Why are my meatballs falling apart in the crock pot?!
I browned them before putting them in the crock pot so they would hold together, and I just went to check on them and most of them are falling apart!. I guess I can just have pasta with meat sauce, but this still sucks!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
These are the answers I got when I asked the same question and ran a search!.!.!.
Prebake the meat balls in the oven for about 15 minutes!.
Don't stir the meatballs in the slow cooker!.
Don't cook longer than 4 hrs!.
When making up the mixture for the meatballs, don't use too much liquid!.
It is best to brown them at medium-high heat in a saucepan!. You want to seal in the flavor and browning them helps enhance their flavor too!. Plus, you want to cook some of the fat out of the meatballs so it's not floating around in your sauce making it greasy!. Oh, and please learn from a mistake I made when I was younger, after browning the meatballs, add the COLD sauce to the COLD crock pot and then turn the crockpot on!. Once the sauce starts to heat up, THEN add the meatballs!. I once poured hot meatballs straight into the cold crock pot, and because of the drastic change in heat it cracked and broke the pot!! You can cook the meatballs on low 8 to 10 hours, or high for 2 to 3 hours (start the time once you have added the meatballs and closed the lid)!. You don't need to cook them as long as other foods because you have already started the cooking process by browning them!. If you cook them any longer than that they will become dry and rubbery (yes, even if they are cooking in the sauce)!. also, be sure not to take off the lid during cooking or it will add on another 15 to 20 minutes to the cooking time as you have just released the trapped heat, and it will take some time to get the inside back to the temp you set it to!. You can also use frozen meatballs!. Make the meatballs with the raw meat and the other ingredients, then brown the meatballs!. Place them in the freezer in a single layer so they won't stick together!. Once you are ready to cook them, no thawing necessary!. Just pour the sauce and frozen meatballs into the cold crock pot!. Stir, and then turn on the crock pot and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours or high for 5 to 6 hours!.
Www@FoodAQ@Com
Prebake the meat balls in the oven for about 15 minutes!.
Don't stir the meatballs in the slow cooker!.
Don't cook longer than 4 hrs!.
When making up the mixture for the meatballs, don't use too much liquid!.
It is best to brown them at medium-high heat in a saucepan!. You want to seal in the flavor and browning them helps enhance their flavor too!. Plus, you want to cook some of the fat out of the meatballs so it's not floating around in your sauce making it greasy!. Oh, and please learn from a mistake I made when I was younger, after browning the meatballs, add the COLD sauce to the COLD crock pot and then turn the crockpot on!. Once the sauce starts to heat up, THEN add the meatballs!. I once poured hot meatballs straight into the cold crock pot, and because of the drastic change in heat it cracked and broke the pot!! You can cook the meatballs on low 8 to 10 hours, or high for 2 to 3 hours (start the time once you have added the meatballs and closed the lid)!. You don't need to cook them as long as other foods because you have already started the cooking process by browning them!. If you cook them any longer than that they will become dry and rubbery (yes, even if they are cooking in the sauce)!. also, be sure not to take off the lid during cooking or it will add on another 15 to 20 minutes to the cooking time as you have just released the trapped heat, and it will take some time to get the inside back to the temp you set it to!. You can also use frozen meatballs!. Make the meatballs with the raw meat and the other ingredients, then brown the meatballs!. Place them in the freezer in a single layer so they won't stick together!. Once you are ready to cook them, no thawing necessary!. Just pour the sauce and frozen meatballs into the cold crock pot!. Stir, and then turn on the crock pot and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours or high for 5 to 6 hours!.
Www@FoodAQ@Com
You are overcooking them!. also, did you use eggs and some form of bread crumbs or something while making them!? If you are cooking them in a crock pot submerged in a liquid, you should only brown them to a medium well depending on how long you are cooking them in the sauce!. I personally just cook the meat balls and sauce separate and then mix them together before putting them on the pasta!.
-Natasha--Aspiring ChefWww@FoodAQ@Com
-Natasha--Aspiring ChefWww@FoodAQ@Com
did you mix egg in your meat mixture before browning!? the egg binds the meat together when mixed with a little bread crumbs, pepper, garlic powder, onion, and oregano!. Only then, put in the crock pot!.
That's how I make mine!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
That's how I make mine!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
Did you have egg and crumbs in the meatballs!? That can help although stirring too much will do it too!. I have never made meatballs in sauce in the crockpot for just that reason, I was afraid they would fall apart!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
my first thought was that they are being overcooked!.!.!.especially in liquid I think they can only be submerged in liquid/sauce for so long!.Www@FoodAQ@Com