Slow Cookers are a Cook’s Best Friend

Pin It

Tweet

Slow Cookers are a Cook’s Best Friend

By The Paula Deen Test Kitchen

More leisure time and a homemade meal? Save money on groceries, use less electricity, and enjoy better flavor? You bet! And with a slow cooker, you don’t even have to be there while your dinner cooks.

With the invention of the original Crock-Pot® in the 1970s, we’ve been able to layer ingredients in our slow cookers, leave the house for work or play, and come home, hours later, to an inviting aroma-filled house and evening meal. Rival still manufactures the Crock-Pot®, but many other manufacturers are in the game with competitive models. The “crockpot” moniker has become an icon for any slow cooker.

These days, choices are not limited to 2-temperature manual units; they also come programmable, with multiple time and temperature settings, countdown timers, built-in thermometers, and automatic temperature shifts to warm in case you are late getting home. There are slow cooker sizes and settings to fit your family’s individual needs.

Though shape is not necessarily a deal breaker when purchasing, it is a consideration. A money-saving attribute of slow cooking is that tougher, less expensive meats are rendered meltingly tender and juicy. Larger roasts and whole chickens fit better into an oval-shaped model and will cook more evenly, although you can trim them to fit into a round one.

It’s easy to adapt your favorite oven or stovetop recipes to slow cooker cooking. Regardless of yield, if your dish normally cooks in 15 to 30 minutes, you can count on 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours cooking in a slow cooker on High power or 4 to 6 hours on Low. If it takes 35 to 45 minutes, you should allow 2 to 3 hours on High power or 6 to 8 hours on Low. Main dishes like roasts and stews that cook up to 3 hours will take 4 to 5 hours on High or more than 8 hours on Low. For instance, Sweet Merlot Beef Stew should cook in about 4 hours on High or 8 to 10 hours on low; after you brown the meat, add everything to the slow cooker for the total cooking time, including the onions and mushrooms.

Other tips for successful recipe conversion:

*To eliminate excess fat, remove skin from poultry and trim excess fat from meats before cooking. Pre-brown meats, and drain before adding to the crockpot, especially ground meats.

*Brown chops and roasts to caramelize the outsides for richer flavor and attractive appearance. For Low Country Smothered Pork Chops, prepare the chops as directed and layer in the cooker with the strips of green pepper, onion, garlic, half of the broth, and Worcestershire. Add more broth as needed to thin the gravy.

*Vegetables, especially roots like potatoes, rutabagas, and carrots, cook more slowly than meats, so cut pieces uniformly and add them at the beginning. (It can take 8 to 10 hours on Low for a “baked” potato to cook until tender!) Italian Chicken and Vegetable Soup is a perfect example; just put all the ingredients into the slow cooker, reserving half a can of broth to add at the end of cooking, if necessary. Let it cook 2 to 2 1/2 hours on High or 4 to 6 hours on Low.

*Most stews, soups, and other braised dishes require less liquid. If you end up with too much, pour it into a saucepan and reduce it until flavorful and thickened. If you need more liquid, it can be added at the end of the cooking time.

*Cheese, milk, cream, and other dairy: Add dairy products close to the end of cooking.

*Uncooked rice, however, requires standard liquid amounts. It cooks fast, so add it to the slow cooker during the last hour of cooking on High or 2 hours on Low. It is better to cook pasta separately and add it before serving.

*Most slow cooker liners are removable, allowing you to fill it up to a day before cooking. Remove the stone liner and assemble the casserole in it; cover and refrigerate until you are ready to cook. You can prepare Chicken and Rice Casserole ahead and cook it 1 1/2 to 2 hours on High or 4 to 6 hours on Low or until it is hot, stirring in cheese during the last hour of cooking.

*Spices tend to loose their power during long, slow cooking; be ready to re-season towards the end.

More Delicious Paula Deen Slow Cooker Recipes to Try:

Slow Cooker Stuffed Green Peppers

Slow Cooker Apple Onion Soup with Cinnamon Cheese Toast

Slow Cooker Smoked Sausage Sauerkraut Soup

Slow Cooker Gingerbread Spoon Cake

Slow Cooker Pulled Pickle Beef Sandwiches

Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs

Slow Cooker Cheese Stuffed Meatballs and Sauce

Reader Comments:

Paula, All of your creations are A#1. Love ya.

By Maggie Jordan on September 08, 2012

Love Your Slow Cooker Recipes

By Emma HuNT on September 08, 2012

I like paula,she knows her stuff!!!

By Anonymous on September 08, 2012

What is the recipe of whats cooking in the picture above?

By Anonymous on September 08, 2012

I use my slow cooker to make soups from scratch and my west bend slow cooker does it very well. I gave some to the neighbors and my Dad and he said it was better than Campbells.

By Patty B. Allen on October 11, 2011

Love you Paula Deen !!!!

By Tamara milner on October 11, 2011

Where is the recipe for the articles main picture? That stew looks sooo good.

By Tricia Cooper on September 30, 2011

i have a double choc cake how do i share? i am in north georgia mt

By Anonymous on September 30, 2011

Dear Paulh, Me and my parents went to your restrant back in 2005 and we absolutly love your ho cakes. My mother got your book and cooks out of it often. When we went to savana we met you and your sons at the lady and sons restrant and i think you boys are absolutly gorgous theay take after ther mother Your fan Kimberly Emmons

By kimberly emmons on September 30, 2011

I would like to purchase a large slow cooker but don't know which brand to buy or what to choose. Any suggestions? Thank you.

