There is one kitchen appliance that’s found in nearly 80% of all kitchens. It provides a very easy way to cook healthy, low-fat foods. I am referring to the slow cooker. What temperature does a slow cooker provide? How does it work?
Even restaurants and small food businesses have discovered the wonders of slow cookers. Pulled pork, pulled beef patties to very soft lamb shoulder, you won’t be able to resist getting one. On the streets are more food trucks than ever serving tasty burgers with slow-cooked meats like pulled pork or pulled beef.
More than recipes, slow cookers are the secret to sumptuous meals.
Slow cookers simmer the foods for long hours to extract all the refined flavors of each ingredient. It is the reason why it’s called a slow cooker. It is meant to cook food at a low-temperature setting, rather than a high one. So, what temperatures do slow cookers provide?
What temperature does a slow cooker provide?
Slow cookers cook food at a consistent temperature of 175 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This is enough to reach a safe internal temperature to kills off pathogens that could cause foodborne illness when cooking meat, poultry or certain seafood.
This low temperature cooks food uniquely and brings tasty flavor from each ingredient.
Some slow cookers automatically shift to a warming temperature of 160 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit after the food is cooked.
What temperature does a slow cooker need for a specific length of time?
For a dish that takes 15-30 minutes, cook it in the slow cooker for 1-2 hours on a high-temperature setting or 4-6 hours on low. For a dish that takes 30 minutes to 1 hour to cook, cook it in the slow cooker for 2 -3 hours on high or 5 – 7 hours on low.
You may also use a slow cooker instead of a pressure cooker. For recipes that take 1 – 2 hours to cook, use a slow cooker and cook it for 3 -4 hours on a high setting or 6 – 8 hours on a low setting. For a 2- 4-hour standard recipe, cook it for 4 – 6 hours on a high setting or 8 – 12 hours on low.
The secret to successful slow cooking is to consistently follow the temperature and know the useful tips on cooking recipes using a slow cooker. You don’t have to be a chef to come up with sumptuous, healthy meals.
What is the design of a slow cooker?
Basically, a slow cooker has an oval-shaped pot with a glass lid to secure a tight seal. The pot is contained in a metal housing that consists of the heating element.
The pot, also called crock, serves both as a container and heat reservoir. It usually has a volume size of 500 mL and often comes with a maximum liquid level to prevent unrestrained heating.
Using a slow cooker for beginners
If you have just bought your first slow cooker, you might get excited about using it. But do you know how to operate it?
How to identify what temperature the slow cooker needs to cook a specific recipe? Here are some tips for using slow cookers that you should know:
Prepare everything at night
Mornings are usually the busy time of the day. So, it is wiser to prepare the ingredients the night before. Put everything into the crockpot, cover, and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
In the morning, take it out from the fridge and let it stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before you switch on the slow cooker.
Cook cheaper cuts
Slow cookers can cook more affordable cuts of meat such as pork shoulder, beef brisket, chicken thighs, and lamb shoulder.
You can also add less meat because slow cooking extracts a meaty flavor that affects the entire recipe. Add more vegetables for a more nutritious meal.
Put less liquid
The liquid will not evaporate from the slow cooker’s tightly sealed pot. You should use a smaller amount of liquid, enough to cover the veggies and meat. Lessen the standard recipe’s liquid to approximately 1/3 in a crockpot.
Keep the temperature consistent
Sometimes, you run out of time so there’s a tendency that you increase the temperature to speed up the cooking process. This does not work for foods meant to be cooked at a very low temperature.
A low, gentle temperature setting brings out the flavor of the recipe. Keep the temperature consistent to ensure the sumptuous flavor dish you want to achieve.
Don’t check
You do not need to constantly check on the food which is being cooked in the slow cooker. The slow cooker will do everything; plus, opening the lid will discharge the heat and it will affect the cooking time and process.
A slow cooker is a great cooking appliance that helps you cook delicious, healthy meals without taking much of your time and effort. If you don’t have a quality slow cooker yet then it is about time to get one and start cooking delicious meals.