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Convert Pan Recipes For Use In Your Crockpot - It's Easy When You Know How
As with all things in life, there can be a little variation, but a typical
low setting on a crockpot is around 100 degrees, with the high
setting being closer to 300 degrees. Once you know this little tit-bit
of information it is easy to convert most traditional pan-recipes for
use in your crockpot. You might have to play around with the
cooking times a little, but if you follow these simple guidelines you
should be cooking up your favourite recipes in your favourite crockpot
in no time at all.
(i) Decrease the liquid (remember it does not boil away in your trusty old crockpot).
(ii) If your recipe requires minced meat etc, then brown the meat first before adding it to the pan. This will not only improve the taste of the meat, but will give it a nicer texture.
(iii) If your recipe includes cheese or other dairy products they will tend to break down if they are cooked for too long, so do yourself a favour and only add them towards the end of cooking.
(iv) Rice and noodles are another problem area. They will turn to mush if they are in the crockpot for too long. So, once again, only add them towards the end of cooking. Or if you really want to use your noodle, or save your noodle, why not cook them separately? You can combine them with everything else just before serving.
(v) It's all about timing. If your pan-recipe states a cooking time of 15 to 30 minutes, allow 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours in your crockpot if you are using a high heat setting. If you are using a lower setting then 4 to 8 hours should be about right.
If your pan-recipe states 35 to 45 minutes, then you will be looking at 3 to 4 hours in your crockpot at its higher temperature setting, or 6 to 10 hours if you use the lower one.
For a pan-recipe that states 50 minutes to 3 hours you will need to allow 4 to 6 hours in your crockpot at the higher setting and 8 to 16 at its lower one.
It will take a little experimentation, but with practice you should be cooking up a storm in no time and that's no crock.
One final tip: add your spices at the end.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melanie_R._Craig
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