Hints And Tips - Crock-Pot Smart-Pot Owner's Manual

PASTA AND RICE
• For best rice results, use long grain converted rice or a specialty
rice as the recipe suggests. If the rice is not cooked completely
after the suggested time, add an extra 1 to 1½ cups of liquid per
cup of cooked rice and continue cooking for 20 to 30 minutes.
• For best pasta results, first partially cook the pasta in a pot of
boiling water until just tender. Add the pasta to the Crock-Pot
slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cook time.
BEANS
• Beans must be softened completely before combining with sugar
and/or acidic foods. Sugar and acid have a hardening effect on
beans and will prevent softening.
• Dried beans, especially red kidney beans, should be boiled before
adding to a recipe.
• Fully cooked canned beans may be used as a substitute for dried
beans.
VEGETABLES
• Many vegetables benefit from slow cooking and are able to
develop their full flavor. They tend not to overcook in your slow
cooker as they might in your oven or on your stovetop.
• When cooking recipes with vegetables and meat, place vegetables
in slow cooker before meat. Vegetables usually cook slower than
meat in the slow cooker.
• Place vegetables near the sides or bottom of the stoneware to
facilitate cooking.
HERBS AND SPICES
• Fresh herbs add flavor and color, but should be added at the end of
the cooking cycle as the flavor will dissipate over long cook times.

HINTS AND TIPS

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