Slow cooking involves preparing foods with low and steady heat over a period of four hours or more. Most slow cookers, like the Smart Cooker, have two temperature settings: Low and High. In this unpressurized and covered environment, the High temperature setting cooks a dish in four to six hours. The Low setting generally takes eight to ten hours to reach the same spectacular result. If you need a hand, check out the Calculator on the CHEF iQ App for timing and tips! Here’s why we think slow cooking is so special.
1.Tenderize tough cuts of meat.
After a long, slow cook, flavorful but tough muscles like pork shoulder become meltingly tender. These pieces are perfect for tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, and so much more. For a sumptuous meal, try slow cooking beef short ribs with red wine. Pro tip: For the deepest flavor, sear the meat right in your Smart Cooker before slow cooking.
2.Work with your schedule.
One of the top benefits of slow cooking is that you don’t need to be there to do it. Simply set the timer, power through your workday, get your workout in, and run your errands—just in time for dinner.
3.Deepen the flavor of your food.
Spending some time in a pot together is a great way for ingredients to get to know one another, which is why slow cooking is especially well-suited for making soups and stews.
4.Create one-pot meals for easy cleanup.
Since slow cooking starts and ends with all the ingredients in one pot, you can expect cleanup as easy as the cooking process!
5.Make nutritious and safe meals.
The low heat used in slow cooking destroys fewer nutrients than high-heat cooking. Meat and other ingredients are also cooked more safely since any remaining bacteria are killed off by the steam and tightly sealed pot. Slow cooking is also an excellent way to cook legumes, which are a staple in many healthy diets!
FAQs
The low heat used in slow cooking destroys fewer nutrients than high-heat cooking. Meat and other ingredients are also cooked more safely since any remaining bacteria are killed off by the steam and tightly sealed pot. Slow cooking is also an excellent way to cook legumes, which are a staple in many healthy diets!
What is the advantage of slow cooking? ›
Slow cookers cook food at a low temperature (usually around 93c) for anywhere between 4-8 hours. Because of the lower temperature, the nutrients in the food remain more stable than other methods of cooking.
What makes a slow cooker special? ›
The contents of a crock pot are effectively at atmospheric pressure, despite the water vapor generated inside the pot. A slow cooker is quite different from a pressure cooker and presents no danger of an abrupt pressure release. The "crock", or ceramic pot, itself acts as both a cooking container and a heat reservoir.
Why do people love slow cookers? ›
Slow cooking is basically a slow, steamy cook. This means that you won't be able to crisp, like you can with an air fryer. Plus, the mixture doesn't reduce (aka concentrate flavor) or build up a “fond” of ultra-concentrated flavor on the side or bottom of the pan, as you might with a Dutch oven or skillet.
What's the point of a slow cooker? ›
Saves you money – slow cookers are an energy efficient way to cook food. Saves you time – minimal food preparation and hands-off-cooking allows you to get on with other things. Great for batch cooking, so you'll always have something delicious to eat at the end of a long day.
What is the primary goal of slow cooking? ›
The primary goal of slow cooking is to melt collagen in the connective tissue, thereby transforming a tough piece of meat into a tender one. These cuts are always served well done.
Does slow cooking make a difference? ›
Slow cookers can take less fashionable cuts of meat and really make something special. They offer the advantage of adding extra depth to your cooking. Adding red wine, herbs & spices to the slow cooker can take your dish to another level. Slow cookers are energy efficient.
Why use a slow cooker instead of a stove? ›
Along with saving big bucks, slow cookers save you lots of time because they allow you to cook hands (and eyes) free. Once you've got your food prepared and placed in the crock, you don't have to stand around stirring and monitoring it.
What are the disadvantages of a slow cooker? ›
What are the disadvantages of a slow cooker? Slow cookers only apply heat to the bottom of the crock, which cuts down on their ability to reduce liquids and brown foods, and develop flavor the same way a Dutch oven or pressure cooker can.
Can I use a crockpot instead of a slow cooker? ›
A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.
If you're planning to cook your meals mostly when you're not home or overnight, then sticking to a Crockpot might be a better choice, since the heat distribution is more even and there is no need to stir at all.
Is slow cooking healthy? ›
The low heat helps less expensive, leaner cuts of meat become tender and shrink less. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking and steam created within the tightly-covered container combine to destroy bacteria and make the slow cooker a safe process for cooking foods.
Is it worth getting a slow cooker? ›
Cost-Effective. Slow cookers are a great way to stretch your food budget. You can buy cheaper cuts of meat and let the slow cooker work its magic, resulting in tender and flavourful meals that champion the underrated bits of an animal.
Do you put water in the bottom of a slow cooker? ›
Never ever put liquid into the base of a slow cooker. It was not designed for that and clearly states not to immerse the base in water. The heating element and components are not in a waterproof environment. You will quickly ruin the heating element and risk injury from electrical leakage into the metal base.
What are the disadvantages of slow cooking? ›
What are the disadvantages of a slow cooker? Slow cookers only apply heat to the bottom of the crock, which cuts down on their ability to reduce liquids and brown foods, and develop flavor the same way a Dutch oven or pressure cooker can.
Is it healthy to slow cook? ›
A slow cooker can help with eating healthily, as this way of cooking doesn't need much (if any) fat, which can help to lower the calorie content. It also intensifies flavours – which is helpful when cutting down on salt.
Is it better to slow cook or fast cook? ›
Rule of thumb #1: Cuts with high fat content and marbling should be cooked low and slow, while leaner cuts need the hot and fast treatment. Low and slow: Even though there certainly are cuts that prove to be an exception to this rule, it is still a good general rule to work with.
Which is better, a slow cooker or a Crockpot? ›
If you're planning to cook your meals mostly when you're not home or overnight, then sticking to a Crockpot might be a better choice, since the heat distribution is more even and there is no need to stir at all.
