Become an Expert Chef Easy With the Use of a Slow Cooker

Slow cookers are a super domestic device to have in the home. Not only does it save time, it also prepares super, well-cooked, great tasting meals. There are some who have not used a slow cooker however, and for those few who haven’t, here is some practical information.

Some will actually be skeptical of the slow cooker’s safety, as it must be left running for quite a significant amount of time. So, if your concern was about safety, the answer is no worries, the slow cooker is not dangerous. The slow cooker stews at a low temperature, usually around 170 to 280 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, the electricity consumed from a slow cooker is significantly lesser than if you used your conventional over.

One of the great things about cooking food at this low of temperature is that when cooking non-prime meat cuts they become just as nice as cooking the high priced prime cuts the conventional way. Also in terms of safety when it comes to the food, the direct heat, the time it takes to prepare your dishes, and the steam that is locked inside the tight-lidded pot destroys the harmful bacteria in the food.

Now, getting to the cooking procedures. As is usual when preparing any kind of food, one should start with a clean work space and clean tool. Clean your hands thoroughly before handling any food and keep your meats in the fridge until such the moment that it needs to be added. Bacteria multiplies at a fast rate at room temperature so ensure that the slow cooker is preheated a little before combining the meat to your dish from the fridge. You may out the veggies ahead of the meat as they mostly cook not as fast as than meats. It is important to note though that meats must be thawed out prior to being put in a slow cooker for best results.

Ideally meals that should be cooked in a slow cooker are those that are moist such as soups, stews or pot roasts so they will not dry out. Also remember that a big slow cooker should not be used to handle single servings of food or they will risk being overcooked. A cooker ideally should be filled no less than half of the basin capacity, but no more than 2/3. While running avoid opening the cooker as much as possible, only doing it to determine if it is done, or to stir the dish. Opening the lid brings down the temperature wuickly and more than likely affect the doneness of the food.

When deciding on the cooking setting to choose on your slow cooker, one has to take into consideration the length of time that you are going to be cooking it. For tough meat cuts, a greaterlonger preparation time utilizing a low setting is more desirable. However a helpful tip is to put the setting at max for the first hour, then set it to low for the remaining hours. If for some reason the power shuts off half way through cooking the dish, immediately finish cooking it on your stove. If it has been at room temperature for a bit of time 1/2 done, the meal might be safer to just toss this batch away and begin again.

after you have finished a successful dish, transfer the food at once. Remove the basin, clean thoroughly, and ensure that the basin is dry before storing.

Article Source: http://www.article-voip.com

Peter Garant is a expert commercial and homechef and consultant for a major hospitality company representing international businesses and is the web master of a network of slow cooking Internet sites and focusing here on slow cookers for new chefs. These Internet sites concentrate on both food preperation and cooking advice and are designed for owners of all levels from novice to seasoned pro on slow cookers covering all aspects of these cooking machines.

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Home and Family Articles Via RSS!

Additional Articles From - Home | Z-a Articles | Home And Family

	Print This Article
	Post Comment
	Add To Favorites
	Email to Friends
	Ezine Ready

Submit Articles
Member Login
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds

About Us
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service

[SAPE ADS]