KitchenAid KSC700SS Instructions and Recipes - Page 12

ENGLISH Tips for Better Slow Cooking A Slow Cooker is a Moist Environment Slow cookers use a food's own moisture to cook the food. With the lid kept on while cooking, very little moisture evaporates and natural juices from the food accumulates. For that reason, use less liquid when using your favorite traditional recipes for slow cooking. Enhancing Texture and Flavor The amount of seasonings, types of ingredients, and when you add ingredients can improve the texture and flavor of your slow-cooked meals. As a general rule for using your favorite recipes in the slow cooker, increase the amounts of herbs and seasonings to offset the effect of longer cooking times. Add garnishes, fresh herbs, and quickcooking vegetables toward the end of the cooking cycle. For example, you can add peas, corn and freshly sliced squash in the last 10 to 20 minutes. Also consider the differences between related ingredients when cooking for extended times. Dark meat poultry will retain moisture better than white meat in recipes cooked more than 7 to 9 hours. Whole-grain rice, such as brown or wild rice, retains its texture better than white rice when it's slow cooked. Over extended periods, white rice can overcook and become mushy. Cut Food to Proper Size The size you cut food into can affect its taste and texture. To assure uniformity of cooking, cut vegetables of similar density, such as potatoes, carrots and parsnips into similar-sized pieces. In general, dense vegetables should be slightly smaller than more tender vegetables. Cutting meats into large pieces allows longer cooking times and avoids overcooking. Serving Leftovers Before placing in the slow cooker, leftovers should be thoroughly heated to 165°F (74°C), and sauces and soups should be brought to a rolling boil, then kept warm in slow cooker on buffet setting. Reheating of leftovers in the slow cooker is not recommended. A microwave oven is ideal for this function. Do not use the ceramic pot or glass lid in an oven, a microwave, or on a cooktop, to reheat foods. Care of Ceramic Pot and Cooker Here are a few simple tips to assure your slow cooker gives you years of service. • This is a large-capacity slow cooker and it is recommended that you cook with at least 1 qt (1 L) of food in the ceramic pot. • Do not store the ceramic pot in the refrigerator. • If the ceramic pot has been inadvertently left in the refrigerator, do not immediately fill with hot or warm liquids. Wait until the pot is at room temperature. • If assembling a recipe in advance of cooking, store ingredients in a covered, separate container. • After each use, always follow the "Care and Cleaning" instructions. 10