How to slow cook like a pro.
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Everyone knows that slow cookers are a kitchen staple.
They're easy to use, easy to clean, and perfect for days when you're too tired to fire up your stove.
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Even celebrity chefs love them ― and many have some clever tricks for making their slow cooked meals taste amazing.
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Chrissy Teigen gives her short ribs a hard sear before adding them to her slow cooker
This trick is all about the Maillard Reaction ― that delicious browning that occurs at high temperatures. Searing your meats before adding them to your slow cooker does take extra work, but the added flavor is totally worth it.
See the full video here.
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Martha Stewart broils her chicken thighs before adding them to her slow cooker...
She lines them up on a sheet tray and browns them under a broiler before throwing them in. Similar to Chrissy's trick, this extra step is all about building another layer of flavor.
And she preheats it as she preps her other ingredients.
Instead of adding hot ingredients to a cold slow cooker, try heating it up while you prep everything. This simple step will reduce the cooking time and save you some serious minutes.
See the full video here.
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Trisha Yearwood cooks her mac and cheese in it.
Trisha's genius method for making mac and cheese in a slow cooker includes two large eggs to help bind it together and prevent it from curdling (a problem that sometimes happens when cheese sauce is kept warm for too long).
Get the recipe for her slow cooker mac and cheese here.
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He also makes overnight oatmeal in it for a fuss-free breakfast that practically makes itself.
Just dump everything in the night before and let the slow cooker do the work.
Get the recipe for his overnight oatmeal here.
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Let's get (slow) cooking!
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via BuzzFeed/Food