The Basics: Slow Cookers

If you're interested in simplifying how you make your meals, then a slow cooker may well be one of the best investments you can make. These appliances are not only incredibly easy to use, but they also save valuable time in the kitchen. All you have to do literally is add ingredients, select the desired heat level and leave the cooker to do its work.

Slow cookers are ideal for cooking entrees, side dishes, soups, stews and more. Their one-dish configuration makes them perfect for preparing an entire meal, casserole-style, yet they are versatile enough to prepare specialty dishes such as eggplant rollatini, and even breads, cakes and other desserts. Many units are now designed with larger, oval-shaped cooking chambers to accommodate whole chickens, oversized roasts and racks of ribs.

Slow cookers consist of an insulated shell with built-in heating elements, an inner cooking chamber -- which is usually made of stoneware -- and a glass lid. These units operate through heat transfer. Their embedded elements emit heat to the inner container at a slow, steady rate, thereby allowing foods to literally cook all day, unattended. The indirect heat source wraps foods in a gentle blanket of warmth to slowly simmer ingredients and braise foods in their own juices. Optional features include removable crockery liners, digital displays, insulated travel cases, locking lids (for portability), signal lights and extra temperature settings.

All units share the same basic settings: high, low, and off. The controls range from simple dial mechanisms to fancier pushbutton or touchpad panels with digital display screens. Some models offer added versatility, including a keep warm setting, temperature gauge and automatic timer, which shifts the heat setting from high/low to keep warm or off automatically. The more sophisticated models even include preprogrammed recipes, complete with ingredient lists and instructions.

Besides their one-dish appeal, slow cookers have another advantage: They excel at tenderizing pot roasts and other less expensive cuts of meat, which require longer cooking at a lower heat setting. Because the heat generated is extremely low (approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit on Low, and 300 degrees Fahrenheit on High), the cooker can be left unattended for up to 12 hours in most cases. Cooked meats reach an internal temperature of 170-190 degrees Fahrenheit. They are also perfect for reusing leftovers. Yesterday's pot roast becomes today's beef and barley soup. Thus, these appliances are not only convenient, but also a means to prepare much more affordable dishes.

Without a doubt, the slow cooker's greatest advantage is its ability to cook all day, unattended. Stirring is virtually unnecessary -- and even frowned upon, since the cooker takes a long time to recover the heat lost when the lid is lifted. For this reason, busy individuals, from professionals to stay-at-home parents, have gravitated to this type of cooking, which offers the prepare-ahead convenience of assembling a meal in the morning and arriving home to a ready-to-eat meal. There is also something to be said about coming home to the welcoming aroma of a hearty stew or roast.

More and more recipes are being designed for slow cookers, and most traditional recipes can be adapted to work by this method. The trick is to gauge the amount of liquid -- usually less than stated in a conventional recipe -- and adjust the cooking time. You also can eliminate many of the initial food preparation steps, such as sauteing vegetables, since the flavors are enhanced by the slow cooking process.

Slow cookers are often referred to as "crock pots," a name coined by Rival and used exclusively to denote their Crock-Pot brand.

Slow cookers range in price from approximately $30 for a basic unit to about $150 for a top-of-the-line unit with specialty features.

How to Shop

When selecting a slow cooker, look for a unit that has a removable stoneware liner. These units are preferable for several reasons, not the least of which is ease of cleaning. Removable liners allow you to prepare the ingredients the night before, refrigerate, then assemble the slow cooker and set the controls and go. The removable crock can also be brought directly to the table for serving. For even easier cleaning, you can purchase special cooking bags that literally line the inside of the slow cooker and lift out when you are done, leaving you with no cleanup at all.

Before you go shopping, you should consider how often you will use the appliance and what types of food will be cooked. Will you be likely to transport cooked dishes to friends' homes or other venues? If so, an insulated carry case is a must. Specialty features translate into increased price so be sure to select a unit that matches your needs.

Also consider the following:

Size and Shape
Most slow cookers come with either a round or an oval cooking chamber. The chambers range in size from 1-pint mini cookers to oversize 7-quart crocks. Be sure to select a unit that is large enough to suit your needs but not so large as to become impractical to use. Because a slow cooker performs best when nearly full, preparing smaller meals in a large cooker is inefficient and can result in dry or undercooked foods. The smallest units are ideal for making and serving hot dips, or cooking for 1-2 people. The basic 4-quart pots are large enough to prepare a hearty batch of chili or family-size beef stew. For larger groups or entertaining, the 6-quart or 7-quart models are a must.

If you plan to cook larger items, such as whole chickens and rib roasts, an oval pot is the better choice. The oval shape can better accommodate these longer foods so they not only fit better (without cutting), but also cook more evenly. A basic 4-quart cooker will require approximately 12 inches (in width, depth or both) and about 9 inches (in height). Larger units occupy more space, ranging from 14 to 19 inches in its various dimensions.

Several new product innovations have appeared on the market, including units with multiple interchangeable liners, larger units designed that replicate a slow barbecue roaster, units with divided dishes so you can cook two different foods at the same time and slow cookers that double as electric skillets -- with heat-proof inserts that can be removed and used in the oven or on the stovetop.

Features and Controls
Slow cooker options range from bare bones to fully programmable features, including a delayed start time, automatic shutoff or keep warm setting. For basic cooking, the high and low settings provide everything you need. If you plan to use the unit while you are away from home, or simply want more control over the finished time, it is worth looking for a unit with an automatic timer. Also, units with digital display screens often let you see at a glance exactly how much cooking time has elapsed.

Fully featured units include digital display screens that offer custom cooking with the touch of a button. These units let you set the start and end cooking times, and automatically switch to keep warm and/or off when done. A new option, available only on certain models, enables the unit to change temperature settings mid-way through cooking. This option is great when a recipe needs to start out on high, but then switch to low for the duration of cooking. Models with digital displays are generally priced higher so be sure you want the added functionality.

Units with a temperature gauge are handy for checking the cooking progress via the internal temperature of larger cuts of meat (rather than time). These units come with a probe that is inserted into the meat at the outset of cooking. Once the meat reaches its ideal temperature, the unit switches to keep warm.

Even many non-digital units now come with a keep warm setting, which is useful for retaining the ideal serving temperature. The keep warm setting cannot be used for cooking or reheating cold foods.

Construction
Most slow cookers have a metal exterior, with a thick, stoneware liner and a glass lid. If you are willing to spend a bit more, you can find a stainless-steel model. Because the heating elements are encased in the outer shell, the surface can become quite hot. Several manufacturers have added insulation or a layer of plastic to the outer shell to minimize the heat and prevent accidental scalding when touched.

Most units have stay-cool side handles that allow you to lift or transport the unit. Look for a model with sturdy handles, since you will invariably have to move the unit from counter to table or to cupboard for storage.

Slow cookers are now available in an assortment of styles, colors, and designs -- some as simple as a subtle floral trim on the rim of the crockery insert and others as sophisticated as a specialty or theme design displayed prominently on the base. The design adds visual appeal.