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Few things are better than coming home at the end of a busy day to a warm, freshly prepared meal. A slow cooker can make that possible while saving time and keeping meal preparation simple.
Although slow cookers are often associated with hearty winter meals, they can be used safely throughout the year. In the summer, a slow cooker can even help keep your kitchen cooler because you don’t have to heat up the oven.
Slow cookers cook food slowly at a low temperature. The combination of heat, cooking time and steam created by the tightly covered lid helps destroy harmful bacteria. However, safe food handling is still important from preparation through serving.
Follow These Slow Cooker Safety Tips:
- Start with clean hands and equipment. Wash your hands before and during food preparation. Make sure the slow cooker, utensils, cutting boards and work surfaces are clean.
- Thaw meat safely. Always thaw meat and poultry in the refrigerator before placing them in the slow cooker. Never put frozen meat directly into a slow cooker because it may spend too long in the temperature danger zone.
- Keep refrigerated foods cold. Keep meat, poultry and other perishable ingredients refrigerated until you are ready to prepare your meal.
- Place vegetables on the bottom. Dense vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and onions generally take longer to cook, so place them underneath the meat or poultry.
- Don’t overfill the slow cooker. For best results and safe cooking, fill the slow cooker about one-half to two-thirds full. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific appliance.
- Keep the lid on. Each time you remove the lid, heat escapes and cooking time increases. Only remove the lid when necessary to stir or check for doneness.
- Follow the recipe. Use the recommended cooking time and temperature setting. If you are going to be away from home for several hours, recipes designed for the low setting can often cook safely throughout the day.
- Check for doneness. A food thermometer is the best way to determine whether meat and poultry have reached a safe internal temperature. Color and appearance alone are not reliable indicators of doneness.
- Keep cooked food hot. If your slow cooker has a warm setting, use it to keep food hot after cooking. The warm setting should not be used to cook raw foods.
- Handle leftovers safely. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking. Divide large amounts of food into shallow containers so they cool more quickly. Use refrigerated leftovers within three to four days or freeze them for longer storage.
What Happens During a Power Outage?
If you are away from home and the power goes out while food is cooking, do not taste the food to determine whether it is safe. When in doubt, throw it out.
If you are home when the power goes out, finish cooking the food immediately using another safe cooking method, such as a gas stove or outdoor grill, if available and appropriate.
A slow cooker can be a wonderful tool for busy families. With a little planning and proper food-safety practices, you can enjoy convenient, flavorful meals while protecting your family from foodborne illness.
For more information about food preparation, food safety or safe cooking practices, contact the Baxter County Extension Office at 870-425-2335.
