Mistakes You’ve Been Making All The Time When Using The Slow Cooker

Are you a fan of the slow-cooker? If so, you know how great it is for making meals with minimal effort. All you have to do is throw in the ingredients, set the timer, and your meal will be ready when you get home from work. However, it isn’t always entirely that straightforward to use your slow cooker, especially for slow-cooker novices.

Here we’ve gathered some common mistakes you’ve been doing all the time while using your slow cooker. From over-filling the slow-cooker to not adding enough liquid, these mistakes can result in bland, dry, and unappetizing dishes. Take a look at these mistakes to ensure not to make them yourself next time use a slow-cooker.

Taking a peek

We’ve all been there before - The inviting aromas wafting from the slow cooker have our mouthwatering and the urge to check on the cooking dish is nearly irresistible.

However, you need to summon your self-discipline and resist. It actually takes quite a while for the slow cooker to reach the right temperature, and when you open the lid, most of the hot air escapes. This leads to the temperature dropping and your dish needing more time to cook. Every time you raise the lid, you will have to wait an extra 30 minutes for your food to be ready.

Using expensive cuts

Fancy cuts of meat might be enjoyable at the dinner table, but it’s unnecessary to buy expensive cuts of meat when you are shopping for slow cooker meals. Slow cookers work their magic over a prolonged period of time, so even the least expensive cuts of meat turn out wonderfully succulent and flavorful. Therefore, you can purchase less pricey meat and let it cook all day. The final dish will be so tender and flavorful that nobody will guess it was made with not that expensive meat.

Not searing meat first

If you’ve never used this technique before, you might miss the best way to cook meat. Searing meat before adding it to the slow cooker is a simple step that can make all the difference. It adds texture and an extra layer of flavor to your dish, making it taste even more delicious. Moreover, searing the meat prevents it from drying out, ensuring your end result is full of flavor and moisture. Therefore, always remember to sear your meat before adding it to the slow cooker - it's a small step that can make a huge difference!

Cooking frozen food

Cooking frozen food in a slow cooker can be a major mistake and can lead to serious health risks. It increases the risk of food poisoning, as food may not reach a safe internal temperature quickly enough to kill harmful bacteria. It is always best to thaw food before cooking it in a slow cooker. This ensures that the food reaches a safe temperature quickly and reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses.

You're setting the heat too high

Setting the heat too high can lead to boiling the meat, causing it to dry out. This is why it is important to keep a consistent, low temperature when using a slow cooker. Too few people pay attention to this and end up with dried-out dishes. This not only affects the taste of the dish, but also its texture and nutritional value. Slow cooking requires some patience, but it can be worth the wait since you will find that your dish turns out perfectly every time.

Adding dairy products too soon

Dairy products can result in a grainy or curdled texture when cooked over a long period of time, which can ruin the taste of a dish. To prevent this, it is important to add those ingredients during the last half hour of cooking. It ensures that the slow cooker can still provide a delicious, creamy texture to your food without risking ruining the dish with curdled dairy.