Tips For Slow Cooking; Food Safety Tips - Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget Manual

Tips for Slow Cooking

• The stovetop-safe vessel should be at least half-filled for best
results. If only half-filled, check for doneness 1 to 2 hours earlier
than recipe time.
• Stirring is not necessary when slow cooking. Removing glass lid
results in major heat loss and the cooking time may need to be
extended. However, if cooking on HIGH, you may want to stir
occasionally.
• If cooking soups or stews, leave a 2-inch (5.1-cm) space between
top of stovetop-safe vessel and food so recipe can come to a
simmer.
• Many recipes call for cooking all day. If your morning schedule
doesn't allow time to prepare a recipe, prepare it the night before.
Place all ingredients in stovetop-safe vessel, cover with lid, and
refrigerate overnight. In the morning, simply place stovetop-safe
vessel in slow cooker.

Food Safety Tips

• Do not use frozen, uncooked meat in slow cooker. Thaw any meat or
poultry before slow cooking.
• Visit www.foodsafety.gov or fsis.usda.gov for more information on
safe internal cooking temperatures.
• To store leftovers after cooking, do NOT place stovetop-safe vessel
in the refrigerator since contents will take too long to cool. Instead,
divide leftovers into smaller containers and place into refrigerator.
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• Some foods are not suited for extended cooking in a slow cooker.
Pasta, seafood, milk, cream, or sour cream should be added
2 hours before serving. Evaporated milk or condensed soups are
perfect for slow cooking.
• The higher the fat content of meat, the less liquid is needed. If
cooking meat with a high fat content, place thick onion slices
underneath so meat will not sit on (and cook in) fat.
• Slow cookers allow for very little evaporation. If making your
favorite soup, stew, or sauce, reduce liquid called for in original
recipe. If too thick, liquid can be added later.
• If cooking a vegetable-type casserole, there will need to be liquid
in recipe to prevent scorching on sides of stovetop-safe vessel.
• If cooking a recipe with root vegetables, place root vegetables in
bottom of stovetop-safe vessel.
• Never allow undercooked or raw meat to sit at room temperature
in the slow cooker. Once meat is placed into stovetop-safe
cookware, it should be cooked immediately (unless prepping slow
cooker the night before, where stovetop-safe vessel should be
placed into the refrigerator).