Question by NinjaRacer: Is there a big difference between pork shoulder and pork butt for pulled pork? Crock pot cooking.....?
Best answer:
Answer by cathcoug
Not really. They are both going to be pretty tough and good for the crock pot. Pork butt should be less expensive however. The taste will be the same.
What do you think? Answer below!
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Crock Pot and Slow Cooking: Making the Most Out of Them
If you are pressed for time, slow cooker or crock pot cooking offers the perfect solution in both flexibility and versatility.
When you put together the benefits of limited preparation, the use of one pot and the time saved by not having to prepare a meal on the spot, you know you have a winner. A meal can be cooked and served from the same pot, without having to juggle pots and pans and serving dishes.
Imagine coming home after a long hard day and smelling that your meal is already cooking, just waiting - a pure plummet in your stress levels.
If you don't already own a slow cooker, there are a number of things you need to look at before deciding on the best one for you and your family.
The first consideration will be the size of the cooker. Small versions can be handy if you eat a lot of appetizers, dips, and salsas. Generally these are 16 oz. or quart size and are perfect for serving these types of foodstuffs. Obviously, they are the best size also if you are cooking for one. A large family would be best served with a 5 quart or maybe a 7 quart model.
The second thing to think about is the type of cooking you usually do, or plan to do with your slow cooker. If you are wanting to slow cook large or awkward cuts, like rack of lamb, you will definitely need the larger crock pot version.
There are a couple of options available as far as control of the slow cooking goes. If controlling or setting the temperature is your wish, there are crock pots that let you do this.
The other option is that you can just opt for a push button model that cooks at preset low or high temperature settings and sometimes a warmer setting. You need to be aware that if the "low" setting is too low and the lid is not on properly, the cooking temperature can drop below the safe level for cooking some foods.
Finally, you need to look at the heating elements. Crock pots can come with either bottom or side elements, or they can have both. Pots with side elements often require more liquid while slow cooking to avoid the risk of drying up over long cooking times.
If you are someone who really enjoys mixing things up and experimenting, slow cooking provides a wealth of possibilities. Where the crock pot really takes its place head and shoulders above any other cooking method is for slow cooking leaner and cheaper cuts of meat. The moist, long, slow cooking provides very tender meats where the fat is either dissolved or very easy to remove.
There are a few things you need to remember with crock pot cooking. Some meals will require the ingredients to be added at different times. For example, a casserole may require the meat to be cooked for a few hours before you then add firm vegetables, with softer vegetables being added toward the end of cooking.
As a rule of thumb, you should add things like spices, herbs and seasonings at the beginning of the cooking cycle, and things like frozen vegetables and seafood toward the end. Since ingredients are generally thoroughly cooked over a long period of time, a lot of stirring is not recommended or the food may break apart or turn to mush.
The versatility of the crock pot even allows you to create breads and desserts, but this is one area where you must take particular care during preparation. This becomes even more important if you are leaving your creation unattended while it is cooking. An over beaten or whipped dessert can quite easily raise the lid off the crock pot and create an ugly mess. This is certainly something you would not want to come home to after a long day at work.
A crock pot can deliver meals as classic as pot roast and vegetables, as simple as a cream cheese layer dip, or as complex and spicy as paella. The crock pit is one kitchen appliance that can rightly be called the cook's best friend, especially if you learn to use it to its full potential.
Is cooking your passion? You can find more facts, hints and tips about cooking by visiting our Chaotic Cook website.
Redneck Cooking - Beyond Deep Frying
If you grew up redneck, you know the deliciousness of Southern and country cooking. Breaded deep-fried chicken, fried potatoes, fried green tomatoes, pan-fried pork chops, bacon, gravy, biscuits, and fried catfish.
You've noticed a theme by now: most redneck cooking is all about the hot oil treatment. Deep fat frying. And whether you use sissy canola oil or the real Southern treasure, lard, it's not a healthy way to eat. Fortunately, there are lots of traditional redneck foods you can put together that don't involve bubbling fats.
Start with southern salads. Summer salad, which is primarily lightly-pickled cucumbers and onions, involves peeling and slicing up cukes and onions and immersing them for an hour in a 1:1 blend of white vinegar and water, with a half-cup of sugar and about a tablespoon of salt added. You can put other sliced watery veggies in as well if you like: peppers, small squash, and carrots are pretty good.
One specific region of the South has plenty of redneck pleasing dishes that do not involve deep frying: Louisiana. Cajun cooking, which involves primarily blending strong seasonings French style, is completely unique. Instead of deep-frying your chicken, get good cuts, dip them in egg and then bread crumbs with a generous amount of cajun seasoning. Add a little extra cayenne pepper if you like it hot, and then bake your chicken until it's not pink on the inside. This goes great with your summer salad and some rice. And you can use the same breading technique for fish and pork chops.
