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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

TIP OF THE DAY: SLOW COOKER SAFETY

Those of you who frequent this blog know that Cloris is fond of slow cooker recipes. The slow cooker is the working woman’s best friend. However, it’s come to our attention, that many of you may not know the best ways to use your slow cooker safely. So today Cloris is stepping in to offer a few slow cooker tips. -- AP

1. The great thing about a slow cooker is that you can set it in the morning, leave the house, and return to a cooked meal. However, any time you plan to be away from home, make sure you only use the “low” setting on your cooker. Save the “high” setting for when you’re home.

2. Only fill your slow cooker two-thirds of the way. As the ingredients cook, they expand. Fill a slow cooker too full, and you could have an overflowing mess on your hands. The spill may even ruin your slow cooker if the liquid spills over any of the electrical parts.

3. Avoid checking your recipe too often. Each time you remove the lid, heat and steam escape. Check too often, and you’ll have to increase the cooking time to compensate.

Happy safe slow cooking, everyone! And post a comment for a chance to win a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP


3 comments:

Jane R said...

These are great suggestions. I've used a crock pot since I was in college but haven't always felt comfortable leaving it for 8 or 9 hours at a time. But, it's so nice to be able to start a meal early in the day, knowing that you won't be interrupted later on to start dinner.

ANASTASIA POLLACK said...

Jane, if you do a search of past blog posts, you'll find loads of great slow cooker recipes Cloris has posted in the past.

Jane R said...

Thanks for the info. I will definitely check out those recipes. It seems as tho my crock pot is beginning to be my favorite kitchen appliance. It's amazing the number of different dishes I can make.