Tips for Slow-Cooking Success

Appears in
Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker: 200 Ultra-Convenient, Super-Tasty, Completely Animal-Free Recipes
Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker

By Robin Robertson

Published 2012

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Slow cooking is simple, but you can still make mistakes by not knowing some basic do’s and don’ts. Follow these simple rules—and their exceptions—and you can transform what would have been so-so slow cooker meals into meals that are nothing short of sensational.

Try not to lift the lid when cooking. Doing so will reduce the cooking temperature considerably and cause your dish to take longer to cook. It is estimated that each time you lift the lid, you lose 20 minutes of cooking time. However, some rules are made to be broken, and sometimes you just need to lift the lid. Exceptions to this rule include the need to add certain ingredients before the end of cooking time or the need to stir a particular dish. For the most part, you should be able to check on what you’re cooking by looking through the clear glass lid. If you do want to lift the lid to stir, check for doneness, or adjust seasonings, just do so as quickly as possibly—and be aware that you may need to tack on a little extra cooking time.