Easy Crock Pot Recipies 

Tips and Techniques

Colors tend to fade in slow cooked foods, but garnishes such as chopped fresh parsley, chives, tomatoes, red peppers, cheese, or sour cream can add much visual appeal to your easy crock pot recipies.

Fresh root vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, and onions, should be placed in the bottom of the pot, under the meat, for faster cooking in easy slow cooker recipies. They tend to cook more slowly than meat.

Brown meats and poultry first. Heat a non-stick skillet on medium for a minute or two. Add just enough oil such as canola or vegetable to coat the bottom of the pan. Heat the oil for a minute and add the food to be browned, being sure not to overcrowd the pan. Brown the food evenly on all sides. Although this takes a few extra minutes, it helps to seal the meat, hold in the juices, adds extra flavor and makes it look delicious!

Cut foods of the same type into equal size pieces to ensure even cooking at the same time. If an easy crock pot recipie calls for potatoes, cut them all into, for example, 1 inch chunks. Not some into 1 inch chunks and some into 2 inch chunks. The same principle applies to meats.

The low temp and long cooking method of a crock pot often causes pasta and rice to cook up pasty and starchy, which can be disappointing. So often you will find that easy slow cooker recipies call for these items to be cooked separately and added to the finished dish, or added raw about 1 hour before the end of the cooking time.

Your crock pot is a great appliance to keep hot beverages warm for a prolonged period of time. When it's cold outside, greet guests into your home with the delicious aroma of warm apple cider the crock pot. Use the low setting for the perfect temperature.