Never Lose Your Slow Cooker Again

4 Things to Know Before Making Slow-Cooker Recipes


After developing hundreds of slow-cooker recipes in our test kitchen, we have learned a thing or
Two about taking advantage of this appliance.
Despite all the testing we have done to make our recipes foolproof, with a slow cooker is not an
Exact science; the matter is that heating power varies tremendously among manufacturers of slow
cookers. So as you are following our recipes, here are a couple of things you will need to know.
Use the Time Ranges
In general, for our recipes we give either 1- or 2-hour ranges (and a Wide Variety of cooking
Times) as guidelines for how long a recipe should be cooked. More delicate and exacting
Recipes with fish and leaner cuts of meat have the shorter time range (and shorter cooking
Times); we found this narrower range to be more reliable.
You make one of those recipes you check for doneness at the lower end of the range.
Get Acquainted with Your Slow Cooker
While all ovens set to 350 degrees will do the same (assuming all the ovens are correctly
Calibrated--oven thermometers are the easiest way to monitor this), temperatures vary widely
among slow cookers. We tested more than a dozen models and prepared every recipe in two
Various models. Some models run hot and fast, while others heat more slowly and softly.
Most models perform best on low, but again it's hard to make blanket statements which apply to
all slow cookers. In our testing, we have found that some slow cookers run hot or cool on only
One of the settings (either low or high). If
You've been using a slow cooker for some time, ask yourself if recipes are generally done at
the low or high end of the cooking times provided in recipes. The Solution should tell you
Whether you have a "fast" slow cooker or a "slow" model. If You're just getting started with
Your slow cooker, check all recipes at the beginning of the time range, but allow some extra
Time to cook food more if needed.


Slow cookers come in a variety of sizes, from the ridiculously small (1 quart) into the very large (7
Generally speaking, we enjoy 6-quart models. Nevertheless, we analyzed our recipes in slow
Cookers of different sizes. Each recipe includes the size range that will work for that particular
Recipe, although the vast majority of the recipes work with 4- to 7-quart slow cookers. Note that
Some recipes must be made in a large slow cooker (at least 5 1/2 quarts) or you run the risk of
overfilling the insert. The shape of the slow cooker also matters for some of our recipes: Oval
Slow cookers are needed to accommodate some roasts, casseroles, and braised vegetable
Dishes--they just won't fit in a round slow cooker. If you don't know how big your slow
Cooker, check the underside of the insert (where the size is usually stamped), or simply
Measure how much water it takes to fill out the add to just above the lip.
Keep Food Safe
With a slow cooker is a safe way to cook food, but there are few things to keep in mind to
Ensure it's a safe process:
First, make sure that your slow cooker and your utensils have been properly cleaned.
Don't Let your meat or fish sit on the counter for any length of time before adding them to
the slow cooker.
Never put frozen food into your slow cooker because this greatly increases the risk that your food will
Not reach a safe bacteria-killing temperature.
You should also follow our guidelines in recipes where we define the doneness temperature of
Fish, poultry, or poultry. It is advisable to keep the slow-cooker lid in place as this traps the heat
And aids the slow cooker reach the perfect temperature zone.