If you’ve noticed that your slow cooker recipes aren’t turning out quite right or if it has been around longer than your grandmother’s recipes it might be time to test it. A slow cooker needs to run at an optimal temperature to ensure food safety and proper cooking.
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How to Test Your Slow Cooker Temperature
Pin it to your SLOW COOKER BOARD to SAVE it and share it! Follow Spend With Pennies on Pinterest for more great recipes! While a poorly functioning slow cooker can cause your meal to spoil or not to cook properly, it can also be a real danger in regard to food safety. A slow cooker should have a low enough temperature that you don’t need to tend to it however the temperature also needs to be high enough to keep food at a safe temperature. This delicate balance is what makes a crock pot everyone’s favorite appliance for everything from dips to roasts. Knowing that your slow cooker works is super-important. If your crock pot has been around a long time, it may cook too slowly, allowing bacteria to form in or on your meal. Your slow cooker should heat the food to at least 140 degrees within a four time frame. You’ll want to test yours to ensure it meets the current safety standards to keep your food safe (and ensure your meals cooke properly).
How to Test Your Slow Cooker
The water temperature should be 185 degrees F. If the water temperature is higher, it’s not a huge deal. You may have to reduce the cooking time for some of your dishes. You can also buy one of the small attachments that will automatically shut your machine off once your food hits the ideal temp. But, either way, there’s no need to toss your crock pot. If the temperature is less than 185, however, you should sincerely think about getting rid of your appliance. A slow cooker on low should be about 200 degrees; while the high setting should be 300 degrees. Between 40-140 degrees F is the “danger zone” in your slow cooker. Bacteria will grow quickly and easily in your food if it stays in that range too long. Your food will obviously spend time at that temperature no matter what but if your cooker is heating the meal too slowly, you are creating a breeding ground for yucky stuff. So, keep your family safe and healthy by checking your slow cooker and paying attention. It could save you from illness, or just a lousy dinner.
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My favorite slow cookers:
