You come home after a long day at the office and are greeted by mouth-watering aromas. Did your spouse spend all day cooking? Did a fairy godmother magically appear to help make your life easier? Nope! It’s all thanks to your slow cooker, come to lighten your weekly load! Here are our top tips on how to get the most out of this handy little kitchen tool.
Save time
Everyone knows that fall is the season of tasty comfort food. If your weeks are uber-busy, your slow cooker is sure to become your new BFF! This innovative appliance is guaranteed to save you loads of time in the kitchen. Simply place all your ingredients in the receptacle and press START. No need to keep an eye on it or constantly stir, as a slow cooker is designed to work without any supervision. All you have to do is turn it on and it’ll take care of the rest!The ABCs of meal prepping with your slow cooker
While your slow cooker greatly reduces the time spent slaving over the stove, adopting meal prepping habits will help you save even more time. By following a few simple steps, you’ll reap even more benefits when it comes to your slow cooker.Choose recipes wisely
Before planning your weekly menu, we recommend selecting recipes that require some of the same ingredients. Not only will this save you time at the grocery store, it will save you money too! For example, a family-size package of chicken thighs—more economical—can be used to make stew and curry. A big bag of carrots can be used to make vegetable stir-fry, soup, or carrot cake. You get to make tasty dishes AND reduce your food waste while you’re at it!Spend Sundays meal prepping
Sunday meal prep is one of the best ways to stay on top of your weeknight meals. Adopt the “prep-freeze-cook” method, which consists of preparing several slow cooker recipes in anticipation of busy weeknights. Place everything you need for a recipe in a freezer bag, making sure to label your bags. The day of, simply thaw your preparation and cook it in the slow cooker. Now you’ll always have delicious meals ready to go . . . without having to spend hours in the kitchen!Don’t forget the sides
Preparing sides ahead of time is also a great idea. We suggest cooking pasta, rice, couscous, or quinoa to help save you precious minutes during the week. And while you’re at it, why not make extra to pack in your lunches?The slow cooker: from breakfast to dessert!
Breakfast
If you’re pressed for time in the morning, know that the slow cooker can be your best ally. In the mood for yummy oatmeal? The best part is that it cooks while you’re sleeping! The night before, simply place 1 cup of oats, 3 ½ cups of water, and 1 cup of your milk of choice in your slow cooker. Let cook between 6 and 8 hours. The next morning, top your oatmeal with the garnishes of your choice. Think maple syrup, dried or fresh fruits, shredded coconut, nut butter, or cinnamon.Lunch
Does lunch prep give you a headache? The slow cooker is ideal for cooking large batches, which means you’ll have plenty of leftovers for your lunches. This versatile appliance is great for making hearty soups, delicious bolognaise sauce, or creamy mac and cheese . . . all in the same week!Snacks or dessert
Slow cookers aren’t just for savoury dishes. You can use yours to make brownies, creamy chocolate pudding, or a scrumptious apple crumble. What do all these recipes have in common? They’re simple and require very little effort!3 fail-proof tips for making delicious slow cooker dishes
- Seeing as the slow cooker diminishes the flavour of spices, we recommend adding fresh herbs or ground spices at the very end of the cooking process.
- When making meat-based dishes, it’s best to brown your meat before placing it in the slow cooker, that way it’ll develop more flavour.
- Not all cuts of meat are ideal in the slow cooker. When it comes to beef, opt for blade roast, brisket, or stew cubes. Chicken legs and thighs are ideal. And as for lamb, we suggest using the shoulder or shank.
