Crock Pot: Purchasing and Care

Posted on September 22nd, 2007 in General Info by CrockPot

Crock pots have many benefits and it provides a new way of preparing food. Many people opt to use the crock pot slow cooker because of the convenience it provides and cooking without looking is possible.

People should be aware of the do’s and don’ts when buying a crock pot slow cooker and also put into consideration some important points to remember in purchasing a crock pot slow cooker.

The things that should be put into consideration before buying a crock pot slow cooker are first the size of the family. Crock pots sizes vary from 1 pint to 7 quart capacity. A bigger pot is needed for cooking large amount of food. Next are the features of the crock pot like the keep warm features, the delayed start and the temperature variations. These features are necessary to achieve the easy cooking principle of crock pots.

The crock pot slow cooker should be complete which has the heating element in the sides of the appliance. The crock pot should have a removable liner for easy cleaning. The removable liner should be dishwasher safe.

When buying a crock pot slow cooker the following features may be available. The multiple heat settings provide different options for cooking the contents. Then the glass lid makes monitoring of the food easy without removing the lid. There must be a non stick interior and convenient cleaning feature in which the parts can be disassembled.

It is also important to follow the manufacturer’s instruction on how to use the crock pot slow cooker. This will ensure safety and effectivity of the appliance.

When using the crock pot, the safety of the user and the household members should be the priority. These cookers are movable with hot surface and also contains hot liquid therefore children and pets are at risks for accidents like scald burns. The way to void this is to secure the pot in a place that is away from children and pets like in the high countertop instead in the table. In short proper placement of the appliance will avoid big accidents.

Cleaning the crock pot slow cooker is easy. You just need to soak the removable parts then scrub off the stains using an abrasive cleaner and rinse.

Careful considerations of things before purchasing a product are important to avoid hazards and to get the expected results. Following the product handbook is very important also. Safety features should be the priority.

The introduction of crock pots in the market is a proof that manufacturers want the best for the people in terms of cooking and dining.

Tags: Crock Pot Cooker Parts, Crock Pot, Crockpot, Cooking, Rival Crock Pot

Crock Pot Slow Cookers: How to Care for Them

Posted on September 21st, 2007 in General Info by CrockPot

Crock pot slow cookers are here once again. And it’s really nice to see their comeback to the world of home cooking after having been (close enough to being) nearly forgotten years after their first emergence to the society.

But then, even though a lot of people are already familiar with how to care for this type of cookery – in order to make these crock pot slow cookers last longer in one’s kitchen – there are still those who have never encountered them before, and are probably at a loss on what to do in terms of cleaning and caring for these cooking equipments.

For these people, one thing that they should take note of is that it’s actually very simple to ensure that the working capacity of these crock pot slow cookers are kept in good shape and condition.

Incredulous of what we are saying here? Well, allow us to show you some guidelines that can make the experience of newly-introduced individuals to the world of crock pot slow cookers easier to live on.

Here are a few tips that they can follow at home:

* Never remove the top while cooking.
When cooking on a stovetop, the usual gesture of a cook, to check if the food is already ready to serve, is to open the lid of the pot.

With crock pot slow cookers, this isn’t recommended since this would only prolong the time involved in cooking, and would also cause the cookery to decrease or lose the heating level it works on.

* Do not pour cold water to cool this cooking appliance.
In the attempt, perhaps, to cool crock pot slow cookers, in order to make it easier to remove the morsels of food stuck on the inside, an individual would probably pour cold water into it.

However, doing so may affect the heating element, and may make the inner parts crack.

* Thaw frozen foods before cooking with the use of crock pot slow cookers.
First-timers should take note of this: It would be wise to thaw foods first before adding them to the crock pot slow cookers. If not, this would only increase the hours involved in cooking.

* Use vinegar to remove stains.
Scraping the insides would only result in unsightly scratch marks that would be hard to cover up. A cup of vinegar mixed with hot water can help loosen the stains, and make the chore less difficult.

So, for those who would like to know how to care for crock pot slow cookers, better remember that it’s not a hard task to deal with. With these tips, one should be able to make these cooking equipments work effectively for a long time.

Tags: Crockpot, Cooker, Recipes, Rival, Crock Pot

A Buffet Slow Cooker and Server Bonus

Posted on September 16th, 2007 in General Info by CrockPot

Cook stylish food the easy way and have its full flavors come out through an effortless style that beats any home-cooking tradition. Then the choice is to cook with Buffet Slow Cooker and Server for the desired results.

