I'm scared to use my slow cooker. Can anyone reassure?!


Question: I'm scared to use my slow cooker!. Can anyone reassure!?
I just got a second hand slow cooker!. i've never tried them and figured i'd try a second hand one first and if i like it then i'll get a new one!. I am totally new at this and i've had a look at recipes!. it all looks really easy but i'm scared i'll come home to a burned down house or uncooked food!. any ideas where i should start!? the one i got is quite small and i was looking at cooking stews etc!.
cheers!Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
I use my all the time it is so nice to come home from a long day at work and not have to worry about what to fix for dinner!. It is actually safer then leaving your dryer on when you leave!. You will love it!. Your meat will come out so tender you hardly have to chew it!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

Try it out the first time while you are at home to be sure it is working correctly!. Look for recipes that are designed for a slow cooker and that give you the capacity of the cooker they are for!. Adjust the recipe to a smaller portion if you need to fit it to your pot!. I've never had any trouble with the ones I've owned but just to be safe, babysit it the first time!. Stews should be great!. The key is to use a slow cooker recipe since the amount of liquid you use needs to be adjusted!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

If you put the food in the cooker when it is already hot and has a normal amount of liquid you can come home up to 2 hours late without the house going up in flames!. If you use the timer and the food starts from cold, then you might need to add an hour to your 'don't eat before' date!.
I used to prepare a casserole in the evening, stuff it in the slow cooker and next morning set the timer for 3 o'clock and the meal would be ready when I got home about 6!.30 p!.m!. If we went to the pub for an hour, it was still OK!.
By the way, I used to put my Christmas pudding in the slow cooker!. Frees place on the hob and it's preferable to bunging the pud in the microwave!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I know what you mean!. I was scared the first time I left mine on all day!. Its really no more harmful than leaving some other appliances plugged in!. It doesn't get hot enough, or it shouldn't!. Its afantasic one you start with it!. You can make soups and roasta and whole dinners!. You'll spend alot more time in the seasoning aisle in the grocery store, they always have good ideas and packets for creating super tasy treats!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Don't be scared of a slow cooker!. Just make sure you put it on an even surface, drop in your ingredients and get ready to come home to a great meal! I used to worry about that too, but you can always try it one day when you know you will be at home!. They are great time savers!. Try allrecipes!.com or food network for some ideas, usually, roasts, soups or stews are best to cook in slowcookers!. Another tip is to make sure all of the food is the same size so that it will cook evenly!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Aww, that's actually cute! I was the same way!. I thought it was totally unsafe!.!.!.!.!.until I tried it and let me say the Slow Cooker is a miracle worker, I am in love!. It's totally nothing compared to leaving a burner on while you're working, I mean that is dangerous! But, the slow cooker is really safe!. My brother works as a fire fighter and if it makes you feel any better, he said that for the 7 years he's been working, he has not had one incident caused by a slow cooker!. Slow cookers are awesome!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I was the same way! More worried about fire then about uncooked food!. Once I used it a few times, then I got over my worries and use it at least twice a week with zero problems!. This is a GREAT recipe also: http://www!.recipezaar!.com/21706

I replace the cottage cheese with ricotta and use a 28 oz!. jar of spaghetti sauce instead of tomato sauce!. I also use the "no boil" noodles, but I'm not sure it makes much of a difference!. It's a good crockpot "beginner" recipe because it cooks in about 4 hours!.

Good luck and enjoy your crockpot!Www@FoodAQ@Com

a slow cooker is a great tool for a busy household you can cook just about anything in them joints stews rice pudding
the best thing to do is experiment with it and dont worry you wil not burn the house down try putting porrige in on a night and in the morning you get up to a great hot breakfastWww@FoodAQ@Com

slow cooker are very save!.and make very good stew,a second hand slow cooking are any other device use for cooking such not be left unattended!. try it on th e week end while you are at home!.if you are worried about safety set up on the patio and plug it in !.it will cook just as good outdoorsWww@FoodAQ@Com

I use mine all the time and I love it!.If you've never used it before you should use it one day that you'll be home just to make sure there are no defects that could cause a fire!.Mine is programmable!.I set number of hours it will cook for!.The ones that just have a dial for low,med and high scare me!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Do your first crock pot cooking on the weekend when you are home to monitor the cooker!. After you have used it a few times you will be comfortable enough with it to use it during the week when you are at work!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

pick out a recipe put it in the pot and let it cook follow the directions and your food will be cooked and dont worry


http://southernfood!.about!.com/od/crockpo!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I agree with PJ: test out a recipe when you're home!.

Here's the Crock Pot website-
http://www!.crock-pot!.com/recipescat!.aspx!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

perhaps it`s better to buy a new one,I`ve just bought another one and I cook my things over night!. next day I heat up for meals and everything is cooked great!.meat is all ways tenderWww@FoodAQ@Com





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