Barbecue is a critical ingredient of redneck culture, but it's usually greasy. You can't do anything to de-grease ribs, unfortunately; the fat's part of their deliciousness. You can, however, make pulled pork and beef much less fatty by slow-cooking it on low in a crock pot with a cup of water. Season with salt and pepper, and cook until you can pull strips of meat off easily with a fork. Drain, cut off any obvious fat, then shred with a fork and remove bones and any other fat you see. Put this back in the crock pot with enough water to cover it, and cook for about twenty minutes. Skim off the fat, drain, and add your barbecue sauce for a surprisingly low-fat barbecue treat. You can do the same with chicken, but look for boneless, skinless breasts and thighs so you start with the least fat to begin with.
You can't do without bread for your barbecue, but don't use buns or white bread. Instead, go for toasted or untoasted sourdough. It adds a nice zing to your sandwich, and it's one of the breads recommended for the South Beach Diet because its acid content forces your body to digest it better.
Get all your vegetables from the fresh produce section, or even better from your own garden. Tomatoes, green beans, okra, turnip greens, all make for a great redneck meal. Frozen and canned versions are seasoned and heavily salted, though you may not taste it, and are not only less tasty but significantly less healthy.
Don't let anyone tell you that being a redneck means you can't eat healthy foods. There are always healthy alternatives to those lovely deep-fried Southern dishes, and we owe it to our culture to live longer and healthier. Eat smart, and outlast the granola crowd!
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Find More Crock Pot Pulled Pork Articles
Spaghetti Squash Recipes and Cooking Instructions
When cooked, a fork can easily poke through the skin, and the flesh will easily separate into long strands with a fork. The average 4 pound squash will give you about five cups of flesh. Use the "spaghetti" right away, or place in freezer bags in the freezer for use at another meal.
These best five ways to cook spaghetti squash are in the order of cooking time.If you have all day, set the crock pot on, or if you like that fresh baked smell to fill the house, bake it in the oven. If you just want to get it done and start eating as fast as you can, I would suggest the microwave. Try out all the different ways and see what you like best!
#1 - In the Crock Pot - Pick a squash that can fit in your crock pot whole. Pole holes through the shell with a fork, and place in the crock pot. Add a couple of cups of water, and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until fork pokes through skin easily.
#2 - In the Oven, Whole - Poke holes in the skin several times with a fork. Place the entire squash in the oven. Cook at 375F for about 1 hour, or until soft.
#3 - Boil in a Pot - Find a pot big enough to hold your squash. Fill with enough water to cover the whole squash and set to boil. When the water is boiling, add the squash and cook 20-30 minutes until fork pokes through skin easily.
#4 - In the Oven, Halved - Cut the squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Place open sides down onto a baking sheet and place in the oven. Cook at 375F for 20-30 minutes or until skin is easily poked with a fork.
#5 - Microwave in a Dish - Cut the squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Place squash in a microwaveable dish with the open side up. Add a few cups of water, and cover with saran wrap. Cook for 10-12 minutes. Let it sit for 5 minutes covered, then test to see if it is done, and cook longer if needed.
I found that slicing the squash in half and scooping out the seeds first, before it was cooked was easier then scooping out the seeds after, and trying to sort out the flesh from the seeds when cooked together.
Here are some good spaghetti squash recipes to use cooked squash.
Spaghetti Squash Recipe with Cheese
This is also a really quick dinner especially if squash is cooked ahead of time. If you like cheese, and squash this will quickly become a favorite dish!
1 large spaghetti squash cooked and prepared.
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese, grated
1 cup tomatoes, chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
Mix all ingredients in microwave safe dish or oven safe dish. Microwave for 2-5 minutes, or heat in oven for 5-8 minutes until all ingredients are hot and cheese is melted.
Serve.
Spaghetti Squash Bake Recipe
It is so quick and easy to put together. Bake the squash ahead of time, then throw the ingredients together, and serve to the table only 10 minutes later. Makes a great lunch or dinner! Or use the leftovers for a snack!
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 cups spinach
1/2 fresh tomato chopped
1 clove garlic minced
1 cup spaghetti squash cooked and prepared
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon basil
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup grated cheese
Preheat oven to 350F.
In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients except cheese. Pour into a casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until heated through.
Serve. (Per Serving - 3.3 g carbohydrates) (serves 6)
Layered Spaghetti Squash Recipe
Preparing the squash then layering in individual bowls or a large family size glass bowl creates an interesting look and gets the taste buds going, before even lifting the fork to eat.
1 large spaghetti squash cooked and prepared
1 cup ricotta cheese
3/4 pound ground meat (your choice)
3/4 cups mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Cook squash. Cook meat. Heat ricotta cheese in microwave. Heat up spaghetti sauce.
