Cook pasta, rice, and noodles until just tender; add them to the crockpot toward the end of cooking.
Uncooked meat and vegetable combinations require 8-10 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.
One hour of simmering on a range or baking at 350 degrees in an oven is equivalent to 8-10 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.
Fresh vegetables should be added at the beginning of cooking. Canned and frozen vegetables (thawed first) should be added during the last hour of cooking.
Don't remove the cover of the crockpot unless necessary for stirring. Most recipes don't require stirring and you'll lose about 30 minutes of cooking time when the lid is removed.
Keep It Safe
Although your crockpot thermometer may be at 200 degrees Fahrenheit, everything in the pot may not be at that temperature. To ensure safety, follow these tips:
- If you plan to cook on the lower 200-degree setting, turn the crockpot to the higher 300-degree setting for the first hour, then turn it down to the lower setting.
- Microwave the food contents (in the removable stoneware pot) on high for 5-10 minutes, then stir and place in the crockpot on the low setting.
- Don't use frozen vegetables in the crockpot-- always thaw them in the microwave or on the stove first.
- If you start with chilled meat, make sure the liquid you add is boiling.
- Warm meat before adding it, and brown it either on the stove or in the microwave.
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