How many times have you been planning meals and came up disappointed when you discovered you didn’t have time to make the meal you wanted? Most people will not even think of putting a recipe in the crockpot unless it is written expressly for the crockpot. Did you know that many standard recipes could be converted to crockpot recipes?

The low setting of most crockpots is around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The high setting is about 300 degrees Fahrenheit. An hour of cooking on the high setting is about the same as 2 to 2.5 hours of cooling on the low setting. You will find that most recipes for crockpots recommend cooking the food for around 8 to 10 hours on low.

Recipe Conversion Tips

If you are thinking of trying your favorite recipe in your crockpot for the first time, there is a little advice you may want to follow for the best results. When changing any recipe for the crockpot, you will want to reduce your liquid. The crockpot does not let liquid evaporate like the oven, so you will want to reduce the amount you initially put in by about half. You will be surprised how much liquid is there when your dish is done.

Did you know that your humble crockpot could make a delicious pot of soup? While you are off at work or running errands, your soup will be simmering merrily, creating a delicious concoction of goodness. It does not matter if you are accomplished in the kitchen or if you only cook when absolutely necessary… you can make a wonderful chicken noodle soup in your crockpot that will be a vast improvement over canned soup.

If You Use Only the Freshest Ingredients…

If you prefer to use only the freshest ingredients that you can buy, the crockpot can still be your best friend. Before cooking, remove the skin from the chicken. You can use whatever chicken you have on hand… parts, boneless or a whole bird. Place the chicken in the pot and cover it with enough liquid that it is completely submerged. Add a bit of celery, a carrot, and some onion… whatever helps flavor your broth. Put it on high for three to four hours.

When the weather is cold and your family is craving something thick and warming, how about making a delicious stew? A stew is a mixture of solid foods such as meat or fish and vegetables, which have been cooked slowly or simmered in liquid to combine the flavors well. The liquid is served as well as the chunky bits.

Chicken, meat, seafood, potatoes, fish, beans, fruit, and carrots are all popular stew ingredients and you can use water, wine, bouillon, or beer in the stew liquid to give flavor, as well as seasonings.

Soup and Stew – What is the Difference?

First of all, stewing is the only cooking method, which will tenderize cheap, tough cuts of meat, which is how it developed. A stew contains large pieces of meat, fish, and vegetables and there are more of these ingredients in the finished dish than liquid.

Soup can contain small chunky or be a pureed liquid with no bits in. It is served as an appetizer whereas a stew is a main dish. Soups are served in deep bowls whereas a chunky stew can be served on a plate.