Why Use a Crockpot?

by Melanie Cossey

Why cook all day when you can whip something up as fast as you can say "saucepan"?

When I was young and single and had just moved away from home, my mother gave me a Crock-Pot. Aside from making spaghetti sauce and chili in it, I never found it to be that useful, I mean, I had a large sauce pan in which to make sauces and stews in and a Crock-Pot just seemed to take so long. Why cook all day when you can whip something up as fast as you can say "saucepan"? The forsaken Crock-Pot found it's way to the back of my cupboard, into the crook where it's hard to reach.

Fast forward eight years. I am now a harried mother of two young boys and a very hungry husband who for some reason, doesn't eat breakfast or lunch and is absolutely starving when he comes home from work. Enter the Crock-Pot! At one o'clock in the afternoon, after I have put the baby down for a nap, I pull out my slow cooker for some easy cooking. About all that is involved is throwing a pile of ingredients in the pot, turning it on and walking away, only to reappear a few hours later to stir it. Now when four o'clock rolls around, presto, no more toxic hour while the kidlets whine and carry-on that they are hungry. I now have time to fix them a leisurely snack because I know that dinner is taken care of. Crock-Pot cooking is not just for families, a co-worker uses his every day. He just throws in the ingredients in the morning and when he comes home from work he has a hot meal ready-to-eat.

Crock-Pot cooking is suited to all styles of eating from vegetarian to diabetic. You can cook practically anything in it, although some things might need to be browned before you throw them in. My husband and I are about almost full-time vegetarians and love to experiment with various recipes. I am telling you that tofu only gets better cooked this way since it has time to absorb the wonderful essence of the herbs and seasonings. In fact, you will find that most foods taste better since the herbs are allowed the proper time to release their flavors. I hope you are now inspired to try Crock-Pot cooking. I know you will be glad you did.

Below are some tips you should know about slow cooker cooking:

Vegetables take the longest to cook so they should go into the cooker first. They should be cut into small pieces.

Meat should be browned first and then placed in the cooker on top of any vegetables.

Always cook with the cover on.

Cooking time may vary according to voltage fluctuations.

Rest assured that your cooker will get hot enough to prevent bacteria growth.

Do not use the cooker for defrosting frozen products unless you put in a cup of water.

_______________________________
Melanie Cossey is a stay at home mom of two active boys and a wife to loving husband Greg. A dog groomer for 10 years, she left the industry to raise her family. She has several articles published in her community and is working on writing a historical novel. Her interests include scrapbooking, writing, painting and playing with her boys. She is currently researching the link between Mad Cow's disease and Cruetzfeld Jakob Disease and the possible risk in meat and cosmetics. Because of her stand on animal-free cosmetics she has recently started her own business selling Nutrimetics skin care.

Other Things You May Enjoy: