Does using a larger slow cooker than called for by the recipe make a difference?
I have a recipe that specifically calls for a 4-quart slow cooker, however the slow cooker that I own is a 6-quart. Will using a 6-quart slow cooker make a difference, or does it not matter?
Best Answer
Size does matter in a slow cooker. In order for it to cook effectively a slow cooker has to be at least 2/3 full, other wise it cooks hot and will generally dry out faster. If you are cooking at less than 2/3 full you need to adjust your heat settings and/or depending on the recipe adjust the amount of liquid. Cooking meats becomes especially troublesome when underfilling because they tend to dry out and end up a lot tougher than expected. If you are cooking stews or chilis then simply adding more liquid to your recipe will generally work.
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Does the size of the slow cooker matter?
And slow cookers do drastically range in size \u2014 from tiny two-quart models to huge eight-quart ones, with plenty of options in between. Because slow cookers work best when they're two-thirds to three-quarters of the way full, size really does matter.Can you use a larger slow cooker?
Larger families are well-suited for 4- or 5-quart slow cookers, which can feed up to six people. It's a great choice for bigger dishes\u2014like casseroles, stews and full dinners\u2014and it can fit a roast! Not a huge one\u2014stick to a 3\u20134 lb. roast for this size, and if you need a larger cut, you'll need a bigger slow cooker.What if my slow cooker is too big?
What is this? If you have a large slow cooker, that's fine too. You can easily adapt your large slow cooker into a small slow cooker by placing an oven safe bowl inside of the bowl of your slow cooker. This absolutely works and I've done it many times.Do large crock pots cook faster?
One difference between older crock pots and newer ones is that the newer ones do heat at a higher temperature (you'll find they cook food faster which means you'll have to adapt any old recipes for the shorter cook time).Mistakes Everyone Makes Using The Slow Cooker
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Answer 2
Unless you are using recipes at the level of those by Adria, Blumenthal, or Achatz--with their attendant need for absolute precision--you should be absolutely fine. You may wish to slightly adjust the amount of liquid included to allow for slightly greater water evaporation from the larger surface.
Alternatively, provide the recipe (just edit your question) so we can check more thoroughly.
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