Cooking Fish Recipes in a Slow Cooker

Even if you frequently use your slow cooker to make beef, pork or chicken recipes, you might have completely overlooked fish dishes. Fish is known for its ability to cook fast so perhaps you thought slow cooking was not an option for it. Actually using a crockpot to make your fish and seafood recipes helps to keep the subtle fish flavor intact because no moisture is lost during the slow cooking process and the heat is kept low.

You can use fish in casserole, stew, soup and pasta recipes. You can also poach or steam it in the crockpot. To poach fish, you just need to add it to the crock pot, cover it with water, stock or wine and add your chosen herbs or spices. Parsley and bay leaves are especially good for fish dishes. Poaching might only take forty five minutes, depending on the type of fish you use and its thickness, so keep an eye on it. If you are using flat fish you can braise it. Roll it up before adding it to keep it in one piece and keep the flavor locked in.

How to Cook Shellfish in a Crockpot
Shellfish does not combine well with long cooking times, so if you want to add some to a stew or soup recipe, add it near the end of the cooking time so it can warm through. Shrimp can be added to crockpot chowders, soups or stews. You can either add them in their shells or de-shelled. Gumbo and jambalaya are slow cooker recipes and you can add some tasty shrimp to these, whether you make them on the stove or slow cook them. Clams and mussels are good for making stews, especially when you use a tomato or white wine based sauce.

Slow Cooking Times for Fish
Some meat dishes, especially when you are using tough cuts, can take up to ten hours to tenderize in a crock pot but fish cooks faster, which is why slow cooker recipes for fish usually only need three or four hours. Leaving the fish in the crockpot when it has finished cooking can dry it out so this is not something to leave in there all day while you are out. You will need to serve the fish as soon as it is ready.

You can cook steaks from big fish like mackerel, salmon, haddock and cod. You would not be able to fit a whole one of these fish into the slow cooker but the steaks cook well. If you have a whole fish and it is very big, you can chop your own steaks from it or get a fishmonger to do it for you. Flat fish tend to be smaller in general than these bigger species, so you can cook a whole plaice or sole. The flesh of these fish is not muscular since they are not very active. This means the flesh will be delicate and soft when it is cooked.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Szalay-Kudra/414787

Mouthwatering Slow Cooker Recipes

Slow cooker or crock pot is an appliance used for cooking meals in low temperature. There are lots of slow cooker recipes that can be done by moms at home or chefs in restaurants. The most common and favorite recipe that everybody loves is the roast beef. It can be cooked in an oven but putting it in a slow cooker will bring out a more flavorful taste.

There are other slow cooker recipes that anyone can try. They are available everywhere. Even a chicken stew recipe can already be done in slow cooker. It is very easy to do and requires only a few ingredients. The result is a mouthwatering and healthy dish. The whole family will surely enjoy the meal.

The main ingredient is a skinless and boneless chicken meat. The breast part is the best to stew. Red potatoes are also needed to add flavors. You could add up your favorite seasonings. Spice it up a bit if the guests like it a little hot.

First, heat the oil in a skillet in medium high heat. Saute garlic and chicken until it turns light brown. Add the chicken. After that, put the remaining ingredients, like water, potatoes, apple and other seasonings, in the slow cooker. Mix all the ingredients together for the flavors to blend well. Remember to use the low setting temperature only. This recipe is simmered in 6 to 8 hours.

Another recommended recipe is corned beef. It tastes better than the commercial variety you see in cans. Beef is normally tenderized in pressure cookers, but try it with a slow cooker this time and taste the big difference.

The procedure will take more than 24 hours but the taste is well worth the time you put in to do it. It will take from 7 to 8 days to be able to complete your own homemade version. But despite the waiting these long, you and your family will surely be satisfied of the taste of your homemade corned beef.

There are many ways to cook it but here is one common procedure used. The main ingredients are the fresh beef brisket and corned beef. You could improvise and alter to your liking. Some will add potatoes and tomatoes also. Others will be heavy on pepper while some would prefer it mild only.

It is better to start doing your homemade corned beef early in the morning so that it can be served dinner time on your weekends. Mix together water, mustard, salt, sugar, spices and garlic. Put it in a stock pot over high heat. Bring it to a boil then let it cool. Trim the corned beef afterward then pour the mixture or broth. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl making sure the beef is submerged fully.

