Crockpots, or slow cookers, have fast become healthy recipes videos indispensable food preparation tools for individuals on the go who do not want to slave over the kitchen with multi-stage cooking methods. The Crock Pot is online recipes videos actually a brand name for a small electrical appliance invented in the 1970s for simmering foods over an extended period of time over low temperatures compared to other cooking methods.
1. Vegetarian Crockpot
Crockpots, or slow
cookers, have fast become
healthy recipes videos
indispensable food preparation
tools for individuals on the go
who do not want to slave over
the kitchen with multi-stage
cooking methods. The Crock
Pot is online recipes videos
actually a brand name for a
small electrical appliance
invented in the 1970s for
simmering foods over an
extended period of time over
low temperatures compared to other cooking methods.
An advantage marketers of crockpots is the that you can just toss ingredients
in a pot, lightly brown it in some oil, add a cooking liquid of water, broth or wine and
leave it unattended until done without burning. This is mostly applicable for cooking
of a pot roast, soups and stews.
Though crockpots have evolved considerably since its inception, the basic
concept of a glass-lidded glazed ceramic or porcelain cooking vessel surrounded
by a metal housing with a heating element remains pretty much the same. The
grooved vessel or “crock” acts to condense the vapor from the cooking liquid and
provides an interior low-pressure seal. As there is no tight clamp involved, there is no
risk of sudden release as with a pressure cooker.
Modern versions of crockpots have advance features like thermostats, timers
which eliminate or reduce the chance of overcooking. These add to the already
convenient concept. Many manufacturers from different countries manufacture
crockpots using different materials and sell it at different price levels.
In conventional food preparation, the advantage of crockpot cookery allows
for the use of cheaper, tougher cuts of meat as the slow cooking method allow for
natural tenderization, similar to stewing. Some modifications have to be observed
particularly the seasoning levels as the concentration of the cooking liquid may
make the final dish too salty. Start with less salt and spices and adjust towards the
end of cooking. Also, allow for different cooking times of the components of your
dish. One-pot cooking also reduces clean up time.
In vegetarian crockpot cooking, preparation time doesn’t vary as much as
when you’re cooking meats. An advantage of cooking vegetarian dishes in a
crockpot is it is virtually impossible to burn food due to low heat especially with
advance models which can be set to adjust temperature as the food cooks. Extra
care must be taken as vegetables easily overcook and become mushy and more
importantly lose valuable nutrients. Raw vegetarians frown upon the use of
crockpots and pretty much any cooking as it supposedly boils out heat-sensitive
nutrients and kills live enzymes found in raw vegetables.
Vegetarian and vegan crockpot recipes abound online, however, one needs
not go on the web. Several vegetable soups, stews and some desserts can be
prepared with the use of a crockpot.