Buffet food preparation can be made easier with Buffet Slow Cooker and Server. This slow cooker has a dual function feature of being a slow cooker and a server. No need to transfer food from cooker or pot or oven to a dish server or bowl before putting in on the buffet table. Now, with Buffet Slow Cooker and Server, food serving is as easy as cook and serve.

Actually, the culinary innovations of Buffet Slow Cooker and Server go past beyond food serving. It really starts from food preparation, to cooking, and finally to food serving, until dish washing. Buffet Slow Cooker and Server units are dishwasher friendly.
Cooking is simple as preparing the ingredients, placing them in the Buffet Slow Cooker and Server, heat, and come back at dinner time for the buffet meal. Stone wares of Buffet Slow Cooker and Server have various designs to make them function as dish servers. No need to transfer cooked food from the slow cooker to a separate dish server. The Buffet Slow Cooker and Server is both a slow cooker and a dish server. This makes for an easy buffet server.

Cooking is made easy with Buffet Slow Cooker and Server. Just put all the ingredients in the sow cooker, close and heat, and let the Buffet Slow Cooker and Server do its job—as easy as that. Prepare the ingredients in the morning, leave everything in the slow cooker to cook, go to the office, and come back to a bursting aroma and swell, well cooked, and well blended dinner recipe the family will love.

The Buffet Slow Cooker and Server is fitted with an 8-hour timer digital clock and a temperature control. This is the secret to a no-burn, well cooked food that is gradually cooked and treated. Best of all, the Buffet Slow Cooker and Server automatically shifts to a fine simmering or warming of food to keep dinner delightfully warm but not over cooked.

Buffet Slow Cooker and Server is a dual breakthrough in home slow cooking. It affords gentle and no supervision cooking of foods and a simpler buffet service where food is served directly from the Buffet Slow Cooker and Server stoneware itself.

Tags: Cooking, Cooker, Crock Pot Cooker Parts, Slow Cooker, Rival Crock Pot

Special and Common Crock Pot Ingredients

Posted on September 13th, 2007 in General Info by CrockPot

Cooking dishes with crock pot slow cookers result in a well blended crockpot ingredients that gradually and gently ooze subtle savory tastes from the richness of natural food flavors. Thus, dishes cooked in slow cookers stand out well at dinner tables. So a factor here is the combination of crockpot ingredients that make good crockpot recipes.

Crockpot chicken recipes often go well with thick barbecue sauces or buttered marinades. Crockpot chicken recipes are often enhanced with crock pot ingredients like enriching broth seasonings, cream soups, a few dashes of rosemary seasoning, and sometimes even regular spaghetti sauce. Sautéed garlic or ginger or both, oriental soy sauce and lemon marinade, and flour spiced up with pepper and garlic powder, are among favorite crockpot ingredients.

For crockpot pork recipes, among the best crockpot ingredients to exploit the flavor juices of pork are the following: a breaded flour mix or simple flour mixed with a little garlic powder. Pork chops can also be marinated and mixed with crockpot ingredients like lavish chopped onions, garlic, and soy sauce. Such regular crockpot ingredients as paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup can also perk up the flavor of pork. The thick cream of mushroom soup mix is also a succulent crockpot ingredient.

Among crockpot ingredients that boost the richness of beef recipes are peppercorns and Worcestershire sauce, with a mix of crock pot favorite chopped onions and tomato paste. And how about the stew itself where the beef has been boiled and tenderized for hours? Mixed with a few chopped garlic and onions, carrots, potatoes, and broth seasoning, this crockpot ingredient makes for a mouth-watering beef casserole.

Crockpot vegetable recipes often have the most ingredients, many of which are also vegetable crockpot ingredients. Most vegetable cuisines are spiced with chili, red or green pepper, pepper granules or powder, garlic powder, onions, garlic cloves, tomatoes, celery, parsley, and curry powder. The common major crockpot ingredients in vegetable recipes are beans, string beans, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, and broccoli.

Finally, here are uncommon crockpot ingredients: Apricot can a good crockpot ingredient. Like in a Apricot Nut Bread crockpot recipe. Dried apricots are used to liven up the fruity flavor of the recipe. Another unusual crockpot ingredient is red wine, as in a Beef Buorguinon crockpot recipe. Red wine and bacon are among the crock pot ingredients that perk up the taste of beef.

Crockpot ingredients are a culinary interplay of both common and special ingredients that result into super dishes and cuisines.

