For a printable version of these tips click here.
The convenience of cooking with a slow cooker can help save you time and money, but it does take some getting used to.
You might be disappointed with some of your first attempts, but don’t give up. With a bit of background knowledge and some good recipes, you’ll soon find your slow cooker is one of your favorite kitchen appliances.
Here are some tips to help you get started.
Choosing a slow cooker
Slow cookers come in a two main shapes: round and oval. The oval shape is more versatile if you are planning to cook larger pieces of meat.
Use the chart below to help you decide what size slow cooker to purchase. If you like to have leftovers, choose a larger size.
| Size | Suitable for |
| 3-1/2 quart | 2-3 people |
| 4-quart | 4 people |
| 5-quart | 4-6 people |
| 6-quart | 6-8 people; can cook some larger cuts of meat like a ham or small turkey |
| Larger than 6 quarts | 8 or more people and large cuts of meat |
Slow cookers come with different options. You can buy a simple standard cooker with a Low, High and Auto settings, or you can opt for a model with electronic options that allow you to set the cooking time and other details. The models with electronic features are generally more expensive.
Don’t be confused between slow cookers and Crock Pots. Crock Pot is simply the trademarked name for slow cookers made by the Rival company .
5 Tips for Success
1. Read the manual
- There are lots of different types and brands of slow cookers on the market, and each one works a little bit differently.
- Take the time to read through your instruction manual to learn about the operating details of your specific appliance.
2. Don’t peek
- It’s tempting to lift the lid to see how your meal is progressing, but every time your slow cooker is opened, the temperature drops 10- 15 degrees.
- It takes approximately 30 minutes for the temperature to increase again once the lid is closed.
3. Fill 1/2 – 2/3 full
- Don’t be tempted to over-fill your cooker. If you need to fill it more than 2/3 full (or at the very most ¾ full), you need a bigger cooker.
- Filling the cooker too full can result in the contents spilling over, and in improperly cooked meals.
4. Use low setting for tough cuts of meat
- Slow cookers are perfect for turning tough cuts of meat into tender meals. This happens best on the low setting of your cooker. Don’t be tempted to turn the cooker to high in order to speed things up.
5. Make space on your counter
- Slow cookers are safe to leave on all day while you are out of the house, but don’t take chances. Clean the space around your cooker and get rid of any clutter around it while in use to avoid accidents.
5 Tips for Improving Flavor
1. Brown meat
- Browning meat before adding it to the cooker will add deeper flavor and improved color to the finished dish. It’s an extra step that is well worth the few minutes of time it takes.
- Heat a pan over med-high heat, and add a teaspoon of oil to the heated pan. Place the meat in the pan and cook for a few minutes on each side until the surfaces are browned.
- If you are using small pieces of meat like stewing beef, brown the meat in small batches. If you add too many pieces of meat to the heated pan at one time, you will lower the temperature and the meat will steam instead of browning.
- Cooking other ingredients like onions and garlic before adding them to the slow cooker will also improve the flavor of your dishes.
2. Don’t add too much wine or alcohol
- Liquids don’t evaporate during the slow cooking process, so using too much wine or alcohol in your cooker isn’t a good idea because the alcohol can easily overwhelm your dish.
- If you do want to add wine or alcohol, use small amounts, or use it to deglaze your pan if you’ve browned meat or cooked other ingredients before adding them to the cooker.
- To deglaze a pan, simply add the alcohol to the pan after you’ve removed the cooked ingredients, scraping as the liquid cooks on a med-high temperature. The alcohol will evaporate, and you’ll be left with flavorful liquid to add to your slow cooker.
3. Add dairy products and tender, quick cooking vegetables at the end
- Dairy products should generally be added during the last hour of cooking. Evaporated milk can be cooked for a longer period of time without curdling or separating.
- Tender vegetables like zucchinis and peppers will turn to an unpleasant mush if you add them at the start of the slow cooking process. Add them during the last hour so that they retain their flavor and texture.
