Go for the Fatty Cuts of Meat
Lean meat cooked for a long time—no matter what the temperature—gets tough and stringy. Big hunks of fatty meat like short ribs, shanks (beef, pork, or lamb), and shoulder (pork or lamb) work best in a crockpot. The fat will keep the meat moist, and the slow cooking breaks down the connective tissue that makes those types of cuts tough when cooked quickly. So with a slow cooker, fatty meat = good.
Low Notes and Sweet Flavors Add Balance
A low note is a flavor that adds a depth and richness to a dish—like bacon, browned onions, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce—and they’re integral to any good crockpot recipe. So are inherently sweet ingredients like brown sugar and tomato paste. Because most flavors break down and become one bigger, better superflavor (not a technical term) over time, these sweet and low notes balance it all out.
Proceed with Caution when Cooking Pasta Macaroni and cheese? Lasagna?
Sure, there are slow-cooker recipes for them out there, but you definitely shouldn’t attempt to make them. More often than not, pasta (and other things that should hold their shape) becomes a mushy mess. Just don’t do it.
bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/common-mistakes/article/6-ways-to-screw-up-crock-pot-recipes
Lean meat cooked for a long time—no matter what the temperature—gets tough and stringy. Big hunks of fatty meat like short ribs, shanks (beef, pork, or lamb), and shoulder (pork or lamb) work best in a crockpot. The fat will keep the meat moist, and the slow cooking breaks down the connective tissue that makes those types of cuts tough when cooked quickly. So with a slow cooker, fatty meat = good.
Low Notes and Sweet Flavors Add Balance
A low note is a flavor that adds a depth and richness to a dish—like bacon, browned onions, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce—and they’re integral to any good crockpot recipe. So are inherently sweet ingredients like brown sugar and tomato paste. Because most flavors break down and become one bigger, better superflavor (not a technical term) over time, these sweet and low notes balance it all out.
Proceed with Caution when Cooking Pasta Macaroni and cheese? Lasagna?
Sure, there are slow-cooker recipes for them out there, but you definitely shouldn’t attempt to make them. More often than not, pasta (and other things that should hold their shape) becomes a mushy mess. Just don’t do it.
bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/common-mistakes/article/6-ways-to-screw-up-crock-pot-recipes
