Impeccable Best Crockpot Recipes

Often people wonder about the heat rating of a crockpot, especially when the directions on the recipe indicate the ingredients should be cooked on LOW. The low temperature on a crockpot is 200 degrees F, which is high enough to cook just about any food and since a lot of crockpot recipes call for the low setting, should ease your mind about whether or not the food will cook properly. A good measurement to remember is that high heat cooking is about twice as fast as cooking on low, so a recipe is correct if it instructs you to cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.

Some people put the crockpot on high and cook the food for an hour first, which lessens the chance of contamination from bacteria caused by the food not heating up fast enough. Then the heat is turned to low to finish cooking.

Using a meat thermometer will help determine how close to done meats are. Remember not to lift the lid too often, though, as that lets the temperature drop. It is best to check at the end of the cooking time and then test for doneness. Food can always cook a bit longer in a crockpot, if it is needed.

Chicken varies according to the piece you are checking; the breast must be at least 170 degrees F and the thigh at least 180 degrees F. Ground meats are safe to eat once they reach 160 degrees F, while roasts will measure 145 degrees F for medium rare meat, 160 for medium and 170 degrees F for well done. Even casseroles, stuffing, and soups can be tested for doneness and should give a reading of at least 165 degrees F at the end of the cooking time.

Best Summer Crockpot Recipes

During the late spring through early fall, lifestyles get hectic with the many events that are happening, such as Easter, Mothers' and Fathers' Day, graduation, weddings and so on. Even if you are just learning to cook, crockpot recipes can be easy to prepare, leaving you plenty of time for daytime activities. Some recipes only have four or five basic ingredients, leaving you the simple tasks of putting them in the crockpot, turning it on and enjoying the delicious results six or seven hours later when the meal has cooked. What is even better is that often the least complex recipes are the best ones

You can create more than stews and soups in that versatile slow cooker. Many crockpot recipes are easy and some of the best crockpot recipes are for desserts and appetizers, usually the most called upon types of foods during these busy days.

Since most crockpot recipes require a HIGH setting for four to five hours or a LOW setting for eight to ten hours, your crockpot meal can be started as early as ten hours before mealtime or as late as four hours before mealtime. One of the best features about cooking in the crockpot is that the meal will not turn out badly if it has to sit an extra half hour or so.

Another wonderful part of fixing best crockpot recipes is the cleanup. The ceramic dish is usually removable for easy cleaning, leaving just one dish to wash rather than lots of pots and pans. That is another plus during your busy weeks ahead.

A lot of authentic crockpot recipes begin with basic foundations that are changed as chefs develop exciting new tastes and selections. If you enjoy a variety of foods and flavors, you might like to see other quick and easy best crockpot recipes which combine meat, vegetables and other quality ingredients for amazing results.

The Best Crockpot Recipes Start With Our Recipes - BestCrockpotRecipes.net