that you can set to switch on or off at a designated time, allowing for more peace of mind if you’re late getting home.
Slow Cookers Used for Testing These Recipes More than 20 people tested the recipes for this book, using various brands and sizes of slow cookers, including several Rival Crock-Pots, a number of Hamilton Beach/Proctor Silex slow cookers, a few West Bend Crockery Cookers, a Betty Crocker slow cooker, a Cuisinart programmable slow cooker, and more. Some of the testers noticed, as I have, that their cookers have various quirks—some cook faster or slower than others, and some have a “hot spot” on one side. For that reason, most of the recipes in this book include a range of cooking times that you may need to adjust according to your own slow cooker’s “temperament.” If you think that having one slow cooker is great, then you may find that having two is even better. I regularly use both 4-quart and 6-quart models, and I sometimes use both sizes at once. As many slow-cooker fans have discovered, there is frequently a need for both. Sometimes you may need a large one for the main dish and a smaller one for a side dish, soup, or dessert. I have a total of three slow cookers in different sizes: one small (1½-quart) round, one medium-size (4-quart) round, and one large (6quart) oval. They all get a lot of use, especially during one of my marathon cooking days when I prepare food for the following week and cook up some staples such as beans to portion and freeze for future use. Even if it’s just to take advantage of the various recipes that are best prepared in one size or another, you may want to consider buying a second cooker.
Crockery Care Caveats The slow cooker is an easy-to-use appliance, but there are guidelines that should be followed in order to keep your slow cooker (and the food cooked in it) in tiptop shape.
Avoid using frozen ingredients in slow cooker recipes, as they will slow down the heating process dramatically. Thaw all frozen items first or else the cooking time will be way off. Do not put cold ingredients into a hot slow cooker. It can crack the ceramic insert.