Slow cooker-why is the chicken in my casserole dry? I thought slow cookers kept the meat tender and juicy?!
Answers:
If you used breast meat!.!.!.!.as with any lean meat !.!.!.it dries out if over cooked!.!.!.!.for slow cookers use thighs or legs!.!.!.!.dark meat is fattier!.!.!.!.and breaks down as it cooks!.!.!.!.white meat ,be it pork tenderloin or chicken breast is best when it is cooked and let to rest!.!.!.and let to finish cooking from carry over heat!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Over-cooked chicken is normally tough and dry!. With slow cookers, you need to be very careful on timing when cooking any type of chicken or pork chops!. Remember that most meats don't take as long as vegetables in a slow cooker!. Or at least in my experience, they don't!. I normally start with the vegetables and add the meat about 1/2 hour later!.
* "Use the Right Amount of Food
Fill cooker no less than half full and no more than two-thirds full!. Vegetables cook slower than meat and poultry in a slow cooker so if using them, put vegetables in first, at the bottom and around sides of the utensil!. Then add meat and cover the food with liquid such as broth, water or barbecue sauce!. Keep the lid in place, removing only to stir the food or check for doneness!.
Settings
Most cookers have two or more settings!. Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used!. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low!. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting!.
If possible, turn the cooker on the highest setting for the first hour of cooking time and then to low or the setting called for in your recipe!. However, it's safe to cook foods on low the entire time -- if you're leaving for work, for example, and preparation time is limited!.
While food is cooking and once it's done, food will stay safe as long as the cooker is operating!." *see sourceWww@FoodAQ@Com
* "Use the Right Amount of Food
Fill cooker no less than half full and no more than two-thirds full!. Vegetables cook slower than meat and poultry in a slow cooker so if using them, put vegetables in first, at the bottom and around sides of the utensil!. Then add meat and cover the food with liquid such as broth, water or barbecue sauce!. Keep the lid in place, removing only to stir the food or check for doneness!.
Settings
Most cookers have two or more settings!. Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used!. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low!. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting!.
If possible, turn the cooker on the highest setting for the first hour of cooking time and then to low or the setting called for in your recipe!. However, it's safe to cook foods on low the entire time -- if you're leaving for work, for example, and preparation time is limited!.
While food is cooking and once it's done, food will stay safe as long as the cooker is operating!." *see sourceWww@FoodAQ@Com
Beef Recipes in Crock Pot (see other types of meats at the very bottom of this link):
http://www!.razzledazzlerecipes!.com/beef-!.!.!.
!.
Chicken Recipes in Crock Pot:
http://www!.razzledazzlerecipes!.com/chick!.!.!.
!.
TEXAS crock pot recipes:
http://www!.texascook!.com/crockpot/Www@FoodAQ@Com
http://www!.razzledazzlerecipes!.com/beef-!.!.!.
!.
Chicken Recipes in Crock Pot:
http://www!.razzledazzlerecipes!.com/chick!.!.!.
!.
TEXAS crock pot recipes:
http://www!.texascook!.com/crockpot/Www@FoodAQ@Com
It does sound oxy-moronic that foods cooked in liquids can end up dry, but it happens when it's over cooked!. Try shortening the time that you cook it for, or precook the chicken until almost cooked through and cook it for half the time!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
You may want to remember slow cookers cook slow, but you can still overcook food in them!. I always add enough water to insure this doesn't happen!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
You need more fluids! Add extra broth !!Www@FoodAQ@Com