Crock pot recipes are simple and easy, but if you've never cooked with a crock pot there are a few simple things you should know before getting started. Whether you’re making beef brisket or slow-cooked chili, the crock pot can be a no-hassle way to make great food as long as you understand the basic principles of slow cooking.

For your first adventures in crock pot recipes, be sure to brown any meat you want to use if your crock pot recipe calls for lowest settings on the pot. You may need to cook pork completely through at the recommended temperature of 160 degrees before adding to the pot. This will prevent any chance of a foodborne illness. If your recipe says to put the pot on the highest setting, you may be able to use lightly cooked or raw chicken, but always check the instructions and follow them to the letter where raw meat is concerned.

It’s important to pay attention to your crock pot the first time you use it. Even though the pot is made for slow cooking, the crock pot’s high setting can bring food to a near boil depending on the model you own, so your first “test drive” with a crock pot should be done with the understanding that it requires close attention.

Depending on the crock pot recipe, you may wish to add some vegetables later in the cooking process than others. Sweet potatoes, Idaho and red potatoes should be added earlier than carrots, mushrooms or less hearty vegetables. If you put baby carrots in the pot at the beginning of a slow cook pork recipe, you’ll find they are very mushy at the end of the cooking cycle. That’s fine if you want soft textures, but any vegetable you want to remain firm should be added near the end.

Don’t forget that for crock pot cooking recipes, the cooking times are approximate. Every crock pot will give slightly different results. You may find four hours to be too long for some meals, but not quite enough for others. Sometimes the thickness of the meat you’re cooking can change the cooking times. Thinly-sliced beef cooks faster than a dense, thick cut such as a rump roast or brisket. Seafood recipes may cook much faster because the cuts are more delicate.

Next: Jazzing Up Crock Pot and Baked Recipes

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