4. Add fresh herbs at end of cooking time
- Fresh herbs are a great addition to any dish, but if you add them too early in the slow cooking process, they will lose their flavor.
- Use dried herbs at the start of the slow cooking time, and save your fresh herbs to add the end.
5. Understand the different types of herbs and spices
- The flavor of whole herbs and spices will intensify during slow cooking, while ground flavorings will lose their power.
- If your recipe calls for ground spices, add part at the beginning and save some to add at the end of cooking, or add extra during the last hour of cooking.
Food Safety
1. Don’t cook frozen food
- Meat should be fully thawed before adding to the slow cooker. Meat that is not fully thawed may not reach a safe internal temperature by the end of cooking.
- It’s important to keep meat out of the ‘danger zone’: this is the temperature range at which bacteria multiplies rapidly. The danger zone is between 4 degrees C/40 degrees F and 60 degrees C / 140 degrees F.
- Unthawed meat will spend too long in the danger zone during the slow cooking process.
2. Heat liquids before adding them
- If you are adding liquids to your slow cooker recipe, heat them first. This helps food reach the safe temperature zone more quickly.
3. Don’t use your slow cooker for reheating foods
- The more often foods go through a cooling/heating cycle, the more opportunities there are for bacteria to multiply.
- Foods reheated in a slow cooker will spend too long in the danger zone – it is best to use the oven, stovetop or microwave for reheating cooked dishes.
4. Don’t cook on the warm setting
- The warm setting on slow cookers is not designed for cooking foods. It will not raise the temperature of the cooked foods above the danger zone. Foods cooked in the slow cooker can be held at the warm setting for up to 2 hours, however.
5. Boil beans for 10 minutes before adding to the slow cooker
- Beans cook well in the slow cooker, but if you are using dried beans it is important to boil them for 10 minutes before adding to your cooker.
- Many beans contain a naturally occurring toxin called phytohaemagglutinin, which can cause serious gastrointestinal illness. Kidney beans are particularly high in this compound, and slow cooking without boiling them for 10 minutes first can actually increase the strength of the toxin.
- Soak dried beans for at least 12 hours, and discard the soaking water. Cover with fresh water and bring to a full boil. Boil for 10 minutes before adding the beans to your slow cooker.
Adapting recipes for the slow cooker
1. Reduce liquids
- Liquid doesn’t evaporate during slow cooking – in fact, the amount of liquid in your recipe will usually increase during the cooking process.
- When you are adapting a recipe for slow cooking, reduce any liquid called for by half.
2. Adjust herbs and spices
- Note what kind of herbs and spices are called for in your recipe. Consider replacing fresh herbs with dried, or using both in order to maintain the flavor.
3. Calculate cooking time
- When you are trying to figure out how long to cook something in your slow cooker, a general rule for calculating is: 1 hour at 350 degrees F in the oven = 6-8 hours (low) / 4-6 hours (high) in the slow cooker
- The time range is due to the fact that every slow cooker is different, so it’s important to get to know your particular appliance.
Recipes and resources
There are lots of great recipes available for slow cooking. Here are a few reliable resources to get you started:
Canadian Living Slow Cooker Recipe Collection
The Food Network: Must Try Slow Cooker Recipes
Simple Slow Cooker Recipes from Southern Living
What are your favorite slow cooker tips and recipes? You can share them in the comments below.
Note: Photo used with permission from Hamilton Beach.
I love my slow cooker and we use it several times a week. Such an easy way to prepare meals for the family after a busy day. Thank you for sharing these great tips!
Yes – they can be real time savers. I’ve really used mine a lot this winter.
Thank you… Thank you. I love it a perfect print out for the cupboard.
I’m glad you found it useful 🙂 (I also like to be able to print things out, too.)
I really need to start to learn to use my slow cooker more. It would be great to make big portions of things and then just freeze them!
