Slow Cooker Crock Pot

Due to the length of cooking time required for slow cookers to cook food, they earn the reputation for cooking only big and sophisticated recipes. But nothing’s farther from the truth. Cooking light meals are also possible with slow cookers.

Automatic slow cooker units are equipped with heat regulators and timers that make them flexible and adaptable to cook both light and heavy recipes. When cooking light meals, just switch heat regulator to low or high heat and adjust the timer to be proportionate to the lightness or heaviness of dish being slow-cooked.

Vegetable recipes are thought to be overcooked when slow cooked. A slow cooker often takes about 5 to 10 hours to cook food, as often gleaned from slow cooker recipes. But slow cooking light meals like vegetables to 30 minutes or an hour actually brings out the best flavor of dishes mixed with them at the same time keeping their nutrition intact.

Even all-vegetarian recipes are excellently done with slow cooker techniques that make cooking light meals like veggies crunchy, healthy, and delicious. There are several tips worth remembering when cooking light meals with a slow cooker.

When cooked with a little beef or pork, cooking light meals should be done by cooking meats first. Wait till they get tender enough before the light ingredients, like veggies and vegetable spices, are added into the slow cooker. Vegetables often take only a few minutes to cook, so adjust the timing accordingly when cooking light meals with a slow cooker.

Some noodles (like thin rice noodles), fish, chicken meat, and some fruits may also be considered when cooking light meals. There are noodles today made from squash and sweet potatoes. Light meals are characterized by low calorie content, so go easy on carb, fats, and avoid too much oil or cream. If noodles are contemplated, just use a handful. Cooking light meals in slow cookers often means having stewed recipes, or else steamed. Water in recipes neutralize the calorie content of most dishes.

When cooking light meals, avoid too much thickness in sauce. The tendency with thick-sauced dishes in slow cookers is too much use of starch or flour. Imagine eating such food as rice toppings. That’s a ton of calories. People end up with a meal too heavy on carbohydrates. So, cooking light meals in slow cooker pots should use a bit more water when cooking sauced or sautéed food.

The next time cooking light is desired with a slow cooker, just watch the calorie content and add in a little water.

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