Tags: Crockpot, Slow Cooker, Recipes, Cooking, Crock Pot Cooker Parts

Heat up the Crockpot

Posted on September 12th, 2007 in General Info by CrockPot

Everyone loves to eat. Relationships are forged and built around food since time immemorial. The preparation itself is a show of care and love for the people who will be dining on the sumptuous meal. For many, meals with the added spice tickle the senses and with the use of modern technology of crock pot, a number of recipes have been introduced in preparing chili recipes. At present, the chilies have made their way for slow cooking.

Chili, though spelled in different ways like chilli, or chile, refers to the fruit from the Genus Capsicum plants and Solanaceae or otherwise known as nightshade family. The chili fruit is used as spices or vegetables in food preparation and medicine. For the rest of the world, it’s called paprika, pepper, bell pepper or capsicum, all referring to the same fruit.

The usage of chili, be it the bell peppers, chili powder or the long jalapeños in gourmet and cuisine, they never fail to bring out the flavor of the meal prepared. Even the use of Tabasco on our pizza brings out the taste of each ingredient, giving us the enjoyment of eating while others prefer to eat the chilies raw and whole or minced with sauces. The intensity of the chili comes from the inside of the pod with the seeds and the substance that causes the fiery intensity or heat is called capsaicin. Not all chili peppers are “hot”. According to the Scoville scale, a sweet pepper or otherwise known as bell pepper has a 0 SHU (Scoville unit). This measure was designed by diluting a solution of pepper extract in sugar water, until the heat is no longer felt by a panel of usually five tasters.

There are varieties of preparing and cooking crock pot chili recipes. The turkey crock pot chili uses ground turkey with pinto beans, tomatoes, salsa, chili powder and cumin but before adding all the ingredients in the slow cooker, the ground turkey is browned in a skillet with onions and is transferred to the crock pot after removing the excess fat. The beef crock pot chili uses ground beef with all the ingredients like the typical chili con carne with black beans and tomato sauce. You can go vegetarian with the vegetable crock pot chili that includes rice, potatoes, beans and tomatoes. Another variety of crock pot chili is the taco crock pot chili if you want to go Mexican loco over tacos. Whichever recipe you choose, you’ll still get the needed spice and intensity just the way you want it and get a dose of Vitamin C.

Tags: Rival, Rival Crock Pot, Cooking, Recipes, Crock Pot

Cooking Made Easy With These Tips

Posted on September 10th, 2007 in General Info by CrockPot

A crock pot meat is very easy to prepare, you just put everything in the crock pot then voila! your dinner is ready. There are a lot of recipes that you can use and experiment on but before diving in to your kitchen, take note of these tips we have that could definitely help you prepare a scrumptious crock pot meal:

Sudden changes on the temperature of your slow cooker will cause the ceramic dish to crack. So be very careful.

For the veggies, don’t cut them more than an inch thick. It’s also better to place them at the bottom of the crock pot. You don’t want to pair your crock pot meal with soggy or dried up veggies.

When it comes to browning meat, instead of putting it straight to the crock pot, use a stovetop first. Though this won’t enhance the flavor of your meat, it will help cut down the fat for a healthy crock pot meal. (Note: ground meat should be browned before putting it to your slow cooker)

Important! Never open the lid of your slow cooker until you’re almost done. Lifting the lid often lets out a lot of hot air resulting to a longer cooking time.

Remember: an hour on high temperature is equals to 2 and a half hour in low temperature.

If you are to use milk in your crock pot meal or any dairy product, it’s better to use it at the last part of cooking. Same goes with noodles. Both of them break down easily and don’t stay for long period of time.

Keeping these useful tips in mind will help you prepare a time-saving and appetizing crock pot meal for you and your family. Bon apetite!

Need a crock pot meal for a family get-together? Surprise them with this tasty meal they will surely enjoy:

Crock Pot Meal Tenderloin Roast:
Put 3 pounds of boneless pork tenderloin in the crock pot then add 2 cans cream of mushroom soup, 1 1/4 cups of water, 1 onion sliced. Add a little of salt and pepper. Cook the meat for 6 hours under high temperature or until it is tender. You can also experiment in adding some ingredients like a bit of Worcestershire Sauce or garlic powder or crushed garlic. Goes best with mashed potato, rice or salad.

Tip: Give your roast a little twist by adding the combination of any dried herb in butter. Rub the concoction to the meat and it will add a wonderful aroma around the kitchen.