Yes- I do that with mine. It’s also great for browning ground beef: you can then just portion it up, freeze it, and have it ready when you need it 🙂
Mind = Blown. Seriously. I don’t think I would have ever guessed there was that many differences when using a slow cooker. Great tips! I will definitely be using these next SC meal 🙂
I’m glad you found them useful 🙂
Wish I’d known some of this earlier – the one time I used a slow cooker it didn’t turn out too well…. thanks!
It takes a bit of practice. The first few meals I cooked in a slow cooker were duds!
Great tips! We love slow cooking. 🙂 We knew some of these, but not all of them. I especially appreciated the advice on the meat and beans. I love to make slow cooker freezer meals, I just have to make sure I thoroughly thaw them! 😉
It’s a great little appliance, isn’t it? Yes, thawing is important 🙂
I have been meaning to give this a try for such a long time and I think your post may have just given me the push I need. One of my stumbling blocks was not knowing what size pot to buy but now I know I’ll need a pot bigger that 6 quarts for our large family – I have no excuse not to buy one
Have fun! Once you try one and see how convenient it is, you’ll be hooked 🙂
Slow cookers are the best! I got my first one when I got married, and it has been such a blessing! It’s so great coming home, opening the door and experiencing the delicious fragrance of dinner! I also love that dinner is ready and clean up is easy.
Yes- it makes the house feel warm and welcoming, doesn’t it? And having fewer dishes is always a good thing 🙂
It surprises me how many people put frozen chicken into a crockpot and cook it. I love my slow cooker for big cuts of beef!
I love the slow cooker where you can put the thermometer inside. I wish I had one – it is the coolest thing!
The thermometer ones are very cool – I agree! Mine are just the simple kinds – 3 settings: no timers or extras 🙂 I like to cook a (small) turkey in my large slow cooker – great for cooking those cheap turkeys I stocked up on at Christmas 🙂
I love my slow cooker, but after reading this post I know the improvements I need to make. First and foremost…no peeking!!! I didn’t realize how much the temperature changed every time I opened the lid…oops!
Yes, I think that’s the one that surprises everyone the most 🙂 (and the hardest thing not to do!)
great post!! Actually I´m new with the slow cooker so this is just great!
Have fun 🙂 Once you get used to using one, you’ll find you use it often 🙂
Thanks for these great slow cooker tips. I am a music teacher, and often get home from work at 9 pm. I love using my slow cooker to have a hot cooked meal waiting for me when I get home. Did not know lifting the lid lowered the temperature so fast.
It’s great after a long day, isn’t it? (Yes, keeping the lid on really keeps the heat in – with the temperature being relatively low, it drops quite quickly. But regular stoves can drop quite a bit, too, if the cook keeps looking in 🙂 ).
Love the slow cooker…and the tips are all welcome. I think I’ve been making all the mistakes a guy can make!
-Kim
You’re cooking – that’s what matters 🙂
These are the greatest tips I’ve received lately! I’m definitely bookmarking this post so I can return! I’m also going to show this to my husband, as he loves to open up the crockpot and “look”, now I’ll be able to get him to stop!!
It’s so tempting to peek in when everything smells so good 🙂
I love my slow cooker, but these are great tips that will encourage me to use it more! It just makes life so much easier when you come home to dinner ready and the house smelling so good. I have pinned this for sure.
I love coming home to the smell of something cooking, too, and it gives everyone a bit of time to relax before dinner.
I absolutely could not live without my slow cooker. I use it at least 3 times a week. Thank you for this post. I didn’t know about boiling beans for 10 minutes first. I just usually throw them in to cook all day. I do alot of freezer meal cooking and I have been putting frozen foods directly into the slow cooker. I wasn’t aware that was dangerous.
Very informative post. Thank you.
Yes, I think adding the beans is something we’ve all done, and probably without any problems. Kidney beans are a real issue, but for other beans, too, it’s important. I think we all do things that aren’t strictly ‘food safe’, but because we haven’t had any problems, we don’t worry about it too much. But if something did happen, we would feel awful.
