Slow Cookers Overview

Over the past three decades, many families have discovered the advantages of slow cookers. There is nothing quite like walking through the door of your house at the end of the day to the aroma of dinner cooking, particularly knowing that all the work is done and dinner is ready to be served. Popular especially in the fall and winter months, there are a nearly limitless number of slow cooker recipes available today for everything from main courses and side dishes to baked goods, warm beverages and appetizers. Soups and stews are particularly popular items for slow cookers. Those adhering to particular diets also can find slow cooker recipes designed for them.

 

Slow cookers work using indirect and constant heat over a long period of time (usually four to 10 hours). Though the outside of your slow cooker will get warm throughout the cooking process, they are perfectly safe to leave unattended because there is no open flame or extremely hot surface. No stirring or attention is required during the cooking time (although some recipes call for ingredients to be added in the last hour or two before serving). Raising the lid to stir or check on your recipe is discouraged because significant amounts of heat escape every time you do it, and therefore cooking time might need to be extended.

 

Cooking with a slow cooker requires some prep time at the beginning of the cook time, but generally, your work is done at that point and you can go about your day knowing that dinner is in good hands.