By Linda M. on September 20, 2011

My husband has a gluten sensitivity so I am wondering if you ever adapt you recipes for gluten free cooking? Thank you Cathy Auen

By Cathy auen on January 25, 2011

Paula...I have a great slow cooker 5 bean meal I would like to send you. How can I forward this to you!

By Bridget Isle on January 17, 2011

I'm so excited to see ya in the Rose Parade. Your the BEST and you deserve it. I'll be on the side lines on Colorado Bl routing for ya.

By Karla on December 30, 2010

Hi everybody! Happy New Yr and also of course Merry Christmas. I feel a little bit tardy with the greetings i am sorry about it. Simply want to commend the writer of the website with respect of the really great work done. I will probably visit this web-site much more regularly. I will be still in college and I ‘m very busy drafting term papers. Web-sites similar to your own support me find a lot of valuable guidelines on what I will write. I study a lot of data on line lest I
Buy Essay

All In all, my genuine greetings to you and all the finest.

Best regards yours,

Josh

By SalmaErax on January 06, 2012

ICE BABES is an Importer, Manufacturer and Wholesaler of top quality ladies clothing based in the East End of London. Our aim is to bring you value and quality with fast delivery, backed up with a reliable, knowledgeable & friendly service.

By Wholesale clothing on December 05, 2011

jkXy89 pwifoyesckht, bkgazobzibop, [link=http://tinoncyzmrgh.com/]tinoncyzmrgh[/link], http://markgvfyogcz.com/

By fpfxjvxti on November 07, 2011

Hah nice cook paula

By Zikovitch on October 23, 2011

replica Cartier love bracelets

By replica Cartier love bracelets on October 21, 2011

Good!
click:Burberry bags for sale

By Burberry bags for sale on October 21, 2011

Good!
click:Burberry bags on sale

By Burberry bags on sale on October 17, 2011

Good!
click:Cartier love

By Lily on October 17, 2011

By icebabes on October 15, 2011

Slow cooking is normally identified with big hearty dishes like stews etc. Nice to see some fresh dishes. slow cooking is found in alot of cultures. A traditional moroccon slow cooker is called a tagine.

By Oven Cleaning on December 11, 2010

Ms Paula,
Everywhere I go I have people tell me that I remind them of you. The way I look, the way I dress, etc. From NC and I cant pull off your accent. If I ever get the chance to be on the show that makes ladies over to look like a celeb, Im going to beg them to have me favor you more. Learning more and more from your cooking hints and I need the help. Continue in success. Respectfully Nancy.

By Nancy Adams on October 27, 2010

i also love this website. i use it for all my recipe questions. for Xmas my daughter bought me the set of red pots and pans, i truly love thisset of pans. the first set since i was married 23 years ago! i have never met you paula, but would love to. so if you are ever in the spanaway, wa. area come on by and see me!!

By traci long on October 04, 2010

I love this website, I’ve found so many useful, delicious recipes. I have EVERY issue of the Paula Magazine and EVERY cookbook you’ve written, and I think I have every special magazine you have come out with. For Christmas my husband surprised me with a set of Paula Deen Cookware and I must admit it’s the best cookware ever. I previously had Magnalite that I have used 39 years and never thought I’d like any other kind but PAULA YOU PROVED ME WRONG. I accidently burned some dried beans in one of the pots and I mean burned them bad. I just knew my pot was ruined. Imagine my surprise when I put water in the pot, made one (yes one) swish with a paper towel and the whole burned mess came out of the pot…..I’M WAS AMAZED. PAULA, YOU HAVE HAVE IT GOING ON GIRL!!!! Love You, Michael, your boys and that precious grandson. Shirley Burchett of Caddo Mills, Texas

By Shirley Burchett on August 17, 2010

Love her and just found this site and you can bet I will be looking forward to seeing the site everyday…I am a diabetic and wish she could cook and bake more things for us to see..love Judy

By Judy Stoneburner on July 26, 2010

Quite some time ago I caught the end of your show with pulled pork sandwiches. I can only remember a few ingredients (apple juice, cider vinegar, liquid smoke), so I need more of a complete recipe before trying it!

Thanks!

By Dianna Myers on June 19, 2010

I am interested in getting the recipe of a pot roast that was shown on your tv show concerning slow-cooker recipes. I believe it was made with a bottom round roast and had lots of onion, carrots, possibly garlic, and was possibly covered with tomato soup or something else. Could you give me some possibilities? Thanks so much!

By nancy.judas on May 06, 2010

Hey Jeni and Christine! The fabulous dish towels were found on Etsy. Handmade by a wonderful girl named Angela Pingle. Paula loved them so Angela sent us a bunch for the show and for photos. You can reach her through her etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/TweedledeeDesigns

Thank you so much for noticing!
Libbie Summers, Paula Deen Food Editor

By Libbie Summers on February 05, 2010

Paula,
I, too, love that little dish towel! I am with Jeni from Illinois…where can we get those?
Thanks!

By Christine English on February 05, 2010

Paula,
Where did you get the dish towel in the slow cooker picture (orange and brown with little brown bird)? I have to have one of those - it matches perfectly with my kitchen!
Thanks!

By jeni anderson on February 05, 2010

Hey Paula and fans -
For this slow cooker recipe section - you should really have included the mac and cheese recipe whihc is located elsewhere on your site - I have not personally made it *yet* - but from the reviews - it sounds incredible.

Also - just a note - I saw Miss Paula on Oprah and having never watched her show (I don’t have cable - only basic channels) I was touched by her warm, genuine, down to earth manner and her great sense of humor. Best wishes to you and thanks for all the great recipes.
t.

By Tammie T. McConnell on January 31, 2010

Pauladeen.com

Slow Cookers are a Cook’s Best Friend