Healthy Living A-Z Slow Cookers

1. Healthy Living A-ZSlow Cookers Name: Title: County:

2. Today you will learn • Advantages of slow cooking • How the slow cooker works • Types of slow cookers • Safe food practices • Care of the slow cooker • Adapting Recipes • Secrets for Success Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

3. Safe Food Practices • Wash hands in hot soapy water • Always use clean utensils & do not cross contaminate • Use potholders—containers can be hot • Rest cookware on heat protected surfaces Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

4. Slow cooker meals • Energy efficient • Cool cooking • Portable • No clock watching • Easy preparation • Moist & flavorful • Finish meal in minutes Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

5. More advantages • Low heat helps less expensive, leaner cuts of meat become tender & shrink less • Retains nutrients & flavor • Less clean-up • Keeps food safe during parties Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

6. Slow cookers are safe • Cooks slowly at a low temperature—170° to 280°F • Direct heat from pot, long cooking & steam created in tightly-covered container combine to destroy bacteria Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

7. 2 types of slow cookers • Continuous • Heating coils in outer metal shell • Two or three fixed settings • Liners may be removable Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

8. 2. Intermittent • Heating element in base cycles on/off • Dial has numbers or settings • Lowest may be only for warming Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

9. Sizes of slow cookers • Range from 1 to 6 quarts • Smallest for vegetable side dishes • Largest cook enough food for 6-12 servings Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

10. Food safety & slow cookers • To help foods heat, make those with a high moisture content • Chili, soup, stew, spaghetti sauce • When food is cooking & once it's done, it stays safe as long as cooker is operating Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

11. Meat safety in slow cookers • Start with fresh or thawed meat—not frozen • If using commercially frozen slow cooker meals, prepare according to manufacturer's instructions • Cook & drain all ground meat before adding to the slow cooker Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

12. Meat safety in the slow cooker • Use chunks rather than large cuts or roasts • Use pieces of poultry—not whole birds Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

13. Slow cooker safety • Temperature in middle at least 140oF within 1-1/2 hours & remain at least 30 minutes • Do not add frozen ingredients • Prepare & store ingredients separately • Keep the lid on • Check internal temperature: 160oF Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

14. Slow cooker safety • Only use recipes with liquid • Do not delay starting time • Remove leftovers as soon as you finish eating • Do not reheat foods in slow cooker Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

15. Filling a slow cooker • No less than half full • No more than 2/3 full • Vegetables on the bottom & sides • Meat in next • Cover food with liquid Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

16. Settings • Most have 2 or more • Use low for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts • If possible, turn cooker on highest setting for 1st hour, then to low or setting called for in recipe • Is safe to cook low the entire time Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

17. Tips for adapting recipes • Find a similar recipe in a slow cooker cookbook • Decrease the amount of liquid to about half Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

18. General oven to slow cooker cooking time conversions Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

19. Slow cooker tips • Spray cooker with vegetable spray • Brown meats ahead to reduce fat & for flavor • Trim meat before slow cooking • Red meat • Poultry: skin off Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

20. Slow cooker tips • Cut root vegetables and put on the bottom • Spices and herbs: effects of slow cooking varies • Add ground during last hour • Reduce whole spices & herbs by half Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

21. Slow cooker tips • Things to add late in the cooking • Rice • Noodles & pasta • Chinese vegetables • Milk • Pepper (black & red) • Fish Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

22. Special Care Required • Follow manufacturer’s directions. • Never submerge heating unit. • Never use removable liner on gas or electric burner or under broiler. • Do not use abrasive cleaners. • Do not add cold foods or water to the hot stoneware. • Do not use plastic lids in microwave. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

23. Power outages • When not at home during entire slow-cooking process & power goes out, throw away food even if it looks done • When at home, finish cooking ingredients immediately by some other means • When you are at home, & if food was completely cooked before power went out, food should remain safe up to 2 hours Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

24. Review • Advantages of slow cooking • How the slow cooker works • Types of slow cookers • Safety precautions & care of the slow cooker • How to adapt favorite recipes • Safe Food Practices Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

25. Slow Cooking Saves: • Saves time • Saves energy • Is safe • Is fun And helps you slow down while “Living in the Fast Lane” Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

26. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service