Tuesday, January 11, 2011

How to Adapt Recipes to the Slow Cooker


Have you ever had a recipe that you wished you could put in the Slow Cooker?  With theses tips, you can adapt most recipes to the slow cooker for hassle-free cooking.

My mother, Sharon McFall,  is a National Best Selling Cookbook Author.   She researched and wrote the Time Guide and tips below.  I liked what she did so much, I included them in my newest cookbook, BUSY WOMAN'S SLOW COOKER COOKBOOK.  Thanks, Mom!
Time Guide
If recipe says cook or bake / Slow Cooker on Low / Slow Cooker on High

15 to 30 minutes                       4 to 6 hours                   1 1/2 to 2 hours
35 to 45 minutes                       6 to 8 hours                   3 to 4 hours
50 minutes to 3 hours               8 to 15 hours                 4 to 6 hours

Tip 1.  Cooking time in all recipes are approximations, affected by how much food is in the cooker, humidity, and the temperature of the ingredients when you add them.   So note that the cooking times in the recipes are ranges only.

Tip 2.  Fill the cooker between half and two-thirds full.

Tip 3.  Cut vegetables in smaller pieces to ensure proper cooking.

Tip 4. Meats will not brown in a Slow Cooker.  If a recipe calls for meat to be browned, brown it in a skillet.  The recipe will be better because it will enhance the flavor and decrease the fat.

Tip 5.  Do not add as much water as regular recipes indicate.  Use about half the recommended amount, unless it calls for rice or pasta.  Liquids don't boil away as in conventional cooking.

Tip 6.  If recipe calls for raw rice, add 1/4 cup extra liquid per 1/4 cup raw rice.

Tip 7.  Processed cheeses tend to work better in Slow Cookers than natural cheeses.

Tip 8.  Juices can be thickened by adding corn starch during the last hour of cooking.  Turn the heat to high.

Tip 9.  It is best to add ground seasoning near the end of cooking.

Tip 10.  Add vegetables to cooker first, then add meat.  Vegetables cook slower than meat.

Tip 11.  In the last hour of cooking it is better to add milk, sour cream, or cream to the recipe.  Dairy products tend to curdle over long cooking periods.  Condensed cream of soup or evaporated milk can be substituted in some recipes. 

On Friday, I will be posting a 
quick and easy slow cooker recipe called, 
Lemon Over Chicken.


Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully 
follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

31 comments:

  1. Cool I'd love to have a chance to win your cookbook!I follow you!

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  2. These are great tips! Thank you for sharing them!

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  3. Awesome, thanks for the tips! I love my slow cooker, and i just gave one to my little Sis for a wedding gift; i will have to pas this info onto her! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. I do wonder sometimes if I can change things to cook in the slow cooker...so thanks so much for these tips! They are quite helpful!

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  5. I'm already a blog follower, so I think I'll fan you on Facebook too. I want to win one of those cookbooks!

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  6. Thanks for the great tips, Linda! I've wanted to do just that several times and now know the way.

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  7. I just love my slow cooker and use it often. Would love one of your recipe books but I never win anything:( Take care. Diane

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  8. I do not know how I would get on with out my crock pot recipes! Always looking for new ones!
    YUM!

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  9. I love crock pot cooking. These tips are hugely helpful. Thank you so much.

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  10. I love my crock pot! Thanks for the tips!

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  11. I going to have to sit the crock pot out on the kitchen counter so I remember to use it.

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  12. Hope to win your cookbook. I'm your followers now :D Hope that I'm lucky...

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  13. Linda, thks for dropping by Luxury Indulgence!

    What an impressive profile u've got here! I'm following u too & looking fwd to sharing :)

    Contest? International?? Awesome! I've never been able to enter in many draws as they're mostly restricted to US etc. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

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  14. Thanks for sharing. I have a friend that cooks a lot in the slow cooker and have always wondered how she did it - now I can try to cook somethings on my own:)

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  15. What a beautiful slow cooker that is! Pretty enough to leave on the counter...if only I had counter space!!

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  16. I definitely love this! I just got a crock potfor Christmas and not being one to use one until now, this is really helpful!

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  17. This looks like a wonderful cookbook. Looking forward to your Lemon over Chicken recipe.

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  18. I think I am one of the few people who does not have a crock pot. One of these days I am going to get one. I am such a non-cook that I guess I am a little (or a lot) intimidated by something knew.

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  19. I used mine at least once a week and have been enjoying slow cooking for about 45 years; one of my all time favourite appliances.

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  20. What a great set of tips for the slow cooker. Especially on adjusting liquid amounts in recipes.

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  21. I had no idea that veggies took longer to cook than meat! Do you know if certain kinds of vegetables cook faster in the crockpot then others? If so, do the different cooktimes make a difference when using a crockpot?

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  22. Ashley, always put root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes on the bottom. You can put other vegetables, such as celery and peppers on top of the meat. They take less time to cook. I love your blog Ashley! Keep up the good work!

    Thanks everyone for the comments! I love to read them, they always make my day! :) Linda

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  23. Hi Linda
    Thanks for all these tips about adapting recipes to a slow cooker! I am cutting and pasting them to my files. I don't use my slow cooker enough and I these tips will be very helpful.

    I'd love to be entered into your give away! I became a fan on facebook and a follower of your blog. I came over from Pam's blog. Nice to find your blog!

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  24. I'm a FB Fan now! I have been a blog follower! And this is my comment - I would love to win your book as I need help when it come to my slow cooker and would love the recipes! Thanks for the giveaway! Oh, and I am also a BIG FAN of Bo's and Pam's blogs!

    Thanks!

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  25. I'm a new blog follower and FB fan (Charlene G). I would love to win your cookbook, recipes with 3, 4 or 5 ingredients sounds great.

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  26. Great advice. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  27. If it is okay with you, I would like to post a link to this post on my Crock Pot Wednesday blog event. I will post that on Tuesday evening. I'll be back:)

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  28. Hi Linda, I would love to win a copy of your book. Your recipes and cooking tips are always so helpful !!

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  29. Hi Linda-I am following your blog, don't have a facebook acct-just twitter!
    If you're on twiiter, I will follow you there.
    Would love to have a chance at winning your great cookbook, with your autographed signature!

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  30. Great info, I was so pleased when I was able to reproduce beef stroganoff in the slow-cooker

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