16 Slow Cooker Hacks, Tricks And Tips
Slow cookers are genius bits of kit. They make delicious stews, hearty pasta dishes and flavourful soups, and all without any (well, not much) mess and hassle, as you can sling your ingredients in, set the timer, and get on with your life.
But as well as giving dishes extra flavour through low, slow cooking, slow cookers (also known as crockpots) can do so much more. So, here are 16 slow cooker hacks, tips and tricks to take you from someone who uses their slow cooker occasionally to a goddamn slow cooking wizard.
1. Cheaper cuts of meat can be cooked in a slow cooker with great results, as cheaper can often mean tougher. Save yourself some money by picking cuts such as shin of beef, oxtail or lamb shanks as these will all really benefit from having a low, slow cooking time.
2. Speaking of meat, be sure to trim as much fat off your meat as possible to avoid a layer of oil floating on the top of your dish. No one wants that.
3. Always brown your meat first as you'll get a fuller flavour that way.
4. And did you know you can cook a whole chicken, a joint of beef, a pork roast and even a ham in a slow cooker? Well you can, so...
5. When using your slow cooker for baking, be sure to put a clean tea towel or a few pieces of kitchen roll between your bake and the lid, as these will soak up excess moisture and stop your cake or bread from going soggy.
6. Speaking of cakes... slow cookers do indeed make great puddings. Fact! So, how about whipping up a slow cooker s'mores cake or a slow cooker chop chip cookie?
7. And to wash it down, slow cooker hot chocolate. This one even has red wine in it. Praise be!
8. Remember to always halve the amount of liquid you're using when converting a recipe for slow cooker use. This is due to the fact that liquids will not reduce in a slow cooker like they would usually when cooked on a hob.
9. Avoid taking the lid off during cooking as slow cookers can lose heat quickly and will take a while to return to the correct cooking temperature after the lid has been removed. You shouldn't need to do this as stirring is rarely required when using a slow cooker.
10. But, of course, if your dish is too liquid-y, take the lid off and continue to cook like that. This will reduce some of the liquid and thicken things up nicely.
11. A great use for a slow cooker is making porridge overnight. Waking up to the smell of this delicious blueberry porridge in the morning might actually make getting out of bed bearable.
12. Always add dairy products like cream or cheese to your slow cooker towards the end of the cooking time, otherwise they'll curdle.
13. It's also advisable to add cooked foods like pasta and beans, plus soft vegetables, towards the end so they don't break down and become mushy.
14. It's always best to only fill your slow cooker up two-thirds of the way, so your food has plenty of room to cook.
15. Forget food for a minute (I know it's hard...), but have you ever thought of using your slow cooker as a humidifier? Well you should. Simply fill it with water and put it on high with the lid off, and after an hour or so it humidify your room. Good for when you have a cold and a dry cough.
16. And finally, tell me you've tried this slow cooker lasagne recipe.
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