Layer in a large bowl, or in individual bowls, squash, ricotta cheese, meat, mozzarella cheese, spaghetti sauce, then parmesan cheese.
Serve. (Per Serving 14 g carbohydrates, 6.6 g fiber) (serves 6)
Basic Spaghetti Squash Recipe
This is a good starting point. It is a place to get ideas, and think of new things to add to your squash. All you need is:
Flesh from 1 large spaghetti squash, (about 5 cups)
Miscellaneous ingredients of your choice. Ideas are below.
After cooking and preparing the squash start pulling out all the ingredients you like or feel like adding today, and mix it all together, and serve warm.
This can be any amount to your taste any of the following:
Garlic, salt, pepper and other herbs and spices that you like, fennel, dill, curry, red pepper flakes
Meat choices are endless, ground beef, ground turkey, diced chicken, pork strips
For cheeses there is Parmesan, Feta, Cheddar, mozzarella, blue
Vegetable choices are also endless, zucchini, beans, tomatoes, spinach, Swiss chard, broccoli, peppers
If you are adding tomato sauce, put it on at the end as a garnish. This will prevent the squash from becoming mushy.
Have fun, enjoy and try new things!
I love cooking, and learning new things. I love to try new recipes, and create new things.
Low carb recipes is a blog that will help you and your family in planning to eat a low carb diet. A collection of Free Low Carb Recipes and Videos as a way of improving health. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snack Ideas. New recipes are added Everyday. All Recipes are are from 0-30 Grams per Serving. Come check our delicious Blue Smoothie,
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Crock Pot Cooking is Extremely Easy to Do and Breakfast
My favorite suggestion to offer up to breakfast skippers everywhere is that they need to purchase a crock pot. In fact, if you've ever been married (especially if you live in the Mountain West) you probably received one as a wedding gift, so you can just dig it out of the cupboard. Crock pot cooking is extremely easy to do and breakfast crock pot recipes are in high demand and high supply all over the internet and crock pot cook books.
With a crock pot, you can put your breakfast in when you go to sleep at ten o'clock at night and it will be finished when you get up at five o'clock or six o'clock. For more details www.cat-head-biscuit.com .If you don't feel comfortable leaving your crock pot cooking overnight, you can always prepare a more simple crock pot breakfast recipe first thing when you wake up and it will prepare itself while you're getting ready.
However, whether you choose to use the crock pot recipes available to you on the internet and in crock pot recipe books or you decide to stick with a couple of eggs with your piece toast and cup of coffee, it's important to remember that you can't hit the snooze button twice every morning if you want to break free of the cycle.
As a perpetual snooze button pusher myself, I've learned to set the alarm 30 minutes earlier, so I can hit the snooze button twice and still get up in time to cook my crock pot breakfast recipes that get me through the morning at my computer.
Since I've learned to love breakfast and my crock pot, I've been exceedingly more productive. You can balk at opinion but you just can't balk at science and logic.
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Question by Hoss L: What is the cooking temperature of a Crock pot set at low and also for the setting on high?
I see recipes for crock pot cooking and would like to be able to translate the temperature to an oven or a roaster oven.
Best answer:
Answer by C.M. C
Your instruction manual will have the minimum and maximum operating temps, as well ass the operating watts etc etc etc.
Crock Pots you must appreciate, operate different to your oven stove top
Chris
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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Greetings! Today I want to share with you how I make my pot roast. I know that there are as many recipes for pot roast as there are cooks, but this is how I like to do it and it is quick (and slow) and easy! You could do this in a low oven for a little less time over the course of an afternoon, but it will be a bit drier. Here is what you need to make this recipe: 1 bottom round or rump roast 2 to 4 pounds 2 cups fresh carrots (I used the baby carrots) 1 medium onion sliced 4 cloves of garlic smashed 2 envelopes of onion soup mix (1 box) 1 can of diced tomatoes (14 ounce) 2 beef bullion cubes 1 teaspoon of marjoram 2 bay leaves 1 sprig of fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon of dried 1 teaspoon of cracked black pepper 4 cups of water Place carrots in bottom of your crock pot and put the roast fat side down on top. Add in the onions, tomatoes, soup mix, bullion cubes and spices as well as the water. Place crock in the heating sleeve and set on high put your lid on and go do something for 3 to 4 hours. When you can smell the roast check on it. Flip it over and put the lid back on and turn the temperature to low. Remember, not to take the lid off too many times, because it takes a long time for the crock pot to heat back up again. Now wait another 2 to 3 hours until the meat can easily be torn with a fork. Serve with potatoes of your choice and maybe a nice salad and some bread. You may choose to thicken the broth for a gravy or just serve it as we did au jus. I hope you try this ...
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