Ricardo Larrivée - Slower is Better: From a Taco Fiesta to Chocolate Pudding Cakes

First, go for a 6-quart (5.5 litre) machine. Its the perfect size for most recipes, and its the one I use in this book. Second, choose a model that enables you to program the time its on high heat and low heat, with a timer that can be set up to 10 hours. Third, pick one that includes the Warm function, which keeps your dishes toasty (without overcooking them) until youre ready to eat. Dont waste money on fancy functions youll probably never use, like a thermometer or double programminga basic model will do the job perfectly well. (Just saying.) . SHOULD I CHOOSE A ROUND OR AN OVAL SLOW COOKER? I prefer the oval version by far. SHOULD I CHOOSE A ROUND OR AN OVAL SLOW COOKER? I prefer the oval version by far.

Its easier to fit an entire chicken or ham into an oval modelplus, round slow cookers have become outdated, so theyre actually harder to find. And their older-generation heating elements dont get as hot, which may explain why old-school recipes call for cooking times of eight hours or more; now you can cook dishes in as little as four to six hours. There are a lot of things I miss about the 1970sespecially the peace-and-love vibesbut not the slow cookers! . CAN I DOUBLE A RECIPE? Absolutely. And easily! But there are two rules of thumb: Never fill your slow cooker more than three-quarters full, and dont make the mistake of simply doubling the cooking time. . HOW DO I CUT A RECIPE IN HALF? If you want to divide a recipe because your slow cooker is small, go for it. HOW DO I CUT A RECIPE IN HALF? If you want to divide a recipe because your slow cooker is small, go for it.

But if youre dividing a recipe that you still plan to cook in a standard 6-quart (5.5 litre) slow cooker, you should reduce only the amount of protein (meat or legumes) and vegetablesnot the sauce or the broth. The amount of liquid is often the most important part of a successful slow cooker recipe. . ARE SLOW-COOKED RECIPES FREEZER-FRIENDLY? Yes! And thats another thing that makes slow cooking amazing: You can cook up a feast and keep some for later. That said, there are a few recipes in this book that dont react as well to freezing like the omelet and the salmon confit, which weve noted in the recipe. IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A SLOW COOKER RECIPE WITHOUT A SLOW COOKER? Generally speaking, slow cooker recipes can be made in a Dutch oven or deep casserole with a lid at 300F (150C) in a regular oven. . WHAT FOOD IS SLOW COOKERFRIENDLY? Anything thats typically braised, stewed or simmered is a slow cooker dream, and its a miracle worker when it comes to tougher cuts of meat. WHAT FOOD IS SLOW COOKERFRIENDLY? Anything thats typically braised, stewed or simmered is a slow cooker dream, and its a miracle worker when it comes to tougher cuts of meat.

However, if youre planning to slow cook a traditional stew, youll want to reduce liquids by half. For example, if a recipe requires 4 cups (1 litre) of broth, youll only need 2 cups (500 ml) because theres no evaporation in a slow cookerthe juices are sealed in until serving, which is why recipes that include dairy are often disappointing (see question 12). . IF IM AT WORK ALL DAY, CAN I PROGRAM A RECIPE THAT REQUIRES ONLY FOUR HOURS OF COOKING TIME? Your slow cooker should automatically go into Warm mode after the required four hours. Most recipes can stay in that mode without a problem; in this book Ive indicated which ones can stay in Warm mode for lengthy periods. THESE RECIPES REQUIRE A LOT OF SPICES. THESE RECIPES REQUIRE A LOT OF SPICES.

ARE THEY ALL NECESSARY? Frankly, yes. Flip to for a peek at my slow cooking spice rack and meet the 14 must-have spices for slow cooking. It might seem like a lot at first, but once youve got them all, you can tackle any recipe in this book. . IS IT BETTER TO USE FRESH OR DRIED HERBS? Fresh herbs add more flavour and a burst of brightness to your dish, but its better to add them at the end. .