Tags: Cooking, Slow Cooker, Rival, Crockpot, Crock Pot

Handy Ideas on Using a Slow Cooker

Posted on September 6th, 2007 in General Info by CrockPot

Slow cookers could be one of the most lovable appliances in the kitchen if it is used to its maximum capacity. It lets the zest of the dish flesh out on its own as it cooks between 170 and 280 degrees Fahrenheit. More so, it saves time for people who are always on the go by giving them the chance to prepare meals before they go to work and come home to a hot and sumptuous dish. Here are some helpful tips in using the slow cooker.

Before placing food in the slow cooker, defrost them so that ice will melt and it will be easier for them to be cooked. However, make sure that the slow cooker reached a temperature high enough to kill bacteria. If meat defrosts before the cooker reaches the bacteria-free temperature, put it in the chiller section of the refrigerator to keep it cold but not frozen. For vegetables, place them in the vegetable tray of the refrigerator, too.

Cut the vegetables and meat into small, yet presentable and scrumptious, pieces. It will help them to get cooked better and easier than whole meat. Whole meat could take so long to cook and can let bacteria thrive in for a long time, a very unhealthy thing. Also remember that when cooking meat, do not get them so cramped inside. Leave some space in between them so that heat could move freely. If you have vegetables to go with your meat, place them first before throwing in the meat because they tend to cook slower especially root vegetables. For minced seasonings, it is highly suggested that they be placed later because they will not stand long hours of cooking.

Long hours of cooking can make the food look paler. Pretty it up it with necessary garnish like cheese, red bell pepper, carrots, herbs, and others of your choice when cooking is almost done.

Never, ever, try to squeeze in lumps of food which are bigger than what the slow cooker can contain. The desired level of food to be placed in should not be less than one-half and not over two-thirds of the container. There are some cook books going around which provide recipes that entail putting whole chickens or ice-covered slices of meat. Please take note that these practices does not conform to food safety guidelines.

A timer or clock plugged near the slow cooker or that one in the microwave could be of use when the cooker is left alone and the power cuts off. The time will be displayed and will indicate if the food inside is still safe, two hours is considered the tops. Continue cooking the food if it is within the two-hour limit. After two hours or if a timer is not available to tell if the food is still all right, it is best to just throw the food away.

The slow cooker could add a lot of magic in cooking if one only knows its twists and turns. These are simple tips from cooking, capacity, food handling, and safety that could make cooking more enjoyable. Happy cooking!

Tags: Cooking, Rival, Cooker, Crock Pot, Recipes

Tips for Using Crock Pot Slow Cookers

Posted on September 6th, 2007 in General Info by CrockPot

A crock pot slow cooker lets you cook food without doing anything with it. It’s ideal for busy people who have to work outside the home all day. Here are some tips on how to use a crock pot:
 
- Don’t put too much food in the crock pot slow cooker. It may not cook well if you do.
 
- Since vegetables take longer to cook than meats, it is usually advisable to put them in the crock pot first, and then meat on top. However some people really dislike soggy vegetables. So experiment.
 
- Ingredients that cook rapidly should be added last, say in the last hour.
 
- Some sauces and spices do not perform well in crock pot slow cooking. Don’t put them in too early.

- If possible, set the crock pot slow cooker to HIGH for an hour and then to LOW. This allows the crock pot to pick up the required temperature more quickly.
 
- Don’t put frozen food straight into the crock pot cooker. Take the ingredients out of the refrigerator first. Otherwise it would take too long for the slow cooker to heat it.
 
- Avoid using fatty meats. They are not only bad for you, they also cook badly in a crock pot. So stick to lean meat.
 
- Dairy products such as milk, cream and cheese may be added in the last 45-60 minutes of slow cooking.
 
- If you’re around during the cooking, don’t peek into the food too often. Every time you take the lid off, you must add some 15 minutes to the total cooking time.
 
- Eat food immediately from the crock pot, and don’t re-heat leftovers in the crock pot.
 
- Do not place a crock on a cold surface. Use a buffet table to keep liquids warm.
 
- Take food out of the crock pot liner before refrigerating it. The liner is designed to retain heat and this isn’t what you want for the food (bacteria!).
 
- Clean your crock pots thoroughly after every use. Otherwise you’ll have a taste of yesterday and today—literally—next time you cook.
 
Above all, follow the directions in the crock pot slow cooker manual very carefully. In general, you do not have to worry with crock pots. They are energy-saving and safe to use. But it is better always to be on the safe side. The manual will also give you further information on cleaning and maintaining your crock pot.