Add water if necessary to fully immerse the beef. Cover it well then put in the refrigerator for a few days. Turn the beef and stir the solution once in a while to make sure the beef absorbs the flavors.

Leave it for about three days. Afterward, place the beef in slow burner and mix the remaining ingredients except the vegetables. Cook for 2.5 to 3 hours. Next, add the vegetables. Medium heat can cook the vegetable for at most 3 hours. The result is a very tender and flavorful beef that is simply incomparable to the commercial variety.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/David_Urmann/39183

All One Needs to Understand Regarding a Slow Cooker

Slow cookers are a fantastic piece of equipment to have in your home. It both saves time and it also prepares fantastic, well-cooked, great tasting meals. There are some who have not operated a slow cooker though, and for those people who haven't, read up on this practical information.

Many will actually doubt the slow cooker's safety, given that the machine has to be left on for quite a large number of hours. So, if your concern is about safety, the answer is no worries, the slow cooker is not dangerous. This cooking machine cooks at a low temperature, usually at about 170 to 280 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, the electricity consumed from a slow cooker is significantly lesser that if you used your conventional over.

Another great thing about cooking dishes at this type of temperature is that when cooking non-prime meat cuts they become just as tender as cooking the high priced prime cuts the conventional method. Additionally in terms of safety when it comes to the meals, the direct heat, the time it takes to cook the food, and the steam that is trapped inside the tight-lidded pot kills the harmful bacteria in your food.

Ok, getting to the cooking part. As is usual when handling all kinds of food, one should start with a clean work place and clean implements. Clean your hands thoroughly prior to touching any food and keep your meats in the refrigerator right until the moment that they need to be added. Bacteria produces at a quick pace at room temperature so make sure that your slow cooker is preheated a bit prior to combining the meat to your dish from the refrigerator. You may use the veggies before of the meat as they mostly cook not as fast as than meats. It is important to note though that meats should be defrosted first before being put in a slow cooker for best results.

Ideally meals that can be cooked in a slow roaster are those that are moist such as soups, stews or pot roasts so they will not dry out. Also remember that a big slow roaster should not be used to produce single servings of food or they will be in danger of being overcooked. A cooker ideally should be filled around half of the container capacity, but not to exceed two thirds. While running do not open the lid as much as possible, only doing so to determine if it is finished, or to stir the meal. Opening the lid lowers the temperature quickly and more than likely affect the doneness of your meal.

When confused on the cooking setting to choose on your slow cooker, one has to take into consideration the amount of time that you're going to be cooking it. For stubborn meat cuts, a greaterlonger cooking time using a low setting is more desirable. However some helpful advice is to put the setting on max for the first cooking hour, then set it to the lower for the succeeding hours. If for any reason the power shuts off midway through cooking your meal, finish cooking it on your stove. If it has been at room temperature for a bit of time 1/2 done, your food might be safer to just toss this batch away and start over.

after you have cooked a successful dish, transfer the contents at once. Remove the pot, clean thoroughly, and make sure that it is dry before storing.

Peter Garant is a professional commercial and homechef and consultant for a hospitality company representing international corporations and is the web master of a network of slow cooking

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Peter_Garant/22403

Cleaning Your Slow Cooker -- Some Do's and Don'ts

Slow cookers are cool. This appliance helps you cook warming meals on chilly nights and gets you out of the kitchen on hot days. No wonder the popularity of slow cookers is soaring. Slow cookers are available in many sizes, colors, and some are programmable. If you don't have a slow cooker yet you may wish to buy one.

According to "One Pot Wonders," an article on the CBS News Web site, about 80% of American kitchens have a slow cooker. "Experts predict [slow cookers] will be a big trend in 2008," the articles notes. Grocery stores have picked up on the trend and sell pre-cut veggies and meat for slow cookers. Book stores have dozens of books devoted to slow cooker recipes.

Slow cooking is a safe way to cook if you follow the directions and clean your cooker properly. Here are some care and cleaning tips.

1. Never preheat a slow cooker. This advice comes from the Kraft Kitchens Canada Web site. Preheating an empty crock may cause it to crack.

