As I constantly read cookbooks and websites to get new ideas, I keep running across something that bothers me immensely.
Most crock pot recipes state to add your ingredients, then turn the cooker on low. Sounds right.
However, think about this: My cookers take a while to come to cooking temperature. Therefore, if I have raw chicken in there, it is basically laying there for an hour, not doing anything. Would you lay it on the counter for an hour?
According to www.crock-pot.com, "Cooking meats in your Crock-Pot® slow cooker is perfectly safe. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bacteria in food is killed at a temperature of 165°F. Meats cooked in the Crock-Pot® slow cooker reach an internal temperature of 170° in beef and as high as 190°F in poultry. It is important to follow the recommended cooking times and to keep the cover on your slow cooker during the cooking process." I still don't like the idea of raw meat laying there while the cooker heats up.
My suggestion is to turn your cooker on low and add your liquids, while you are preparing everything else. That way when the raw meat hits the liquid, it is at least starting to get hot.
This may be paranoia, but for the fear of the food police, I think it is a great idea.
Showing posts with label Ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ideas. Show all posts
Friday, August 15, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Mexican Chicken, use the crock pot!
Mexican Chicken in the Crock-Pot
For this, I did another clean out the fridge deal.
Utilizing leftover frozen chicken and stuff we had in the freezer and cabinets.
I took a cup of chopped chicken, one can of tomatoes w/ chilies, 2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables and cooked this in the crock pot today. I added a tablespoon of chili powder, half a cup of taco sauce and half a cup of salsa, mixed that in. Then I tinkered with the seasonings to suite me and the OHGTT, adding cumin, pepper, salt, A-1 sauce and garlic powder.
I also put on a pot of beans and a pot of rice. When the rice was done, I mixed 2 cups of cooked rice into the crock pot. The beans were served on the side.
I cut a few tortillas into wedges and baked them in the oven at 450 for 10 minutes. They became crispy and made a great bread to eat with this.
Top with cheese and sour cream and serve it up!
For this, I did another clean out the fridge deal.
Utilizing leftover frozen chicken and stuff we had in the freezer and cabinets.
I took a cup of chopped chicken, one can of tomatoes w/ chilies, 2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables and cooked this in the crock pot today. I added a tablespoon of chili powder, half a cup of taco sauce and half a cup of salsa, mixed that in. Then I tinkered with the seasonings to suite me and the OHGTT, adding cumin, pepper, salt, A-1 sauce and garlic powder.
I also put on a pot of beans and a pot of rice. When the rice was done, I mixed 2 cups of cooked rice into the crock pot. The beans were served on the side.
I cut a few tortillas into wedges and baked them in the oven at 450 for 10 minutes. They became crispy and made a great bread to eat with this.
Top with cheese and sour cream and serve it up!
All the best!
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