Super Summer Slow Cooker Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is a slow cooker good for the summer? ›

It's hot enough outside so let's keep it as cool as possible inside. Slow cookers will help you save money both inside and outside the home. This small appliance is much more energy-efficient than your oven and stove, while also keeping your AC bill down by not heating up your home.

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Eva Wells can make anything in a crock pot. Affectionately known as “The Crock Pot Lady,” Wells teaches crock pot cooking to people living in food deserts and under financial constraints.

Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on for 12 hours? Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.

Don't leave it on 'warm' all day

The general rule of thumb is that 2-4 hours is the maximum length of time you can leave food in a slow cooker on warm. After this, it needs to be cooled and transferred into the refrigerator.

Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.

While many modern crock pots are designed with safety features, it's generally not recommended to leave a crock pot on the high setting overnight. Extended cooking times on high can lead to overcooking, drying out the food, and potentially causing damage to the appliance.

People do this all the time, but many aren't truly confident that it's 100 percent safe — I, for one, am one of those people. So I did a little digging to get the hard facts. The truth is, yes, leaving the slow cooker on and going about your day is safe, as long as you are using the appliance properly.

Raw meat

A crockpot's gentle heat means meat will never get a chance to brown, but it's the golden colour from frying that gives it depth of flavour. If you don't want your stew to taste bland, brown the meat first, then put it in the slow cooker.

What's the difference between slow cooker and crockpot? ›

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 don't have enough liquid in the pot, the carrots won't cook evenly and may stay tough. Aim for at least a cup or two of liquid, enough to reach about a third of the way up on the ingredients.

Welcome to Violet Cooks. I'm a healthy food content creator in San Francisco. I've always had a passion for food and cooking. During quarantine, I started cooking more and more out of dorm kitchen in college at Vassar and that's when I started Violet Cooks.

We are Leigh Walkup and Anne Walkup or as most people call us “the twins”. We spend most of our time in the kitchen, thanks to our heritage and amazing mother, Judy Yeager, who started this website in 2008.

While slow cookers do emit a little heat, it is nothing like turning on the oven or cooking on the stove top. The heat is kept low and mostly contained, so you can cook without heating up your house even more. Try it with Crockpot Polenta.

It Won't Heat Up Your House

But don't forget your trusty slow cooker. This appliance won't warm up your kitchen while preparing a home-cooked meal. Here's a barbecued pork chop supper to get your started.

Slow cookers not only conserve energy—meaning they won't heat up your house—they also bring out rich flavors in meals and do the cooking for you throughout the day. Multi-cookers also use less energy, and many meals can be done in one hour or less.

This is normal, especially after prolonged use. Therefore, do not touch the outside of the slow cooker, as this can cause burns.