2. Handle the crock carefully. In an article titled, "Cleaning Your Crockery Cooker," the Better Homes and Gardens Web site cautions users about hitting the crock on the kitchen faucet. (Apparently this has happened.) One hit could chip or crack the insert.

3. Coat the crock with nonstick spray before using. This prevents food from sticking and makes clean-up a breeze.

2. Put a liner in the crock. According to the Reynolds Web site, slow cooker liners are made of heat-resistant nylon and designed for easy clean-up. The liner is simply thrown away. But using a liner doesn't get you out of cleaning the crock. Even if you don't see a drip, you should still wash the crock for food safety.

5. Use the right utensils. Stir food with a wooden spoon, plastic spoon, or rubber spatula to prevent scratching.

6. After the food has finished cooking, unplug the slow cooker. Wipe the cord with a damp cloth.
7. Let our slow cooker cool down before you wash it. Never add cold water to a hot crock or put a hot crock in cold water.

8. Wash the crock in warm, soapy water. Use a soft cloth, plastic brush, or plastic scrubbie. Let the crock soak a bit if food is really stuck.

9. Wash the lid in the dishwasher. A glass lid can go anywhere. If the lid is plastic, put it on the top rack.

10. Wipe the outside with a damp cloth and dry completely. Do not use abrasive cleaners, harsh chemicals, or scouring pads on the outside of your slow cooker or you will damage it forever. These tips will keep your food safe and your slow cooker working for years.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Harriet_Hodgson/7963

Chicken Stew and Corned Beef Slow Cooker Recipes

Slow cookers are time efficient appliances and very easy to use. You do not need to check on your cooking from time to time. You can cook the food for hours and it still tastes great. Here are chicken and corned beef recipes you can make using your slow cooker or crock pot.

Chicken Stew
Ingredients include 2 large-sized onions; 2 lbs. skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch cubes; 2 large-sized carrots that are cut into 1 in. slices or 1 cup of baby carrots; 3 ½ cups of chicken broth, 3 medium-sized potatoes that are cut into 1 in. cubes and 1 tsp. celery seeds. Other ingredients are ½ tsp. seasoned pepper mix or black pepper, 1 tsp. dried thyme, salt, 1 cup thawed frozen corn, 8 oz. sliced mushrooms and 1 cup thawed frozen peas.

Procedure:
Mix all the ingredients in your slow cooker, excluding the peas. Stir it well.Cover it and cook it on low for 8 up to 8 hours. Cook it until the chicken is well done and the vegetables become tender. You can stir-in the peas during the final 30 minutes.

Mexican-Style Chicken Stew
Ingredients are 4 up to 5 medium-sized peeled potatoes that should be cut into very small cubes; 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts that needs to be cut into 1 in. pieces; 1 16 ounce jar of mild salsa, 1 envelope taco seasoning mix, 1 can of diced green chili peppers and 1 can tomato sauce.

Procedure:
Mix all the ingredients in your slow cooker. Cover your slow cooker and set it on Low for about 7 up to 9 hours. You can serve this with warm flour tortillas.

Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe
Ingredients are 3 medium-sized thinly sliced carrots, 6 up to 8 medium-sized peeled tomatoes that should be cut into ½ in. slices, 2 thinly sliced ribs celery, 1 2-pound cabbage, 1 -pound corned beef brisket, 1 ½ cups water and ½ tsp. black pepper.

Procedure:
Lightly spray or butter a 5 up to 6 qrt. Slow cooker. Layer the potato slices at the bottom portion of the slow cooker as well as with carrots. Place the corned beef on the vegetables. Slice the cabbage into 8 wedges, arranging them around the meat. Sprinkle with pepper. Add some water. Cover ad cook it on low from about 7 up to 8 hour. Make sure the vegetables and meat becomes tender. Remove the meat and put it on a platter. Cover this with some foil and allow it to rest for about 10 up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, slice the meat and serve.

Corned Beef and Vegetables
Ingredients are 2 turnips or 1 medium-sized rutabaga cut into 2 inches chunks; 3 to 4 carrots cut crosswise, halved lengthwise, making 2 to 3 inch pieces; 3 to 4 lbs corned beef brisket which you can cut if necessary; 1 ½ cup water, 3 medium-sized quartered onions, salt and pepper as well as 1 small cabbage.

