Crockpot Dinner Ideas

FAQS

Do I Need to Prepare Ingredients Before Putting Them in a Crock Pot?

• Pull out spices and canned food so you’re not digging for them in the morning. 
• Chop any veggies and keep them in a separate container in the fridge. 
• Brown ground beef in a skillet before adding to a crock pot, and store in the fridge until assembling the recipe.
• Aromatics like onion, bell peppers, celery, garlic, and ginger are commonly used and should be activated before use. They are typically sautéed in a pan to get their flavor going, then added to the crock pot.

Tips for Adding Meat to a Crock Pot?

• Do NOT add frozen meat to the slow cooker. Be sure to place frozen meats in the fridge to thaw.
• Trim off extra fat from the cuts. 
• Cheaper cuts do better in the crock pot than more expensive cuts. 
• For the most even cook, be sure the amount of food will fill your pot ½ way to ⅔ full. Most recipes are adapted for a 5-6 qt pot.
• For easy clean up use a crock pot liner. 
• Despite the appeal of a “forget and go” meal, you do have to remember not to allow the recipe to overcook. 
• Except for ground beef, you can skip the browning of red meats. Browning can help give an extra layer of texture and flavor, but the dish can be made without it. 

What is the Difference Between the Low and High Settings?

• The appeal of the crockpot is to set it and forget about it, usually for several hours. This is where the LOW setting comes in handy. The LOW setting is about 200°F and the HIGH setting is about 300°F.
• I have also found that the LOW setting generally cooks the food better than the HIGH setting. Most recipes will list both settings as an option with the LOW setting taking about twice as long as the HIGH setting. 

Do I Need to Stir Recipes in a Crock Pot?

• Set and go. Unless otherwise directed in the recipe leave the crockpot alone. Removing the lid may allow the needed liquid to evaporate. It also lets heat escape and can take up to 20 minutes to return to the set temperature.
• Exception. If a recipe calls for adding any dairy, tender vegetables, fresh herbs, cooked rice, or pasta, then you will be instructed to remove the lid and add it during the last 20-30 minutes of cooking time. 

Crock Pot vS Slow Cooker?

• Though they look the same and are used to cook foods for an extended period of time there is a key difference between the two: A crockpot has a ceramic pot insert that is heated from all sides, whereas slow cookers have a metal pot that is heated on the bottom.
• Most people, including the recipes on this site, use the term slow cooker even though they are talking about a ceramic crockpot.

How do I Adjust a Soup Recipe to the Crock Pot?

• To adapt a soup recipe for the crockpot, reduce the amount of liquid by ¼-⅓ because there is little to no evaporation that happens. 

Do I Use Raw Pasta or Rice When Cooking Crock Pot Dinner Ideas?

• Most recipes will have you cook rice and pasta separately and add them during the last few minutes of the cooking time. This will help these two types of ingredients from becoming mushy during long cooking times. However, if the recipe instructs you to add uncooked rice or pasta at the beginning, it is specifically designed to cook the ingredients. 

When do I Add Veggies to the Slow Cooker?

• Larger root vegetables such as beets, potatoes, onions, turnips, sweet potatoes, and carrots can cook for several hours. Be sure to cut them about the same size.
• Don’t add tender vegetables like baby spinach, peas, mushrooms, corn, or artichoke hearts until the last 5-10 minutes of cooking time.
• Fresh herbs add a lot of bright flavor to a soup. Remember that 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon of dried herbs. Also, don’t add the fresh herbs until the last 30 minutes of the crock pot cooking time.