The wonderful thing about a crock-pot or slower cooker is the flexibility and versatility they afford the already harried cook in the house. Being able to cook a meal and then serve it from the same container is great not to mention the fact that you have no serving dishes, prep dishes or pots and pans to contend with. Put it all together in the morning before work and when you come home later that evening the house will be filled with the aroma of a hot meal ready to be served. Talk about a major stress reliever!

The size of your slow cooker is the first thing you want to consider if you have never had one before. Salsas, dips and appetizers are often cooked in the smaller versions; say a 16-ounce cooker. This is plenty big enough to create a meal for one or a handy side dish for a potluck brunch. On the other hand, if you will be feeding a family the size of a small army you will need at least a 5-quart model and maybe a 7-quart unit. How and what you cook is part of the considerations on size as well. For instance if you are thinking about cooking some baby back ribs until they fall off the bone you will need to find the biggest slow cooker available.

Temperature controls are another important area to consider when purchasing a crock-pot. Some units will offer exact temperature settings like those that your oven does while others will simply have high, medium and low settings. Which one you choose depends on your specific cooking style and personal preference. Remember, if you cook on low settings, to check the crock-pot lid before leaving it to simmer your meal. A loose lid can result in extremely low cooking temperatures, which is hazardous with some foods. Last but not least, think about the heating mechanisms. Crock-pots come in all kinds of varieties with elements on the bottom, sides or both. If you choose, a model with heat along the sides be aware that you may need to add extra water to the recipe to prevent over drying.

If you are the type of person who enjoys experimenting with cooking tips and mixing, it up in the kitchen a slow cooker will be your new best friend. There are tons of recipe possibilities and you might even have a little fun in the process. Where the crock-pot/ slow cooker really excel is in cooking cheaper cuts of meat and making them nice and tender. The slow cooking process will leave nearly any cut of meat so tender you can cut it with a fork and fat dissolves or can easily be removed.

There are some do's and don'ts in crock pot cooking. Some meals require ingredients to be added in stages. For example, a stew may require the meat to be cook for a few hours before firm vegetables are added and then softer veggies can be added as cooking is finalized. Rule of thumb, add things like spices, herbs and seasonings at the beginning of the cooking cycle and things like frozen vegetables and seafood at the end. Since ingredients are generally thoroughly cooked over a long period of time, a lot of stirring is not recommended or the food breaks apart or worse, turns to mush.

You will find a crock-pot to be the most versatile cooking utensil you have, with the right cooking tips you can even create breads or deserts with it. Unlike most other dishes, you will have to be a little careful during preparation for these dishes. This is especially true if you are going to leave it cooking while you go out. Whipped or over beaten deserts can raise enough to take the lid off your cooker resulting in a fine mess for you. Definitely not a good way to end the day!

Your menu will never be dull again when you have a crock-pot at your disposal. Create complex meals like spicy paella, simple dips such as a cream cheese layer and all time favorites like pot roast with all the trimmings. When the holidays roll around you can put your cooking tips to good use and keep many side dishes nice and warm. This is possibly the most versatile cooking tool you could ever have and it will definitely take the stress out of your life.

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