A crockpot is a lifesaver for those with busy lifestyles! Its slow cooking techniques retains all the flavor of its dishes, and you can leave the crockpot unattended for hours together without the fear of burning or ruining any of your meals. The crockpot does not have temperature controls apart from a high and a low temperature setting, which is fully automated.

So to help you take full advantage of this wondrous machine, here are 10 tips for Crockpot Cooking!

1) When you are  cooking  vegetables and meat in a crockpot, you should place the vegetables at the bottom of the pot, as they take a longer time to cook and require greater heat intensity. Layering your veggies on the bottom will ensure uniform cooking.

2) When cooking ground beef in a crockpot, make sure to brown the beef beforehand, as this will ensure a better texture. Also, you can discard the grease using a strainer, provided your preparation is not meant for a meat-loaf.

3)  While the crockpot is cooking, avoid lifting the lid, because this adds at least another 20 minutes to the cooking time.

4) Keep in mind that regular milk tends to curdle in crockpot recipes due to  the long cooking time. You can add canned milk during the last 30 minutes of cooking time. Add extra time to make up for opening the lid.

5) While cooking meats and chicken, trim away the fat, as the long cooking time of the crockpot tends to melt fat, which seeps into the sauces and creates a bitter taste.

6) Meats and poultry should be completely defrosted before being added, as this will save you cooking time.

7) When it comes to making sauces in a crockpot, do not add too much water. Very little liquid boils away from a crockpot. If you want your sauce to have a thicker consistency, you could transfer the sauce to a saucepan and add a bit of cornstarch

8) It is always safe to coat your crockpot with a non-stick cooking spray to help make sure nothing is stock to the bottom of the pot!

9) Ensure that your crockpot is at least half-filled with liquid for optimal cooking; but not overflowing!.

10) Save money by choosing inexpensive meat for your crockpot! The crockpot's slow-cooking techniques can tenderize even the thickest and hardest cuts meat.

Slowly but surely, the crockpot will deliver a delicious meal if you just remember these guidelines!

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