Slow Cooker, Crock Pot for Dummies

Just passed a Gain City electrical and electronic appliances store in Singapore 0n 9 July 2010. I chanced upon a small little crock pot (slow cooker). What? Only $8.00? Cannot be true...so cheap! Yes, it is only SGD$8.00. I thought to myself.... I have never never done a crock pot dish before. I have eaten in Singapore restaurants that served tender meat dishes, I believe done in crock pots... hoping I can produce the same dishes.

I have heard about it, and how tasty and tender any meat dish with crock pot will taste like. Before I invest in a big one, maybe this small cheaper one can help me do some experiment with food. The picture on the right is the small crock pot slow cooker.

Depending on the size of the crock pot and the number of servings you need, you will have to prepare the ingredients accordingly.

1. Cut up the meat into cubes or small even chunks
2. Cut up carrots, potatoes, celery, any vegetable you want to add into stew. Some may not need to be cut up like small items like onions or garlic.
3. Brown the meat in an oil pan
4. Place the browned meat and vegetable in the crock pot.
5. Add in herbs and sauces for the flavour to be infused into meat and soup during cooking.
6. Place water until ingredients are covered.
7. Cover the crock pot and turn the heater on.
8. About 3 hours later, it is ready.
9. Serve with spring onion, parsley, some sesame oil, pepper and soya sauce (if need to).

There are so many things you can do with a crock pot.  Slow cooking allows the food to slowly slow boil and stew, and ultimately soft tender meat is ready.  Some yummy recipes includes... 

• Beef Stew
• Chicken Stew
• Beef Rendang (An Asian curry dish)
• Bak Kut Teh (Chinese Pork Rib Soup)
• Buddha-Jump-Over-The-Wall (A rich tasty soup with Dried Scallops, Fish Maw, Abalone, Shark Fins, Mushrooms, Pig Tendons and some herbs)
• Porridge is also possible

The ceramic pot somehow maintain the heat and prevent the food from burnt. They will not overboil until the nutrients and vitamins are gone. Food is soft and tender, and easily digestible. It is absolutely great for dried food stuff like dried abalone, scallops, fish maw, pig tendons, shark fins, oyster, and very tough cuts of meat.

It requires a lot of patience, but it is really worth the experience. Good food with good taste at the end of the day. For the Family, such a slow cooking crock pot is definitely a good investment. My children love the food.