10+ Important Things to Know If You're New to the Slow Cooker

It's true that you can't go wrong with slow-cooker chili, but there's a myriad of recipes your slow cooker is useful for, including slow-cooker soups, slow-cooker chicken dinners, and slow-cooker side dishes.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker roast chicken

It's tempting to use the "high" setting on your slow cooker, but your taste buds will thank you if you stick with the low and slow method, especially if you're cooking meat. Meat tends to dry out when it's cooked too quickly at too high a heat, but if it's cooked for hours on low, it's guaranteed to be tender and juicy.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker carnitas

If you're making a soup, a sauce, or something that requires blending, it's worth investing in an immersion blender. Using the handheld blender directly inside your slow cooker instead of transferring the ingredients in batches to a blender means you don't have to dirty even more dishes, and you blend the whole dish in one fell swoop.

Get the recipe: easy slow-cooker bolognese sauce

If you're cooking a big cut of meat like a brisket, you'll want to sear the meat in a skillet prior to adding it to the slow cooker. Season the meat liberally with salt and pepper and then sear it on all sides to get a nice crust, and then finish it in the slow cooker so that it cooks slowly all the way through.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker beef brisket

The back side of a slow cooker (opposite the buttons) tends to get hotter and can cause contents to burn. To prevent this, you can make a foil "collar" by layering and folding two to three sheets of heavy-duty foil and lining the pot before adding your ingredients. You can also buy Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners if you'd rather not make your own.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker stuffing

Making a slow-cooker recipe will leave you with a whole lot of food. If you don't have a family to feed, using your slow cooker to help you meal plan is a great way to knock out lunch or dinner prep for the week. Pick out a recipe that you'll look forward to eating every day for a few days, and divvy up portions of the finished meal in airtight containers to store in the fridge. You can also freeze any extras for later.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker beans with quinoa, scallions, and cheddar

The beauty of the slow cooker is that it truly does all the work for you. Try not to peek at or stir the ingredients more often than the recipe calls for, because the lid is sealed tight, and every time you open it, you're releasing heat and steam that should stay locked in.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker stuffing

That's right — your slow cooker isn't limited to savory dishes. There are plenty of slow-cooked dessert recipes that anyone can "bake."

Get the recipe: slow-cooker chocolate nut clusters

Using your slow cooker is also a guaranteed way to stop skipping breakfast. You can make a number of breakfasts in a slow cooker, from oatmeal to Mexican egg casseroles, overnight and wake up to breakfast already made.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker pumpkin pie steel-cut oats

Cooking dried beans or peas on the stove can take hours, and you still run the risk of ending up with a little crunch. But using your slow cooker to make dishes like split pea soup and white beans with tomatoes and pancetta ensures you end up with a soft and creamy texture that's incomparable.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker split pea soup

You know what makes entertaining really easy? Serving warm cocktails straight from a slow cooker.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker cocktail recipes

Breadcrumbs aren't the only useful recipe for dried-out bread. You can throw leftover cubed bread in your slow cooker and make stuffing and bread pudding with your favorite ingredients.

Get the recipe: vegan chocolate bread pudding