I don’t have a slow cooker, but I am considering getting one. First, I need to choose what other appliances to get rid of, having enough space for everything is becoming a challenge.
Oh – do I understand that! I so need to declutter here!
Oh yeah, love the slow cooker. I remember my mom using one several times a week while I growing up.
Yes- they seem to be becoming popular again 🙂
I love using my slow cooker to cook meals in. It’s so nice to just throw some stuff in it in the morning and have it all ready in the evening when you are ready to eat and clean up is super easy.
Yes- I love not having a bunch of pots to clean up 🙂
Thanks for sharing so much great info. I love my slow cooker. With busy activity filled weeknights, I rely on it a lot. Here are some of my favorite slow cooker recipes.
Slow Cooker Butter Bean Soup: http://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/slow-cooker-butter-bean-soup
Brisket in a Crock Pot: http://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/brisket-in-a-crock-pot
Slow Cooker Cuban Black Beans: http://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/slow-cooker-cuban-black-beans
Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole: http://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/lazy-cabbage-roll-casserole
Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs: http://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/slow-cooker-spaghetti-and-meatballs
The best Pot Roast Ever: http://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/paula-deens-beef-pot-roast
Thanks for the great recipes! I will certainly be giving some of these a try 🙂
This is a fantastic slow cooker resource. I need to use my more often. I have only had one disaster when using mine, trying a new recipe. It was a spicy mac ‘n cheese. It was mush! I haven’t tried that recipe since.
There are lots of slow cooker pasta recipes out there, but I haven’t tried any of them. Pasta doesn’t do so well with the long cooking time. My big disaster was rice pudding – I still don’t know what I did wrong. (For some reason, I just can’t make good rice pudding- no matter what method I try! And I love rice pudding!)
I use my slow cooker all the time! I usually make a whole chicken in it, throw the bones back in and add water and make homemade broth about once a week. So easy!!
Yes- I love cooking chickens in it. I haven’t used it to make the broth, though. I’ll try that with the turkey bones from last night’s dinner 🙂
When I was in college I was introduced to the magical slow cooker, and my life has never been the same since! It’s so incredibly convenient to not have to worry or stand in front of a pot or pan for extended periods of time. I need to work on not peeking though! Great tips!
I lived in residence for one semester – I wish I’d a slow cooker then. It really is so convenient, and can help with eating healthier meals.
Great tips! I use my slow cooker weekly. I will tell my husband to stop lifting the lid. 🙂 I always take my prepared bags of freezer meals out of the freezer and straight into the crockpot. I didn’t realize it was unsafe. I guess I need to take the bag out the night before to defrost in the refrigerator first.
Yes, defrosting is the way to go 🙂 Trying to keep foods in the ‘danger zone’ for the shortest possible time is key. (I always lift the lid, too- even though I know I shouldn’t!)
I’ve never done slow cooking but I have used a pressure cooker which also makes meat nice and tender.
That is on my list of things I would like to purchase. My mom used a pressure cooker a lot when I was a kid, and the new ones on the market seem so much more user friendly. I also want to use one for canning low-acid foods.
A great post, with some very useful tips. I’ve been thinking of buying a slow cooker, now my kids are both in school and I’ve returned to work. It’s getting harder to find time to cook. I’m bookmarking this post to help me get started on my slow-cooking journey
It is so helpful when you can plug it in in the morning, and have dinner (mostly) ready by the time you get home. One less thing to worry about 🙂
I love having a Crock Pot==I bought it just after we got married and it has been a meal lifesaver!
Yes- it has been great for our family, too 🙂
Thanks for the tips on using a slow cooker 🙂 I will share this with my friends!
Thanks 🙂 I hope they find them helpful 🙂
My slow cooker died a few months ago and with winter approaching I want to get another one. Thanks for the sizes. Will make my shopping easier. Now to narrow down the brands.