Procedure:
Using a 5- up to 6-quart crock pot or slow cooker, mix all the ingredients, excluding the cabbage. Cover the crock pot, cook on Low for 4 hours and cook on High for another 2 hours. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook again on Low for 7 up to 9 hours and on High for 4 up to 5 hours.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/David_Urmann/39183

Everyday Cooking With a Slow Cooker

Homemakers and even the most experienced chefs will agree that slow cookers are a boon to the culinary world and food preparation in general as the cooking is done over several hours, ensuring that all the flavors are sealed into the dish, making it all the more succulent and delicious.

Why use a crock-pot when I can use an oven?
Apart from the fact that it requires minimal culinary skills and saves you a lot of time and effort, slow cooking is the healthiest way to preserve the nutritional value of food. The cooking is done over several hours with a covered lid over medium heat so that the nutrients contained in the food remain intact.

Another major advantage of using a crock-pot is that it gives you the liberty to go about your everyday chores, without having to constantly check to see if the cooking is done. For instance if you fancy a pot roast for dinner, all you need to do is dump all the ingredients into the crock pot and allow it to cook on the low while you go to work and nine hours later, you can come home to a delectable meal.

Slow cookers save you the trouble of cleaning up after you have whipped up a hearty meal as all the cooking is confined to a lidded vessel. Now, instead of sweating it out in the kitchen, you can relegate the cooking duties to this excellent device while you watch the season finale of your favorite soap or spend time in the park with your kids.

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
And last but not least, no other cooking medium or device can supersede the moistly succulent taste of pork or beef when cooked in a crock pot. This is due to the fact that the meat is cooked on a uniform temperature for a couple of hours, thus tenderizing the meat with its own juices and inherent flavors to create a lip smacking entrée fit for a king. So bring out that slow cooker from its retirement and infuse new life into it with a classic recipe that we have for you below:

Hash Brown Casserole
Ingredients:
• 1 cup of chopped onions
• 30 to 32 ounces of frozen shredded hash browns
• 10 3/4 ounces of condensed cream of celery soup
• 6 tbs of melted butter
• 8 ounces of light sour cream
• 10 3/4 ounces of condensed nacho cheese soup

Method:
Insert a few drops of nonstick cooking spray at the base of the crock-pot. Combine all the ingredients together in a large bowl and pour the same into the crock-pot. Cook on low for about 6 hours. Serve hot and enjoy!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christoper_M_Hayes/1450204

Slow Cooker Cleaning - Strategies for Success

For busy folks on the go, crock pots, also called slow cookers, can be an amazing advancement. They offer the convenience of delicious, hot, and healthy meals, even after a long day of work.  While using them is easy -- just add the ingredients, turn on, and then ignore until finished, cleaning the slow cooker's crock can be a challenge.
Here are some strategies to make it easier...

Add caption

Liner Bags
There are several different brands of slow cooker liner bags available.  You simply line the crock with the liner bag, add the ingredients and cook as directed. After the meal is ready, remove the meal from the bag and serve it. In most cases, you'll be able to toss the liner bag, leaving the practically clean crock ready for a quick clean up. You should never leave the food in the bag after cooking or store the food in the bag. While these bags can make clean-up easy, you'll need a bag each time, which can be costly. In addition, the bags may not hold up for longer recipes (in the 8-10 hour range).

Cooking Spray
Cooking spray is one of my favorite kitchen tricks. I use it for a lot of applications. In this case, simply spray the slow cookers crock thoroughly, before you add the ingredients. This will keep the cooked food from sticking to the pot walls. Obviously, you will need to clean the pot, but the sticking should be minimized if not completely eliminated.

Clean Up Immediately
Food fresh out of a crock pot is very hot. You can easily let the food sit for 5 minutes while you start clean up on the pot and it will have no adverse on affect the dinner.

As long as the crock isn't too hot to handle, you should be fine. In the case of a ceramic pot, avoid bringing a very hot pot in contact with a cold surface like a counter top or sink. I run hot soapy water into the pot, using my sink sprayer. I leave the pot sitting in the unplugged crock pot while I eat.

