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Crock Pot Idiot

Apparently I can't cook with a crockpot. Well, not deliciously anyway.

 I am underwhelmed by my meals...

My meat (often poultry - chicken, turkey) comes out pretty close to dry -- and it all has the same flavor. Weird. like not gross, but a weird flavor.

 

I mean, the meals are edible, but not as delicious as other people discuss their crock pot meals to be...

 

whats the deal? why is it all too dry?? I do the quoted cooking time on the recipe...Help me! Do i underseason? whats up?

Re: Crock Pot Idiot

  • Depends on the recipe, I think.  I'm making pulled pork and I needed 1/4 cup of water to cook the meat for 8-10 hours.  Then 30-60 minutes with a cup of BBQ sauce after draining the water.  When I make roast beef, I need cream of mushroom soup to keep it moist.
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  • Maybe your crock pot just cooks fast.  Try cutting the time down or cooking it on low when the recipe says high.
  • someone told me that my crockpot, 6qts, is too big and that's why my meat dries out. i either need a smaller pot or much larger quantities of meat.

     

  • Yeah, I have a 6 qt and it does the same thing.
  • I found that if I do chicken, I like to put it in frozen and whole and tend to like too shred it.  Also, I tend to like things better when I cook it on high for 4-6 hours. Any thing longer then 6 hours seems to get that, everything tastes the same thing going on.

    Try a BBQ pulled pork. That always comes out amazing. I love Jen&Louie's recipe on her FB. I whip up a bag of cole slaw with it. Chili always comes out good, meat sauce, chicken chili, pot roast or beef stew.

    Have you tried the turkey, cranberry, sweet potato recipe yet? That always comes out yummy.

     

  • The size of the crock needs to fit the amount of food you are using. I read it on a blog called a year in crock potting (I think) she had all kinds of tips as she cooked every single night in the crock pot.
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  • imageMelanie2003:

    someone told me that my crockpot, 6qts, is too big and that's why my meat dries out. i either need a smaller pot or much larger quantities of meat.

     

    this..  except I had a 7 qt and now I have a 5 and it is MUCH better.

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  • imagei3utaphly1:
    imageMelanie2003:

    someone told me that my crockpot, 6qts, is too big and that's why my meat dries out. i either need a smaller pot or much larger quantities of meat.

     

    this..  except I had a 7 qt and now I have a 5 and it is MUCH better.

    i'm looking to get a 4qt

  • imagekendra316:

    Have you tried the turkey, cranberry, sweet potato recipe yet? That always comes out yummy.

     

    Ditto....you need to try this recipe.

    Also, ditto the crockpot size...you either need to use enough meat to fill your crockpot or get a smaller one. I have a 4qt which is perfect for us right now and everything comes out juicy and tender.

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  • The crockpot needs to be at least half full for the food to cook properly (read: not overcook).  Chicken thighs always come out moist while, breasts can be drier.  Here is the science behind why that happens...it's not you!

    http://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/2010/08/411-on-chicken-breasts-and-slow-cooking.html

     

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  • Def not you but the size that makes the difference.  I never crock pot from work but will do it at home overnight.  I have 2 a smaller 2qt for oatmeal/soups/single meals and a larger one for everything else.  i adjust the time to what i am doing.  i need to get a medium sized one next.
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  • This is what I get for always thinking bigger is better. ;)
  • Let's talk about a crock pot idiot.

    So a few weeks ago I went to cook my pork ribs that I always make in the crock pot;. I had used it a few nights before so the ceramic liner was in the dish rack.  I said to myself " i have to line the crock pot" and ended up grabbing my actual plastic crock pot lines and put it directly on the metal of the pot.  Threw the ribs and water in and started cooking.  Couldn't for the life of me figure out why they looked all overdone by 4 hours when they still had another 5 hours to cook.

    ....Then I saw the cermaic liner still in the dish drain.  Who has two thumbs and ruined their crock pot?  This kid!

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