5 Tips to Slow Cooker Success
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
Cooking Tip #1: it’s really key to use a meat with some type of fat in it when using the slow cooker.
You’re not adding any fat in the cooking – so it’s okay to have some in the meat. Without the fat, the meat dries out too much. Good cuts of meat to use in the slow cooker are a whole chicken, ham, pork shoulder and chuck roast.
Cooking Tip #2: Stick with the cooking time in the recipe!
A lot of times you think – oh it’s in the slow cooker – it doesn’t matter how long it’s in there for. Well it definitely makes a difference. I made a recipe with an alfredo base and when it cooked that long and mixed with the condensation – it was awful. There was no cheesiness left. So if a recipe says 4-6 hours – make sure you only cook it 4-6 hours.
My sister had bought a bunch of peppers this summer last sale and then froze them. It was such a great idea – because I was able to use them all fall and winter! It made slow cooker meals so much easier – I just grabbed a handful and threw them in!
Cooking Tip #4: Ample liquid = juicy chicken!
I will be the first one to admit – some slow cooker recipes are awful. They sound great but then they turn out terrible – something the dog won’t even touch! If you’re new to slow cookers – try a couple of chili dishes – you really can’t screw them up.