Slow cookers are great for cooking recipes that need a long time to cook at low heat. They can make tough meat tender or cook dried peas and beans. You can put the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning and come home from work to a well cooked meal. Slow cookers are great for making big batches of food that you can freeze for later or share with family and friends.
There are usually two main pieces, plus the lid: 1) The metal outside casing/base 2) The ceramic container that fits inside of the metal casing The metal outside casing has the electrical coils inside of it that heat up and cook the food. Slow cookers come in many sizes and are usually round or oval. They use a very small amount of energy, so you can safely leave them on when you are away from home. The slow cooker has 2 temperature settings: ‘Low’ setting: usually 200⁰F (90⁰C) ‘High’ setting: usually 300⁰F (150⁰C) One hour on the ‘high’ setting is equal to about two hours on the ‘low’ setting. Cleaning the Slow Cooker Always unplug the slow cooker before cleaning it. Use a clean, soapy cloth to wash the outside of the slow cooker (never submerge the metal casing/base in water). Dry the outside with a clean cloth to remove any soap film. Wash the removable ceramic container and lid like you would wash any dishes.
