Please share your cooking wisdom! (slow cooker help)

hayleydeee

So I admit that I'm certainly not a great cook, but I thought that slow cookers were supposed to be easy, even for someone like me!

Every time I try to make things in my slow cooker that include meat and vegi's together the meat cooks faster than the vegi's. It turns out dry and tough while things like potatoes and carrots are still crunchy. I don't get it!

At first I thought it was just my old crock pot, but I bought a brand new one and the same thing happens. What am I doing wrong? 

minnidiver

My best guess would be that you aren't using enough liquid, therefore the veggies aren't getting cooked.  That or the meat you are using is cut too small so it cooks much faster than the veggies.

What are you cooking that isn't turning out?  Are you following recipes, or just throwing ingredients together?

RhymeReason

Try to nestle the meat inbetween the veggies so the veggies and potatoes are touching the bottom of the crockpot while the meat is in the middle.

hayleydeee

minnidiver:

What are you cooking that isn't turning out?  Are you following recipes, or just throwing ingredients together?

Both. Most recently I tried making corned beef, but it's happened with chicken breasts and beef stew too. Usually I cover everything with water. Could it have something to do with high or low temps?

I always put vegi's on top though, and will try the layering idea next time.  

Thank you! 

amandasw

definitely put the veggies on the bottom so that the meat juices go down and get into them.  are you doing it on low for 8 hours?  I find that that works well for me rather than trying to do it on high for shorter.  Maybe invest in a tried and true cookbook - America's Test Kitchen is AMAZING and I feel like they've really figured out everything when it comes to cooking.  Also, I think I remember hearing/reading somewhere (may have been America's Test Kitchen) that people often make the mistake of adding too much liquid.  The 365 Days of Slow Cooking blog is also really good.

Here is a recipe that I do when I don't know what else to make:

- frozen bone-in chicken or ribs

- cover with BBQ sauce (you don't need a ton, maybe 1/3cup)

- cook on low 8 hours

I always get moist meat.  Lately I take the meat out and stick it under the broiler to crisp it up and reduce the sauce.  Good luck!

hayleydeee

This is so helpful, thank you!!