Ah…the dreaded slow cooker. I say that because when I first got marrired – anytime I would mention a crockpot meal I would get that “look” from my husband who is expecting a dried up hunk of meat and vegetables that no longer resemble anything you should be putting into your body.
But it doesn’t have to be like that!! Using a slow cooker can save you time and money AND be DELICIOUS.
Slow Cooking tips to help save you time and money:
Plan Ahead. Yes, you can just throw a hunk of frozen meat and a jar of your favorite gravy in the pot and call it a day. But planning ahead is essential to saving you time, money and getting a great end product. Generally, you will need several hours – hence the name “slow cooker”. Frozen meat should be thawed – at least partially, so think ahead the night before and plan accordingly. You also want to make sure you have all the ingredients ahead of time.
Do Your Prep Work. I like to prepare any meat, veges and other ingredients the night before and have it in the slow cooker waiting in the refrigerator for the next morning. That way, in the morning all I have to do is take it out and plug her in! A few of my recipes call for me to sear my meat on all sides on the stove to seal in the juices before I place it in the slow cooker. That could take several minutes, so it’s a great do-ahead. Some recipes call for you to add in some ingredients (such as potatoes or carrots) later in the day. Have those ready in a separate baggy waiting for you.
Buy Cheaper Ingredients. Many slow cooker recipes call for cheaper cuts of meat. The slow cooking process and cooking liquid helps break down the toughness of the meat, leaving you with moist meat at a fraction of the cost. Additionally, because you’re getting more juices from the meat to make your “broth”, you end up with a more flavorful end product when just using water. No need to add stocks or soups.
Repurpose Your Meals. Consider making one meal in the beginning of the week and “morphing” it into something else later on in the week. A great example would be to cook a whole chicken on Monday for a “raost” chicken dinner, then later in the week use some of the leftover meat to make chicken tacos or even chicken noodle soup. Beef can be a stew one day, stroganoff the next. This saves you time and uses up leftovers efficiently. I’ve also been known to just eat the same thing for 3 or 4 days in a row. 😉
Think Outside of the Box. Did you know that you could make homemade yogurt in your slow cooker? Or playdough? Or recycle broken crayon pieces into new ones? Try making breakfast instead of dinner! Have fun with it! There are several resources that offer slow cooker recipes. Don’t be afraid to try something new!
If you have an awesome slow cooker recipe or tip, please share by leaving a comment below!
One of my favorites is beef tips. They are SO yummy! I got it from my Fix it and Forget It recipe book. The recipe is 2 lbs stew meat, 2 c mushrooms (if you choose), 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 envelope dry onion soup mix, 1 cup 7-up (or any lemon lime pop). Place meat in crockpot, combine soups and pop and pour over the meat. Cover, cook on low about 8 hours. I sometimes add a can of gravy also, depending on what I’m serving them with. They are great with rice, potatoes, or noodles! Enjoy!
i love mine too . i like to make a chicken with carrots and taters onions and garlic then the next day put everything in a pot for chicken noodle soup with home made noodles and add a little stock or water to make it a soup. its so good and i dont have to add anyhthing extra just maybe some fesh herbs mmm now you got me hungry !!
I like to make extra soup and freeze it flat in ziploc bags. In the winter I’ll turn a beef pot roast into beef stew.
I luv my slow cooker! It’s just like the one pictured! And repurposing the meat for two or more meals is super smart and cost saving!
I use my slow cooker at least twice a week.In the winter months There is always something cooking or staying warm for quick snacks {chili, homemade soups,etc.} A wonderful site to visit is: ALLRECIPE.COM…the recipes are endless!!