Slow Cookers & Crock Pots

1. When entertaining for large groups or just having a hot meal ready when you get home, few things perform as well and with as much ease as the slow cooker. Meats become tender, potatoes are infused with flavor, and labor is minimal.

2. We think the best thing about the slow cooker - or crock-pot - is that it is a countertop cooker, meaning your oven and stove top are clear for alternative uses or simply not used. The slow cooker simmers stews without the mess that can result in the oven or on the stovetop.

3. You'll also love how inexpensive it is to cook with a slow cooker. While you're certainly welcome to put more expensive cuts of beef, pork and poultry in the slow cooker, they really shine when you use inexpensive, sinewy pieces of meat that aren't as high in demand. After several hours of cooking, the connective tissue dissolves, leaving remarkably tender meat. For exceptional results, brown the meat in a pan on all sides before putting it in the slow cooker. In professional kitchens, this is called "braising."

4. The great thing about slow cookers is that they're safe. You can leave home with them slowly simmering, and most have  auto-shutoff features in case they do get too hot.

5. It's best to experiment with a slow cooker to find the cuts of meat and recipes that work best, so that you don't consistently overcook your food.

6. If you're going to be present while the cooker is doing its thing, it's probably best just to toss the vegetables and potatoes in at the appropriate moment. Beans, on the other hand, will be able to withstand the long hours in the slow cooker. Just make sure you boil them a minute beforehand to prime them.

7. You'll also notice that slow cookers, because they produce so much less heat, don't make the kitchen uncomfortably hot. This is great for the summertime, since the addition of heat from the oven and stove while cooking can make for an uncomfortable room where an open window might otherwise suffice.