I was looking for a slow cooker for my mom for Christmas, and it really made it easier knowing what sizes fit what number of people. There are so many makes and models available – it can get overwhelming! +
Great tips on using a slow cooker! We got rid of ours when we moved last year, but as soon as we buy a condo, I’d like to replace it. Thank you for including the printable, which I’ve downloaded to have on hand for when I do get a new slow cooker.
I like to have things printed out because my eyes get tired looking at a screen – I’m glad you found it useful 🙂
The slow cooker is one of my favorite kitchen tools. I have three of them that I use on a regular basis. It’s wonderful being able to add a few ingredients in the morning and have a delicious meal ready for dinner. It also makes the house smell so good!
A couple of Christmases ago, my mother bought me a slow cooker (Emeril brand) that adjusts the temperature to get it back up fast once the lid is opened. This keeps the food from taking extra time to cook once sneaking a peek. I absolutely love that feature. None of my other slow cookers do that.
My church has an outreach mission on Monday nights, and we all use our slow cookers to make the food. Then we bring the food to the dinner in the slow cookers and plug them in so that the food stays warm. It’s like a slow cooker brigade.
Thanks for the slow cooker information. I look forward to checking out your recipes and trying some of them.
I need to look for one of those slow cookers! I haven’t seen one around here – sounds great 🙂
Your church group should put together a slow cooker cookbook – there are so many people looking for good recipes:)
We love our slow cooker – it cooks pork better than frying, and a whole chicken is full of tender meat!
I use mine a lot for chicken. I cook a couple of small chickens in my bigger slow cooker, and then use the meat for a few different recipes and then make soup.
I had no idea peeking dropped the temperature! Thanks for all the useful tips, as much as I us my slow cooker, I really should learn more about it 🙂 My favorite recipe is a roast, I season the meat, throw in carrots, potatoes, celery and onions and cook it on low for 10 hours. I may be able to reduce that time now that I know to stop lifting the lid!
I lift the lid, too – even when I know it will just slow things down even more 🙂 It’s great having something ready for dinner with so little work, isn’t it? (And so nice to come home to good smells :))
Wow, such great tips! I have always browned meat before putting it in the slow cooker but I didn’t know if it was necessary. Also, I didn’t know the part about thawing the meat first. Thanks for being so thorough.
Browning really does make things taste better, doesn’t it? Still works without browning, but some recipes it really does make a big difference.
Hello from Blogelina! I cannot tell you how in love with my slow cooker I am. (Maybe I’m just getting lazy as I get older.) I learned so much reading this post- like “use low setting for tough cuts of meat” and “dried herbs at the beginning of cooking, fresh at the end.” I’m so excited to try the recipe links you provided- thanks so!
I really like my slow cooker, too (there’s no such as lazy :)) There are some good recipes on those links – have fun!
I usually cook in the stove, but after reading your great post, I am convinced in getting one. I am a fan of user-friendly appliances especially when it comes to cooking. Convenience is one factor I consider because I am a full time mom and my kids are always creating a mess… well it’s given LOL… Thank you for sharing your tips.
Hi – yes, convenience is pretty important for me, too 🙂 And having a bit less mess is nice. You’re right though – with kids, there will always be mess 🙂
I love a slow-cooker or crock pot as we like to call it. I was not able to bring one to Mexico when we moved here but eventually I may buy one again because I do miss it. So convenient! Great points you give for those who are learning to cook with a slow-cooker 🙂
Yes, I love the convenience 🙂 (Mexico sounds so appealing to a Canadian at this time of year!)
Great tips and guidelines! I wish I had known these when I first started using slow cookers. I had to learn by trial and error, especially the liquids part and adding herbs at the end. Thanks for sharing!
I think a lot of people get frustrated before they learn some of the tips that can help. Good for you for sticking with it 🙂
Thanks so much for the tips. I have 2 slow cookers and plenty of cookbooks that haven’t been cracked open. I mostly use mine to make bone broth for our dogs, but I really would love to get back into making things for us too. Thanks for the inspiration to finally crack open those cookbooks 🙂
I have two slow cookers too – I’d never thought about slow cooking some bones for the dog. I think I’ll do that next time, as I’m sure it’s hard for him having to smell something cooking all day long! Have fun :).
