7 Slow Cooker Tips and Tricks

Long hours and hectic schedules make weeknight dinners and early morning breakfasts a challenge. Use these slow cooker tips to ensure your family is getting a healthy meal with the help of a simple kitchen tool! 

I absolutely love using my slow cooker because I can make a healthy meal that a. takes minimal prep and effort on my end to cook and b. that’s easy to cleanup! That way when the temptation to order take out hits me I know I’ve got my backup plan in place; a slow cooker meal! Now there’s more to slow cooking than just opening a can of beans and throwing them in the crock. I’ve learned a few slow cooker tips and tricks along the way to make this cooking method even easier. Be sure to stay tuned because this week I’ll have even more slow cooker recipes to share. Enjoy!

7 Slow Cooker Cooking Tips and Tricks

1. Browning meat, onions, and garlic before putting them in the slow cooker enhances their flavor. You also get the chance to discard any fat accumulated from the meat at the bottom of the pan.

2. Ground seasoning should be added in the last hour of cooking. Whole or leaf herbs should be added at the beginning of the cooking process.

3. Less tender cuts of meat should be cooked on low for 6-8 hours, instead of cooking on high for 3-4 hours. You can also marinade the meat overnight before adding to the slow cooker.

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4. Add delicate vegetables, such as mushrooms, zucchini, fresh tomatoes, frozen corn or peas just a few minutes before the end of cooking time. If you add them at the start of cooking time they might cook too fast and lose texture.

5. Fill your slow cooker no higher than two-thirds full. For even cooking, cut food into uniform-size pieces. Firm, slow cooking vegetables should go at the bottom of the crock with the meat on top.

6. Dairy products like yogurt, sour cream, and milk tend to break down in the slow cooker, so stir them in during the last 20 minutes of cooking for added richness and protein.

7. A sprinkle of fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon juice can really help to brighten flavors of long-cooked recipes. Other finishing touches can be citrus zest and grated Parmesan cheese.

Hungry for more? Here are my favorite slow cooker recipes. And like I said before, there’s a whole bunch more ready for your inbox this week!!