The Effective Slow Cooker Cookbook: A Complete Guide Inclusive of 101 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

By Chef Effect

The Effective Slow Cooker Cookbook

In today’s modern society where everyone’s always in a rush, it makes sense to rely on fast food. As the name implies, fast food is quick and convenient—perfect for those who don’t have the time to cook homemade meals for the family.

However, it’s important to remember that fast food has long been linked to various health problems. Is it really worth sacrificing health for the sake of convenience?

Regular consumption of fast food products, which are typically high in calories, fat, cholesterol, sugar, and chemical additives, can increase the risk of heart disease and many other serious ailments.

So what can a busy person do? Find ways to create home-cooked meals the easy way!

One way is to make use of the slow cooker. Otherwise known as the crockpot, the slow cooker became very popular in the 1970s. And it’s making its way back to the kitchens of American families who want to create flavorful dishes with little time and effort.

Yes, the cooking time is long. Most dishes require at least two hours of cooking. Some even take up to 12 hours! But take note that very little effort is involved. And all those hours the dish is cooking can be spent doing other important chores around the house.

In this book you will learn about:

• How to Cook with a Slow Cooker
• How to Clean Your Slow Cooker
• Tips for Using a Slow Cooker
• Safety Tips to Keep in Mind
• Measurement Unit Conversions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• 101 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

There are Breakfast Recipes, Soup/Stew Recipes, Poultry Recipes, Beef/Lamb Recipes, Pork Recipes, Seafood Recipes, Vegan/Vegetarian Recipes, Ketogenic Diet Recipes, Paleo Diet Recipes and Snack/Dessert Recipes. All of the recipes include serving size, preparation time, cooking time, and complete nutritional facts. Some of the recipes included are:

• Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
• Cheesy Bacon & Egg Casserole
• Black Bean Mushroom Chili
• Spiced Chicken Soup
• Hot & Sour Soup
• Barbecue Turkey Rolls
• Honey Glazed Chicken
• Pot Roast Braised in Coffee
• Turkish Lamb with Vegetables
• Asian Beef Short Ribs
• Pork Chops with Bacon Gravy
• Herbed Pork with Carrots & Potatoes
• Salmon & Scalloped Potatoes
• Seafood Cioppino
• Mediterranean Eggplant Salad
• Fennel & Barley Risotto
• Meatball & Zucchini Soup
• Keto Carnitas
• Paleo Beef Stew
• Apple Confit

Download your copy today if you want to start a healthier and easier way to cook for you and your family!

See You on the Effective Side!

-Chef Effect

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chef Effect
• Release date: Jul 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546855002

Book preview

Introduction

In today’s modern society where everyone’s always in a rush, it makes sense to rely on fast food. As the name implies, fast food is quick and convenient—perfect for those who don’t have the time to cook homemade meals for the family.

However, it’s important to remember that fast food has long been linked to various health problems. Is it really worth sacrificing health for the sake of convenience?

A 2014 study reports that regular consumption of fast food products, which are typically high in calories, fat, cholesterol, sugar, and chemical additives, can increase the risk of heart disease and many other serious ailments.

So what can a busy person do? Find ways to create home-cooked meals the easy way!

One way is to make use of the slow cooker. Otherwise known as the crockpot, the slow cooker became very popular in the 1970s. And it’s making its way back to the kitchens of American families who want to create flavorful dishes with little time and effort.

Yes, the cooking time is long. Most dishes require at least two hours of cooking. Some even take up to 12 hours! But take note that very little effort is involved. And all those hours the dish is cooking can be spent doing other important chores around the house.

Slow cooking is a good way to save money as well. Not only does it make use of cheaper meat cuts, it also requires less energy than ovens or other electrical cooking devices.

If you’re looking for an easy way to prepare delicious and healthy meals for your family, try using the slow cooker.

You can get started with the help of this book, which not only provides an extensive guide on how to use and maintain a crockpot, but also provides 101 recipes that are all simple and easy. 

Let’s get cooking!

Chapter 1 – An Overview

How to Cook with a Slow Cooker

Contrary to what some people think, slow cookers are very easy to use. Use the following steps to cook with your crockpot.

Step 1 – Look for the right spot to put your slow cooker

Ideally, it should be near an electrical outlet. Keep it at least six inches away from other electrical appliances, cooking devices and heat sources. It should also have enough space from the wall.

Step 2 – Prepare your ingredients

To get started with your cooking, it’s time to slice, dice and chop your vegetables, as well as prepare the other ingredients indicated in the recipe. Some recipes also require browning the meat in a pan with oil. Don’t forget to add seasoning to the meat and veggies as directed in the instructions.

Step 3 – Seal the slow cooker

Once the ingredients are all inside, you can now cover the pot with its lid. Make sure that it fits snugly. For food to cook evenly, the lid should not be loose or have any gaps.

Step 4 – Turn on the slow cooker

Select the setting indicated in the recipe. The low setting is usually used for eight to 10 hours, while the high setting is for quicker cooking—usually two to four hours.

Step 5 – Wait for the dish to cook

It will take hours for your dish to cook but you can spend this time doing other important tasks around the house. It’s not necessary to uncover the pot and stir the dish unless required by the recipe.

Step 6 – Enjoy your meal!

This is the most enjoyable part of the process that will make you love your slow cooker even more.

Chapter 2 – How to Clean Your Slow Cooker

It’s necessary to clean your slow cooker after every use, not only to keep it working for a long time, but also to avoid food contamination.

Here’s a quick guide on how to clean your slow cooker.

Supplies Needed

Dish soap

Baking soda

White vinegar

Microfiber cloth

Scrub brush

Instructions

Unplug your slow cooker. Check the cord for any sign of damage.

Wipe the cooker’s external surface with a damp microfiber cloth.

Clean the lid, knob and handles with soapy water.

Use a brush for getting rid of stubborn dirt and stains on the external surface.

Mix baking soda and water, and use this mixture to scrub off exterior stains.

Clean the bottom part using the brush.

Use dish soap to clean the stoneware insert.

If there is stubborn dirt or stains, you can fill the crockpot with water and cook on low for several hours. It will be much easier to clean off afterwards.

To deep clean the slow cooker, fill the insert with water mixed with a little vinegar. Let it stand overnight. Clean it the next day with soapy water. Rinse well and let it dry naturally.

Chapter 3 – Tips for Using a Slow Cooker

Here are some tips that will help you save time, effort and money, as well as help ensure that you have a pleasant experience using your slow cooker.

Do the shortcut – If you have a very tight schedule, you can skip the sautéing and browning steps in the recipe. Yes, these steps will give you a more flavorful dish but if you’re in a hurry, you can just dump all the ingredients in the slow cooker. You’ll still end up with a delicious meal.

Prepare ahead – You can chop and slice the vegetables and other ingredients the night before and just put them in the refrigerator. Take them out 20 minutes before you start cooking.

Save money by using cheaper meat cuts – Examples of these are pork shoulder, chicken thigh, lamb shoulder and beef briskets.

Discard the fat – It’s always better to trim the fat before putting your meat in the slow cooker. Remember that slow cooking gives your dish enough moisture and flavor.

Bring out the flavor with the low setting – If you have time to spare, go for the low setting, as this brings out more flavor than the high setting.

Don’t take a peek – It’s tempting to take a peek every once in a while but this is not necessary and will only lengthen the cooking time.

Chapter 4 – Safety Tips to Keep In Mind

Like any other electrical device, you have to follow proper safety procedure for using the slow cooker. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

Find a safe spot for your slow cooker. The surface should be flat and sturdy. Don’t place your slow cooker near heat sources, an open window or a wall. There should be at least six inches