We love our slow cooker. It is so nice putting our main dish in the crock and letting it go until we are ready to serve. I recommend learning how to use one to everyone. My husband is the better cook out of the two of us and even I can manage our crock pot without my very opinionated 9 year old asking when I will take cooking lessons. Great post.
🙂 I agree – it’s easy to put together a good meal with a slow cooker. Actually – you got me thinking that I should get my kids to learn a few recipes for it :).
I used to use a slow cooker when my family was all at home, now it is the 2 of us not so much. On occasion when I know I am having company it gives me ano pportunity to use my recipes.
For two people you could cook a batch and freeze part of it for later, or use one of the smaller slow cookers. It’s nice having it available for a larger group, though, so you can have part or all of the meal taken care of without too much fuss 🙂
This is helpful. I use my slow cooker a lot in the winter–but also in the summer to make things with all the fresh veggies from the farm. I am always interested in adding more flavor! Thanks for the tips. I sometimes find that it’s hard to find recipes for the slow cooker that taste as “fresh” as in other methods, so your pointers might help. -Sarah, aka, The Educated Mom.
Yes- it’s hard to get that ‘fresh’ flavor with a slow cooker. A few fresh herbs at the end does help. I tend to use mine more in the winter, too, but have started using it a lot more to make soups all year round.
I’ve gone through many slow cookers in my lifetime and these are all great tips. There’s nothing like coming home at the end of the day, opening the door and being greeted with the wonderful aroma of dinner. Think I’ll go throw something in the slow cooker right now. 🙂
🙂
Yes- it just makes the day go more smoothly when you know you don’t have to think about what to cook for dinner when you get home.
I love, love, love my crock pot! I use it at least two times a week. It’s so convenient with everyone’s busy schedules. I never knew you were suppose to boil beans before you put them in the crock pot. I don’t eat them but I make them for my husband. Luckily, I’ve never made him sick. Thanks for the tip!
It’s especially important with kidney beans, as they have the greatest amount of the toxin. I love the convenience, too: makes the day easier when you know dinner is already cooked 🙂
Wow! You had lots of helpful information on slow cookers. My Mom always tells me to brown the meant before putting it in the slow cooker but I had never heard about how each time I open the lid, the temperature drops and it takes 15 minutes or so to bring it back up. I am bad about peaking at the food/stirring it. I am overseas and missed having a slow cooker but when an American friend was moving back to the US, she sold me hers. I am guilty about putting too much in and should keep in mind for my next use that is not such a good idea. I like to make roast and vegetables in mine. Lots of great tips on slow cookers!!
I peek, too! It really does slow things down, though 🙂
This is an amazing post with a lot of knowledge. I have four slow cookers and I didn’t like how my food tasted with any of them. Your tips to add flavor will make me give them another try. I think I gave up on them to quickly.
I found it took a while before I was happy with the results – things tended to all taste the same at the start.
Using a crock pot is my type of cooking. So simple and easy. It’s ideal for a busy wife, mom & family.
Yes- it’s great for families, isn’t it? I find kids often find it reassuring to know what’s for dinner ahead of time, too 🙂
I’ve actually never owned a slow cooker or crock pot. I always wanted to try one but was scared I wouldn’t be able to learn it.
The tips you shared in this post actually make me feel confident enough to go get one. I’m bookmarking your site so I can print out these tips later tonight, lol. Know of any great recipes for a newbie learning to slow cook?
Hi- I’m glad you’re going to give it a try 🙂 Slow cooking can really save a lot of time and stress once you get a few good recipes up your sleeve :). This soup from my blog is really easy – https://ketchupwiththat.com/2013/12/28/cheap-and-cheerful-slow-cooker-carrot-soup/ I sometimes put it on overnight night and put it in the fridge at breakfast. Then at dinner time, I can just puree it, heat and serve.