Tags: Rival, Crock Pot Cooker Parts, Cooker, Cooking, Crock Pot

Irresistible Crock Pot Receipt Offer

Posted on September 4th, 2007 in General Info by CrockPot

One of the best wares for preparing super tender meat dishes is Crock Pot culinary wares. And most stores provide a warranty for a year as long as the Crock Pot receipt is intact.

Upon showing the Crock pot receipt at a designated service center, the necessary repair or replacement will be in place. Designated service centers are reflected in warranty clauses on receipts. Check out the nearest location. For any repair or replacement, just bring the unit and the receipt along and service centers will take it from there.

Crock Pot wares are for slow cooking. They come in quarter ovals, portable cookers, cookers with travel bags, portable slow cookers, and stainless steel slow cookers, among others. From the day it was bought, a Crock Pot ware is assured to be fail-safe as far as material and workmanship is concerned. Warranty is for a year. The term is applicable as long as the Crock Pot receipt is kept intact. All claims on guarantee must be substantiated with a proof of purchase—namely, a Crock Pot receipt.

Any part or function of a Crock Pot ware found to have any factory defect (design, materials, wirings, switches, push buttons, timer, etc.) will be repaired or replaced at the proof of a Crock Pot receipt. Service centers are entitled to decide either to repair or replace, with the end goal of having the ware as good as new.

Upon proof of Crock Pot receipt, a ware with factory defect will be repaired with the best workmanship available and any defective part replaced with a brand new one. Or, on showing a service outlet a Crock Pot receipt and the ware needs a new ware replacement, a similar Crock Pot ware will be issued the customer holding the receipt.

The guarantee, however, is non transferable. The name of the customer reflected on the warranty clause, and who holds the original Crock Pot receipt, will be given the ware replacement. Crock Pot receipts are honored if the ware has been used only for slow cooking. Untampered wares pass for valid warranty. Any defect other than factory induced will not pass for a warranty, regardless of a Crock Pot receipt. Calamities, regardless of a Crock Pot receipt, are also not covered.

Crock Pot wares are one of the latest trends and innovations in culinary slow cooking. To make them more quality, a one-year warranty based on Crock Pot receipts is given to ensure total confidence in Crock Pot quality.

Tags: Crock Pot Cooker Parts, Recipes, Cooker, Rival Crock Pot, Food

Crock Me Up

Posted on August 7th, 2007 in General Info by CrockPot

The kitchen is one of the rooms of the house that can keep the family intact and develop closer ties with each other, from choosing the ingredients to food handling and preparation, everyone can participate. Though the times have changed drastically where everyone is in a hurry to fulfill a task or complete a responsibility, most people would opt to buy ready made food from fast food restaurants, missing out the importance of quality time. One particular kitchenware was invented and designed to make cooking as effortless and less time consuming as possible and that is the crock pot.

The crock pot is informally referred to as slow cooker; a contertop appliance used to cook meals with water under low temperature using electricity. It is a convenient cooking method since you can let it do the cooking for you unattended with little preparation involved. A common example of a slow cooker is a rice cooker. The crock pot is a trademark of Rival industries after they refined the design bought from Naxon Co., making it commonly known as Rival crock pot. Its design is like a cooking pot that can be made of ceramic, or porcelain with a glass lid for the food to be visible.

There are advantages of using Rival crock pot. You can cook meals without much hassle of food preparation since you only need the raw meat, water or any liquid to form the soup base and some spices to come up with a meal for the whole family. You can also go about doing other things while letting the slow cooker do the cooking for you, less hassle and effort for you to spend more time with the family. There are also disadvantages of using the slow cooker. The needed nutrients in vegetables are lost when cooked at a slow heat and at the same time, not all bacteria and toxins are destroyed using this method. The opening of the glass lid to add new ingredients can also prolong the cooking process since it needs to recover the loss of heat and moisture, giving also a chance for microbes to grow.

One thing to take note of the Rival crock pot is that it is not to be confused with pressure cooker. The pressure cooker has a valve on the lid to regulate the pressure and heat in cooking because, without it, the cooker will explode and is typically made of steel while the Rival crock pot is made of porcelain or ceramic and without a valve.

It is a good thing that we a variety of choices for our kitchenware yet, we should not forget that sometimes, it is good to prepare food the conventional way so to make it more special for the family and at the same time, enjoy the food as a family. With this, our choice of kitchenware should be based on good judgement for the family’s safety since there are some slow cookers that have lead lined on the interior, making it hazardous instead of nutritious for the family.

Tags: Slow Cooker, Rival Crock Pot, Crockpot, Cooker, Cooking