Soaking
More often than not, I wait until I am doing the rest of the dishes to wash my crock pot liner. I fill it with soapy water and leave it soaking on the counter while I do the rest of the dishes. I don't have a dishwasher, so I wash the dishes by hand which take a bit of time. Leaving the crock until the end gives it plenty of time to soak and makes cleanup a breeze.

Machine Washing
Ceramic and stoneware crocks are usually dishwasher safe. Check your instruction manual and if it says it is alright, just whomp that puppy into the dishwasher!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tink_Boord-Dill/172898

Easy and Satisfying Slow Cooker Recipes

If the howling winds and frigid temperatures weren't indication enough, we can certainly help confirm: winter is here folks! And while the powdery fresh snowfalls and Holiday merriment can be enjoyable, it's safe to say that gusts of wind, sharp as whips, and early morning alarm clocks, forcing you from your warm bed, are not.

Winter can be a difficult and arduous time, and most of us are just trying to get through it. It is during these tough months that we feel ever so grateful to the kitchen companion that everyone should have by now: Slow Cookers. What can be more comforting than a warm bowl of stew waiting for you after a treacherous commute home?
So, in ode to the magnificent invention that is the crockpot, here is a list of our favorite Slow Cooker recipes:
Slow Cooker Pasta Fagioli

This easy soup recipe is an Italian masterpiece! Bits of Bacon complete a flavorful, tomato-y broth that's accompanied with tender bites of pasta and hearty cannellini beans. Here's how you make it:
Here's what you will need:

1. 6 slices of bacon, chopped
2. 1 medium onion, chopped
3. 2 medium carrots, chopped
4. 2 stalks celery, chopped
5. 1 clove garlic
6. 1 can of cannellini beans (or white kidney beans)
7. 1 can of diced tomatoes
8. 3 chicken flavored bouillon cubes, crumbled
9. 4 cups of water
10. ¾ cup of ditalini or other small pasta

How to make it:
1. Crisp the bacon in a nonstick skillet, removing after cooked and reserving two tablespoons of the drippings.

2. In the grease, cook the chopped onion, carrots and celery until they're soft.

3. Add the garlic and cook for an additional thirty seconds, before emptying the vegetables into the slow cooker.

4. Add half of the bacon and half a cup of beans (mashed with a fork) to the cooker.

5. Add the tomatoes, chicken bouillon and water and set the timer between eight to ten hours, if cooking on low, or four to six hours, if cooking on high.

6. After that time has passed, add the pasta and cook, uncovered for an additional thirty minutes. Garnish the delicious soup recipe with the remaining bacon and a flourish of Parmesan cheese. If desired, serve with crusty Italian bread.

Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew
If anything is deserving of a long, slow cook time, it's without doubt a hearty beef stew. This delicious soup recipe gets all of its flavor from a period of time that allows the individual ingredients to flavor the broth, and a slow heat that tenderizes the tasty beef chunks. A slow cooker certainly helps with this process, as you're free to go about your day while the easy soup recipe simmers away at your stovetop!
Here's what you will need:

1. 3 ¼ cups boiling water
2. 1 tub Home-Style Stock- Beef
3. 1 ½ lbs. boneless beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
4. Ground black pepper
5. 4 tbsp. all-purpose flour
6. 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
7. 1 lb. medium potatoes, cut into cubes (about 3 cups)
8. 4 medium carrots, sliced (about 2 cups)
9. 2 medium onions, cut into wedges
10. 4 cloves of garlic
11. 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
12. 1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
13. 1 bay leaf
14. 1 cup thawed frozen green peas

How to make it:
1. Ready your stock by adding boiling water and stirring it thoroughly.

2. Proceed by seasoning your beef with the black pepper and coating it well with two tablespoons of the flour.

3. On medium heat, brown the pieces of beef and set aside. In the slow cooker, add the potatoes, carrots, onions and garlic.

4. Nestle the beef amongst the vegetables and add three cups of stock, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and bay leaf.

5. Cover and cook on low for eight hours, or five hours on high.

6. Blend the remaining flour with the leftover stock until smooth and then add the gravy and peas to the slow cooker. After fifteen minutes, this delicious soup recipe is ready to eat.

A slow cooker makes these easy soup recipes even simpler on the days when they're most appreciated. The next time you're in the mood for something ultra comforting on a busy day, try one of these dynamite slow cooker soups!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Chris_Bilyk/1684521