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HINTS AND TIPS (CONT.)
FISH
• Fish cooks quickly and should be added at the end of the cooking
cycle, during last fifteen minutes to hour of cooking.
SPECIALTY DISHES
• Specialty dishes, such as stuffed chops or steak rolls, stuffed cabbage
leaves, stuffed peppers, or baked apples can be arranged in a single
layer so they cook easily and serve attractively.
Visit the Crock-Pot
®
web site at www.crockpot.com, for additional Hints
and Tips, Questions and Answers, and Recipes.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q “What if the food isn’t done after 8 hours…when the recipe
says 8 to 10 hours?”
A This is due to voltage variations which are commonplace everywhere;
altitude; or even extreme humidity. The slight fluctuations in power
do not have a noticeable effect on most appliances; however, it can
slightly alter the cooking times. Allow plenty of time, and remember,
it is practically impossible to overcook. You will learn through
experience whether to decrease or increase cooking times.
Q “Must the Crock-Pot
®
slow cooker be covered? Is it necessary to
stir?”
A Cook with the cover on. The slow cooker will not recover heat losses
quickly when cooking on LOW ( I ) setting. Significant amounts of
heat escape whenever the lid is removed; therefore the cooking
time must be extended. Avoid frequent removal of the cover for
checking cooking progress or stirring. Never remove cover during
the first 2 hours when baking breads or cakes. It is not necessary to
stir while cooking on LOW ( I ) heat. While using HIGH ( II ) heat
for short periods, occasional stirring improves the distribution of
flavors.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q “How about thickening the juices or making gravy?”
A Add some quick-cooking tapioca to any recipe when you want to
make a thick gravy. Add the tapioca at the beginning and it will
thicken as it cooks! Or you may remove the solid foods, leaving the
juices. Prepare a smooth paste of approximately
1
/
2
cup flour or
cornstarch to
1
/
2
cup water or 4 tablespoons melted butter. Pour
mixture into liquid in stoneware and stir well. Turn to HIGH ( II )
and when it comes to a boil (about 15 minutes) it’s ready.
Q“Can I cook a roast without adding water?”
A Yes – if cooked on LOW ( I ). We recommend a small amount
because the gravies are especially tasty. The more fat or “marbling”
the meat has, the less liquid you need. The liquid is needed to
properly soften and cook vegetables.
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