Slow cookers are one of the most versatile appliances you can have in your kitchen. From keeping dips warm to cooking entire meals, there are so many things you can do with a slow cooker.
Since January is National Slow Cooker Month, it’s the perfect time to learn some new tips and tricks for your slow cooker. Use these five hacks from Blain’s Farm & Fleet to take your favorite kitchen tool to the next level.
There are plenty of dips and appetizers you can make in a slow cooker. If you’re short on space or you can’t choose which dip to make, you can create two in one slow cooker with this hack from Delish.
To make two sides in your slow cooker, simply create a wall of heavy-duty foil. Mold the sheets of foil together, and make sure it fits snugly in the center of your slow cooker.
Then, cover the slow cooker with a slow cooker liner. And you instantly have space for two dips, and cleanup is a snap!
If you’re making an entire slow cooker meal but don’t want everything blended together, try wrapping different parts of your meal in foil with this hack from Eat At Home.
By wrapping sides and your main dish in separate foil, you retain the flavor without everything mixing.
This works great when you’re cooking a chicken, smoked sausage, or another cut of meat as the main dish and want to serve potatoes, corn, or greens on the side.
While cooking in a slow cooker is pretty easy, sometimes cleanup can be a bit of a hassle. When ingredients have been stewing for hours at a time, there can be a lot of residue stuck to the slow cooker.
There are a few different ways you can make cleanup a lot easier. Lining the slow cooker with a plastic slow cooker liner or foil makes cleanup a breeze. Simply throw away the liner when you’re done.
If you don’t want to use a liner, you can always spray the slow cooker with cooking spray before you start adding food. Or make your own cleaner out of equal parts baking soda and white vinegar.
If you love to use melted chocolate in your recipes, you know it can be hard to keep it melty and ready for dipping and drizzling. That’s where this slow cooker hack from the Yummy Life comes in.
Fill up mason jars with baking chocolate, candy melts, or chocolate chips. Then, fill the slow cooker halfway with hot water, and turn the cooker on high. Do not put the lid on the slow cooker.
After about 30 minutes, stir the chocolate, and make sure it’s melted. Once it’s melted, turn the slow cooker to low, and leave it uncovered.
Extra condensation inside your slow cooker can ruin delicate dishes and soften crunchy toppings. Line the lid with a paper towel to help soak up extra steam.
This can help prevent it from dripping back into the food. It’s a simple hack that can really go a long way.
A slow cooker truly comes in handy for any occasion, be it a holiday party, a football tailgate, or anything in between. For more tips and slow cooker recipes, visit our Cooking & Recipes Blog.
