An Introduction To Slow Cooker
When you get stuck in that rut of grabbing whatever you have on hand as you rush out the door or are spending tons of money in the fast food drive-thru, it is time to do something different. The health and convenience benefits that can be gained simply by owning a slow cooker are enormous.
Hitting the drive thru is extremely convenient but it is just as bad for your health. Whether you are an active single or a busy parent, you can stay healthy and still have that convenience in your kitchen.
Purchasing a crockpot will put an end to the unhealthy meals on days when you just don’t have time to stop and cook a complete meal. You can throw in whatever foods you have readily on hand and let it cook while you sleep or while you are off working, going to school, or playing car pool with the kids. Consider just a couple basic ways to use one of these cookers.
If you have chicken broth on hand and some frozen or fresh vegetables you could create your own soups. You can even add raw chicken to water and let it cook to create your own broth. Add in whatever other ingredients you happen to have on hand and you have a great starter for your soup.
A couple hours before you want to eat you can add in noodles, potatoes cut into small chunks, or whatever fast-cooking ingredients you want to add. Literally any ingredient can be added so get creative and make your own combination.
You can also use your crockpot to cook dried beans, since they take so long to do any other way. Instead of going for the canned beans that are packed with salt and processed out of a lot of their rich nutrients, throw in some dried beans and let them cook while you go on with your life.
For a complete meal, cook the dry beans overnight and then add in uncooked whole grain brown rice and let it cook while you are out during the day. Brown rice takes longer to cook but doesn’t need as much time as the beans. You can add whatever seasoning you like and may want to even mix in cooked ground turkey before eating.
You can create a slow cooker version of literally any recipe you enjoy, so use some creative forethought!
Peter Smith is a cook and owner of the family restaurant. He enjoys writing slow cooker reviews and recommending the best slow cooker for cooking needs.
