn off the fumes that cause eye irritation. >> A scented candle also smells better than raw, chopped onion! >> >> Delma >> >> > >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.17.35/680 - Release Date: >> 2/10/2007 >> 9:15 PM >> >> > > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.17.35/680 - Release Date: 2/10/2007 > 9:15 PM > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
