The Return
Of The Slow Cooker
One form of cooking that has
recently regained popularity is
slow cooking. Slow cooking be
came popular in the seventies with
the introduction of the electric
slow cooker.
Promoted as a no-watch, mir
acle-type appliance that could
cook almost any dish better than
any other method, the slow cooker
enjoyed instant popularity. It was
a disappointment when you dis
covered the vegetables came out
tasting like meat and looking like
mush. The claims for effortless,
versatile cooking were in a sense
unfortunate because they no doubt
caused many people to become
dissatisfied with the appliance and
ban it to the top shelf of the cup
board.
Today’s slow cookers have re
movable linings for easy cleaning
and multiple heat settings. Some
automatically shift from high to
low heat, a nice food-safety fea
ture. Even with these features,
slow cookers are best suited for
blending flavors in stews and
sauces, and breaking down tough
meat fibers.
Keep safety in mind when using
a slow cooker. The slow cooker
does a better job of killing disease-
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Lancaster Extension
Home Economist
causing microbes than low-tem
perature cooking in a conventional
oven because the heat is direct and
is combined with steam in a tight
ly covered container. Still, take
precautions to avoid holding foods
in the danger zone (40 to 140 de
grees F.) for too long.
To maximize the safety of the
slow cooker:
• Make sure everything is clean
a clean cooker, clean utensils,
clean work areas and clean hands.
• Thaw meat or poultry in the
refrigerator or microwave oven
before placing in the slow cooker.
If placed in the slow cooker while
still frozen, meat may remain in
the danger zone for more than
three hours.
• Fill the slow cooker no more
than two-thirds full. Heat may not
adequately penetrate to all parts of
the food if the container is 100 full.
• Keep the lid secure. Since
considerable heat is lost when the
cover is lifted, remove the lid only
to stir food or check for doneness.
• Set the cooker on the highest
setting for the first hour of cook
ing. This high setting speeds the
heating process. Then, set the con
trol as directed in the recipe.
• When finished eating, remove
leftovers from the slow cooker
and refrigerate or freeze. Reheat
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Lancaster 4-H Benefit Auction Set
The Lancaster County eighth annual 4-H benefit auction is scheduled for Saturday,
February 5, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Farm and Home Center. Hundreds of items large
and small have been donated. Some special items include quilts, Winross trucks,
autographed memorabilia, gift certificates, farm toys, household goods, candy and
pictures.
All proceeds benefit the more than 4,000 youth ages 8-19 who currently participate
in Lancaster County’s 4-H youth program. Proceeds are used to help pay for 4-H pro
ject books, transportation costs to events, registration fees, and 4-H volunteer leader
support. In the photo, Debbie Naumann, 4-H/family living agent shows some of the
items that have been donated to support the auction.
For more information about 4-H clubs in your area or to make donations to the auc
tion contact the Lancaster Cooperative Extension office at (717) 394-6851.
leftovers quickly on the range or
in the microwave oven, not in the
slow heat of the slow cooker.
• If using slow cookers to keep
food warm for a party or a buffet,
bring the food to a boil on the
range and then use the slow cook
er to keep it hot.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 22, 1994-B5
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LEBANON
72 N
322 W
Timber