Crockin' 101

Crockpots (aka, slow cookers) first hit the market in the 1970s, when huge numbers of women joined the workforce. Slow cooking has recently made a comeback because more people are working longer hours, yet crave the comfort of a homemade meal.

Crockpots won’t heat up your kitchen, which makes them perfect for whipping up hearty meals all year long!

What size should you cook with?
The majority of recipes work in 6 to 7-quart slow cookers. Desserts and sides seem to work well in 4, 5 to 6 quart crocks. The smaller crocks are great for dips.

Timing is everything:
Cook times do vary from one crockpot to another. What might take 4 hours to cook in one crockpot, might take 6 hours in another one. Some models cook very hot, while others are just right. Desserts are definitely recipes you should watch closely. Also, the size of your slow cooker will impact the cook time.

Some items that I keep on had just for crockpot recipes are: They help make a variety of recipes.

Diced Tomatoes
Frozen Chicken Breast---yes, you can use frozen chicken in your crockpot as long as the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees!
2-3 Bags frozen veggies
Rotel
Salsa
Spaghetti Sauce
BBQ Sauce
Stock/Broth
Noodles/Pasta
Tortillas
Shredded Cheese
Velveeta
Garlic---fresh or already minced/chopped will work!
Taco Seasonings
Canned Beans, corn
Potatoes
Onion
Ranch Dressing Mix
Cream of Chicken soup

Crockpots saves you time in the kitchen---let's face it, you can pretty much just dump the ingredients in and leave it! for a few hours and then enjoy a delicious meal with your family and friends later!

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