Crock Pot Cooker Saves Cash
Save Fuel with Slow Cookers & Insulated Box Cookery
The fragile ecology of the planet is being damaged by the "greenhouse effect" and we are all being asked to reduce the amount of energy we consume. The build up of carbon dioxide caused by burning of coal and gas to generate electricity is now threatening the world we know and fuel economies could help to reverse this trend.
Reducing emissions can also save us money. Fuel bills are steadily rising, and so slow cooking, which uses a fraction of the fuel of traditional oven cooking, is a much more attractive proposition.
Advantages of Slow Cooking
Slow cooking is very suitable for dishes such as casseroles and pot roasts. During slow cooking the sugars and starches in foods slowly caramelise to give more rounded, fuller flavours. Casseroles and pot roasts cook in liquid which means that the food won't dry out during slow cooking.
Another advantage of slow cooking is that a meal can be timed to be ready when it is needed. What could be better than returning home on a cold winter's day to find a piping hot meal ready to ber served?
How Slow Cookers Work
Slow cookers, or Crock Pots as they are also known, are insulated casserole dishes that are heated by an electrical element . The slow cooker is very fuel efficient because it consumes the equivalent of a light bulb.
Most of the heat is retained within the casserole dish thanks to an insulated outer container which also houses the element. This means that excess energy is not being used to heat the air in your kitchen.
Some of the more sophisticated models incorporate a timing device.
Using a Slow Cooker
- Peel and chop all of the ingredients
- If casseroling meat roll it in seasoned flower - this will be the thickening agent
- Sear the outside any meat in a pan to seal in all of the juices
- Add the vegetables to the meat in the pan
- Add the liquid (stock) to the pan and bring up to simmering heat
- Transfer the food into the slow cooker and switch on
It is important that the stock is brought up to boiling point initially. This kick-starts the cooking process and also kills off any microbes on the surface of the ingredients.
Things to Avoid with Slow Cooking
The down side of slow cooking is that there could be a risk of bacterial growth if food is kept warm for an extended period. Extended cooking can also reduce the vitamin content of some foods. To get the safe cooking time using this method, simply multiply the normal oven cooking time by 4. A lot depends upon the rating of the element inside your slow cooker. The lower the rating, the longer the cooking time required.
Since no liquid is lost during cooking it is also important to remember to reduce the amount of stock used when assembling the dish initially by approximately one quarter. Additional thickening agent can be added during the last 45 minutes if required.
The Insulated Box Method
If you haven't got a slow cooker, try the "Hay Box" cooking technique. This technique was used in Britain during the Second World War when fuel had to be conserved. As with the crock pot, this method is best suited to dishes like soups or stews that have a high liquid content.
The method is simple, but effective. If making a stew one first chooses a heavy casserole dish – one made from cast iron (or a similar heat retaining material) is best. The whole dish is assembled in the pan which is then brought up to boiling point on the gas or electric hob. This is important as high temperature is needed to kill germs. Once the dish has achieved the right temperature it is placed in an insulated box.
Making your Insulated Box
The box should be around the size of a tea chest (approximately 80 x 80 x 80 cm). It is lined with silver foil (shiny side inwards to reflect back heat) and half filled with a non-toxic, heat resistant insulating material. The hot pan is then placed into the box. A pillowcase full of insulating material is placed on top of the casserole dish to retain the heat and then the box is closed and left for 3 or 4 hours until the food is needed.
Insulating Materials
Insulating materials include shredded newspaper, fine textured hay, or an old duvet. One could also use polystyrene packaging sheets wrapped in aluminium foil. A heavy duty cardboard box will suffice if a wooden box is not available.
References:
- Best Ever Slow Cooker One Pot & Casserole Cookbook, C. Atkinson & J. Fleetwood
- A Resource Book on Fire-Less Cookers/Cooking (The Hay Basket) Compiled by Solari Cookers Int. (hardbound)
