Important Tips On How To Use An Oval Slow Cooker

* Slow cookers basically come with the same options, with the removable stoneware part, the glass lid and the outer shell, which either comes with a stainless steel or a ceramic covering. There are many products to choose from such as the rival slow cookers that are quite popular or Cusineart, the choice is plentiful. For more information on the quality of the different slow cookers, you can read through the consumer reviews available on the internet.

* There are two basic programs, the “low” setting for a slow all-day recipe or the “high” setting, which allows you for faster cooking.

* You can place frozen food directly in your oval crock pot for cooking, just make sure you add one cup of warm water if you are cooking frozen meats. If you are using frozen food, allow for an extra four to six hours cooking time on the “low” program and two hours on the “high” program.

* Always keep the lid on when cooking, do not store food in the stoneware part of your oval crock, never reheat food with slow cookers and avoid temperature changes, for the stoneware part may crack. You should always add your food when your oval crock is at room temperature.

* Crock pots are easy to clean. Simply remove the stoneware part and pop it into the dishwasher or soak it in soapy water. Do not scrape with abrasive products. You can clean the outside stainless steel or ceramic element with a soft soapy sponge and wipe it dry.

* With a five quart oval crock pot you can prepare delicious meat dishes. For best results remove fat from meat cuts season with salt and pepper and place the meat on top of the vegetables you have previously added in the stoneware. If your are cooking stew or roasts, add the suggested amount of liquid over the meat. Slice your vegetables thinly for meat cooks faster than vegetables in slow cookers. Keep in mind you will need more liquids when cooking with slow cookers than you usually would with other cooking appliances.

* For best results avoid removing the cover from your oval crock, and never during the first two hours of cooking. Although you should always add the specified amount of liquid when cooking with crock pots, you can if you wish avoid adding liquid on roast. If you do, use the “low” program.

* Always keep in mind that the cooking times in an oval slow cooker may vary depending on various factors, which may be atmospheric conditions, power fluctuations or altitude.