| Have you ever been hungry for something special... | | | | If you are planning to make a chicken soup recipe, or |
| maybe a roast or a ham, for example... and then | | | | any other soup for that matter, add just enough liquid |
| figured out you just did not have time to cook it? | | | | to cover the rest of the ingredients. You can always |
| Unless they have a specific recipe for the crockpot, | | | | add more liquid later in the cooking process for a |
| most people never even think to use it. In reality, many | | | | thinner soup. For cream soups, hold off on the dairy |
| recipes for the oven or kettle can be adapted to the | | | | products until close to the end of your cooking time to |
| crockpot with delicious results. | | | | keep them from curdling. |
| While crockpots may vary slightly, generally the low | | | | Dried beans work well in the crockpot. Instead of |
| setting is about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The high | | | | spending time soaking them, cook them on low |
| setting is approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit. An | | | | overnight. Put your beans in the crockpot and cover |
| hour of cooking on the high setting is equivalent to two | | | | with water. Be sure to add a teaspoon of baking soda |
| - 2.5 hours on low. Many recipes that you find written | | | | to the water. In the morning, drain the water before |
| for crockpots suggest your food should cook for 8 to | | | | adding your softened beans to the other ingredients. |
| 10 hours on low. This is about how long most people | | | | Chili, bean soup, and other delicious meals can then |
| are gone to work or school. | | | | continue cooking in the crockpot. |
| Recipe Conversion Tips | | | | Some foods are too delicate for cooking over long |
| If you are thinking of trying your favorite recipe in your | | | | periods of time. Seafood, rice, pasta, some vegetables, |
| crockpot for the first time, there is a little advice you | | | | and dairy products are just a few. Do not add any of |
| may want to follow for the best results. When | | | | these ingredients until a couple of hours before serving |
| changing any recipe for the crockpot, you will want to | | | | if you are cooking on low or one hour before serving if |
| reduce your liquid. The crockpot does not let liquid | | | | you are cooking on high. If you really must use milk |
| evaporate like the oven, so you will want to reduce | | | | earlier in the cooking period, consider using evaporated |
| the amount you initially put in by about half. You will be | | | | milk. |
| surprised how much liquid is there when your dish is | | | | Browning of the meat is optional. If you choose to do |
| done. | | | | so before putting the meat in the crockpot, it will add a |
| Adjust your spices. Ground spices tend to lose flavor | | | | beautiful color to the surface. It also helps reduce the |
| with many hours of cooking, so wait to add them until | | | | fat content on some meats. If you do not have time |
| the last hour before serving. Whole spices, on the | | | | for it however, browning is not necessary to have a |
| other hand, tend to become intensified in the crockpot. | | | | delicious roast waiting when you come home in the |
| Unless you want to be overwhelmed with the flavor | | | | crockpot. |
| of that spice, you may want to cut it back by half. | | | | |