I have had a slow cooker since 2010 and I have not used it since. I bought one of those 4-quart slow cookers during the Black Friday Sale thinking it can be useful for a mom like me who works from home, has two kids and no househelp. I liked the idea of having to just put all ingredients in one pot and then let it cook by itself – that’s why it was a crockpot!

I don’t know why but I never got to using it. I should break into it soon. We recently moved to a new home and I finally have space for all the kitchen appliances I have been buying throughout the years.

Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker

Slow Cookers are convenient for busy families and for moms on the go who do not have time to hover at the kitchen watching and cooking meals. It’s a great way to serve home cooked meals after a long a day at work and school without resorting to processed foods or worse, take-out food!

There are a lot of recipes you can find online but know that conventional recipes can be adjusted for slow cookers too.

1. Fresh vegetables produce the most desirable results. Potatoes, carrots, onions and garlic should washed and cut in uniform pieces, then placed in the bottom of the crock. Canned and frozen vegetables produce overcooked dishes.
2. Tender foods such as pasta, asparagus and snow peas should be added in the last hour of cooking.
3. Dairy products such as cheese, milk, and sour cream should be added in the last half hour of cooking.
4. Seafood such as shrimp, scallops, and fish should be added in the last 15-30 minutes of cooking. Once the recipe has finished cooking, add seafood and cook just until done.
5. Ground beef should be browned and drained before slow cooking to remove grease.
6. Spices and seasoning: slow cooking does not intensify spices. In the test kitchen, we recommend adding spices in the last hour of cooking.

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