Don’t Make These Common Slow Cooker Mistakes

It is the beginning of soccer season, which implies one factor: Scrumptious game-watching meals (and sports activities, I assume). And whether or not you are heading out to tailgate or having individuals over, there is a good likelihood you may flip to your trusty sluggish cooker for a simple appetizer or meal for a bunch, like a dip or a chili. 

Whereas utilizing a sluggish cooker is an virtually foolproof technique to prepare dinner, there are just a few frequent errors you can also make which may mess up your meal. Fortunately, they’re simple to keep away from, so the one factor you are left to be upset about is a game-losing fumble. 

Listed here are 5 sluggish cooker errors you is likely to be making, and tips on how to repair them. You can too discover out why using a slow cooker could save you money in comparison with utilizing the oven, and our picks for the best air fryers of 2022. 

Learn extra: Best Instant Pots of 2022

1. Utilizing an excessive amount of liquid

If you’re cooking meat or poultry in your sluggish cooker, you need there to be some liquid to cowl the substances. However you do not need to fill all of it the way in which up with broth, inventory or water. There is not any cause so as to add extra liquid than the recipe requires (or greater than sufficient to cowl the substances if you happen to’re somebody who does this stuff by really feel), until your sluggish cooker proprietor’s guide says in any other case. 

For those who add an excessive amount of liquid to your sluggish cooker, it can warmth up and evaporate as steam — however then will get trapped by the lid and drip again down into your meals, making it too watery. Yuck. 

2. Including dairy merchandise too early

Many sluggish cooker recipes name for cheese, milk, bitter cream or different dairy merchandise. However you do not need to add them till the previous couple of minutes of cooking — in any other case, they might curdle and wreck your dish. 

3. Opening the lid for a peek

The identical approach you do not need to open the oven door too usually once you’re baking, you do not need to carry the lid in your sluggish cooker because it’s cooking. Doing so lets warmth escape and might dramatically decrease the temperature contained in the pot, which implies it’s going to take longer to prepare dinner your meals correctly. 

Learn extra: Best Instant Pot Accessories for 2022

4. Filling the sluggish cooker all the way in which as much as the highest

You should not be filling your sluggish cooker to the brim with substances. It wants house between the meals and the lid to stop it from boiling over. The warmth inside additionally wants room to flow into and prepare dinner the meals the proper approach. Usually, you should not fill your sluggish cooker greater than three-quarters full. 

5. Including herbs firstly

Any dried or contemporary herbs you are utilizing needs to be added towards the top of your cooking time. For those who add them firstly, they’re going to lose their efficiency by the point the whole lot else cooks, and you will be left with much less flavorful meals. 

For extra ideas, take a look at whether it’s cheaper to buy groceries online versus in the store, and the trick to reheating your leftovers so they taste great.