Can I cook meat on low for half the preset time?
I have a Crockpot that has preset settings to cook on high for 4 or 6 hours or cook on low for 8 or 10 hours. The Crockpot model is "Crock-Pot® SCCPVL605-B Cook and Carry Smart Pot Slow Cooker" and the control panel looks like this:
However, I've noticed many recipes call for cooking for shorter durations on low such as this recipe that calls for cooking for 2-3 hours on high or 4-5 hours on low.
First of all, this seems odd as the official crockpot website conversion table says the equivalent of 3 hours on high is 7 hours on low (not 4-5). I'm partial to the low setting as I feel it will probably taste better. So should I just set it to 8 hours on low since it's close enough to the conversion chart's recommended 7?
Or should I follow the recipe as close as possible and use the 8 hour low preset and remove the food after 4 hours? A potential problem with this approach is that I've read that with the presets a certain amount of time is needed to reach the "simmer point" and if you remove it too early your food may not reach the desired internal temperature and therefore be unsafe to eat.
Ultimately, my question boils down to which preset should I use and for how long when the presets don't match the recipe?
Also, please note that my question is different than this question on overcooking as I'm wondering if I may be undercooking.
Best Answer
I would put it in on the right temperature and take it out after the time stated in the recipe. If you're worried about whether the food is done or safe to eat, use an instant-read thermometer to take the temperature. You can check the FDA's website for safe cooking temperatures: https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/mintemp.html
As to your concern that the simmer point is different with different settings. If it were different enough to affect the situation you're describing above, your crockpot would not be safe to use. There's a minimum time that your food has to get to a safe cooking temperature no matter how long you are cooking your food (I don't know the exact time, but I would guess around 30 mins). Many slow cookers initially cook food at a higher temperature to get it to a safe cooking temp (above 140 degrees Fahrenheit) and then lower the temp to the designated cooking temp.
Pictures about "Can I cook meat on low for half the preset time?"
Is it safe to cook meat low and slow?
Some people worry that cooking foods at a low temperature for a long time in a slow cooker or in a slow oven is unhealthful. But it's OK. Cooking meat for four hours at 250 degrees does not present a health risk and will not "incubate" bacteria.Can you half the time of slow cooker?
Adjust cook times based on how full the slow cooker is, not on halving/doubling or whatever the amounts. Slow cookers are designed to be about 3/4 full at least, and most recipes are based on that, if they're less full than that, you need to reduce the cooking time.How do you adjust slow cooker times for less meat?
The easiest thing to do is to DECREASE your slow cooker size. So, if the original recipe calls for a 6 quart and you cut your recipe in half, try to use a 4 quart or smaller crock pot. If you don't have a smaller slow cooker, you could use an oven safe bowl inside your 6 quart to reduce the size of your cooking area.Can I cook slow cooker on low instead of high?
Crockpots may vary but generally, the LOW setting is about 200 F and the HIGH setting is about 300 F. One hour on HIGH is approximately equal to 2 to 2 1/2 hours on LOW. Most crockpot recipes recommend cooking 8 to 10 hours on LOW.I COOKED a Brisket for a MONTH and this happened!
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