Slow Cooker Crock Pot

Poultry, especially chicken, have been gracing our dinner tables because of its versatility and unique ability to absorb different flavors. Chicken can be cooked in many different ways like frying, grilling, baking, and yes, like any other meat product, it can benefit from a slow cooker.

Although putting chicken in a slow cooker requires close monitoring because white meat has a shorter cooking time compared to red meat, this cooking technique is becoming more popular because a slow cooker will not only allow the chicken meat to retain it moisture, but it also steams in the meat’s natural juices while the original flavor is preserved. Usually, cooking chicken will take approximately six to seven hours. The extended cooking hours allow seasoning to seep into the flesh distributes flavor evenly can be left unattended for the whole day.

One problem about slow cookers, however, is that they tend to leave the chicken meat soggy and wading in too much juice. The secret to achieving a moist but firm chicken meal is putting as little water into the slow cooker as possible. This is because slow cookers are designed to allow condensation, which is responsible for the juicy characteristic of your chicken dish. To allow juices to develop, it is always advisable not to open the lid of your slow cooker in the first two hours of cooking to contain the heat inside.

Cooking chicken in a slow cooker will require a low-heat setting to keep the meat from being boiled out and shred into pieces. While it is true that putting your slow cooker in high heat will cut the cooking time in half, it might leave the inner part of your chicken meat undercooked while the outer part is dry and almost burnt.

Slow cookers sometimes dilute flavors especially with overnight or whole day cooking. But this can be remedied by brining your chicken first. Brining involves soaking chicken meat in a solution of salt and water (3 tablespoon of salt to 4 cups of water) for an hour before cooking to keep the meat juicy and tender and retain its flavor even with extended cooking hours. If you don’t have time to brine your chicken, you may add seasonings, spices, and herbs near the end of the cooking so the dish won’t turn out bland. In addition, garnishes like herbs, red bell peppers, tomatoes, and cheese will help make your chicken dish look more appealing as slow cookers tend to sap the color out of the meat.

Cooking chicken with slow cookers is another innovative way to add variety to your culinary activity. Recipes for slow cooked chicken dishes are available for free online, so you don’t have any excuse not to try them.

Tags: Cooking, Food, Slow Cooker, Crockpot, Recipes