Slow Cooking Season
Ashley Goudey - Nutrition, Food Safety and Health Agent
It’s officially that time of the year, time to dust off the slow cooker to make meal prep a little easier! Everyone loves opening their front door and being welcomed with the aroma of beef stew or chicken noodle soup after a long day! A slow cooker can make life a little more convenient because by planning ahead, you save time later. Slow cookers also use less electricity than an oven, so it’s a win-win. Below are answers to common slow cooker questions.
It’s officially that time of the year, time to dust off the slow cooker to make meal prep a little easier! Everyone loves opening their front door and being welcomed with the aroma of beef stew or chicken noodle soup after a long day! A slow cooker can make life a little more convenient because by planning ahead, you save time later. Slow cookers also use less electricity than an oven, so it’s a win-win. Below are answers to common slow cooker questions.
Can I put frozen meat into my slow cooker? NO. Always thaw meat or poultry before placing in a slow cooker. Play it safe and thaw your ingredients in the refrigerator.
I placed my meat in the slow cooker and then forgot to turn it on. It was off for 6 hours before I discovered it. Is it still safe? If I cook it, will that destroy any bacteria and make it safe? This meat is not safe, even if you cook it. Perishable food left in the “Danger Zone” (between 40ᵒF-140°F for more than 2 hours needs to be discarded even though if may look and smell good.
How much food can my slow cooker hold? Always consult your owner’s manual for suggested sizes of meat and poultry to cook in your slow cooker.
Is preheating necessary? Preheating the crock before adding ingredients or cooking on the highest setting for the first hour will ensure a rapid heat start and will shorten the time foods are in the temperature danger zone. This is highly recommended when cooking meat or poultry in a slow cooker.
What if the power goes out? You never know what kind of weather we will have in Kansas-and severe weather can lead to power outages. If you are not at home during the entire slow cooking process and the power goes out, throw away the food even if it looks done. If you are at home, finish cooking the ingredients immediately by some other means: on a gas stove, on the outdoor grill or at a house where the power is on. When you are at home, and if the food was completely cooked before the power went out, the food should remain safe up to two hours in the cooker with the power off.
Can I reheat leftovers in my slow cooker? Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker is not recommended. Store leftovers in shallow covered containers and refrigerate within two hours after cooking is finished. Cooked food should be reheated on the stove, in a microwave, or in a conventional oven until it reaches 165 °F.
How much liquid do I add? Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Follow the manufacturer's recipes and directions for best results.
Sources: Foodsafety.gov, USDA, and University of Minnesota Extension
How much food can my slow cooker hold? Always consult your owner’s manual for suggested sizes of meat and poultry to cook in your slow cooker.
Is preheating necessary? Preheating the crock before adding ingredients or cooking on the highest setting for the first hour will ensure a rapid heat start and will shorten the time foods are in the temperature danger zone. This is highly recommended when cooking meat or poultry in a slow cooker.
What if the power goes out? You never know what kind of weather we will have in Kansas-and severe weather can lead to power outages. If you are not at home during the entire slow cooking process and the power goes out, throw away the food even if it looks done. If you are at home, finish cooking the ingredients immediately by some other means: on a gas stove, on the outdoor grill or at a house where the power is on. When you are at home, and if the food was completely cooked before the power went out, the food should remain safe up to two hours in the cooker with the power off.
Can I reheat leftovers in my slow cooker? Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker is not recommended. Store leftovers in shallow covered containers and refrigerate within two hours after cooking is finished. Cooked food should be reheated on the stove, in a microwave, or in a conventional oven until it reaches 165 °F.
How much liquid do I add? Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Follow the manufacturer's recipes and directions for best results.
Sources: Foodsafety.gov, USDA, and University of Minnesota Extension
