This is one of those questions that elicits heated debates that we may never hear the end of. Slow cookers are fantastic ways to prepare tasty meals without taking too much of your time. To get this question out of the way I decided to do some research on the topic. This is what I came up with.
Do you have to put water in a slow cooker?
You don’t have to put water in a slow cooker but you should put some type of liquid in the slow cooker to prevent burns and drying out the food. It is, however, possible to cook without adding liquid if the ingredients contain enough amounts of water naturally, as they will release these juices when they’re heated. Small amounts of liquid can be enough to create the steam needed.
That said, some water or liquid is needed when using a slow cooker. Read on to find out why and how much liquid is too much.
How a Crockpot/Slow Cooker Uses Liquids
There is a reason why slow cookers have lids. Manufacturers and food bloggers alike recommend keeping the lid on throughout the cooking process. The lid traps all the steam produced during cooking, which condenses and drips back into the food.
“As the food cooks, a vacuum seal is created between the lid and the vessel, trapping all the steam. This liquid slowly drips back into the vessel, constantly basting the contents inside. It’s no wonder why foods come out so moist and juicy.” – Hamilton Beach
How Much Liquid Should You Add To a Slow Cooker?
It depends on the recipe you’re using, but in general, you should add very little water to your slow cooker. We’ve already seen that liquids are necessary to create steam as such, a small amount is needed to get things going.
Unless you’re making soups or stews, limit the liquid you put in the slow cooker. If you’re trying out a new recipe or you’re not sure how much water to use, keep liquids at a minimum.
A slow cooker is a sealed environment and with no evaporation and you might end up with mushy tasteless food. You’re better off topping up as the food cooks.
“Most slow cooker recipes are better with less liquid than you would use if you were making the same thing in a pot on the stove. So that could mean draining the canned tomatoes and discarding that juice or it might mean using less broth than you normally would for a stew or a soup”
Jack Bishop, editorial director America’s Test Kitchen
Sarah DiGregorio, author of Adventures in Slow Cooking: 120 Slow-Cooker Recipes for People Who Love Food, agrees, “You get a lot less evaporation in the slow cooker than the oven or stovetop.”
Should Food Be Covered With Liquid In a Slow Cooker?
There is unending controversy surrounding this question, but most experts will tell you not to cover your food with liquid unless you’re making soups or stews.
Most meats and some vegetables release juices as they are being cooked. Combined with the liquid you had put in, the volume goes up. The last thing you want is to end up with a casserole dish that is floating around in a liquid or tasting bland.
Here is the thing, the slow cooker must be filled halfway at the very least, and you can use your ingredients to reach this requirement, not liquids.
Normally, I like to ensure that a third of my food is covered in broth (or water) and trust the ingredients to supply the rest. The meal cooks well and remains flavorful.
I’ll admit that it does take a couple of tries to master how much water is enough, but as long as you keep trying, you’ll get it as well.
One of the biggest problems we see comes from using a slow cooker that’s too large for the portions you’re making. You’ll be left with lots of ‘unwanted’ soup if you use 6-quarts slow cooker to cook for two people.
So start by choosing the right size crockpot or go for larger cuts of meat or whole chicken that will fit the bigger sized slow cooker. Leftovers can be frozen or packed for lunch the following day.
Alternatively, you can invest in an oven-safe dish and insert it into the slow cooker when making smaller meals. This way, you’ll have created a smaller cooking vessel without compromising on the taste.
You’ll need to add a cup of water into the slow cooker to provide the steam needed to cook the food. Some of the best oven-safe dishes include:
- CorningWare bake set
- Pyrex 2-quart glass dish
- Libbey baker’s casserole dish
Here are some things to keep in mind even as you adapt your slow cooker:
- Always use an oven-safe bowl.
- Cook with the slow cooker’s lid on and avoid opening it unnecessarily.
- Ensure the bowl is three-quarter way full. Any lower and your food will cook very fast and possibly burn. If you fill the bowl to the brim, you may need to cook the food longer than the recommended cooking time.
What If My Food Scorches?
When the slow cooker is halfway or three-quarters full, there is enough circulation of heat which ensures your food braises or simmers. Any different and you’ll have boiled or burned food.
Here are some ways to help keep food from burning:
- Rub cooking oil inside the slow cooker before you start cooking. It will help keep the food from sticking.
- Create tinfoil balls and place them at the base of the cooker. You can then add the chicken and allow it to cook with a little water or stock. Alternatively, wrap the chicken in foil then set it on top of the other ingredients.
- Use BPA free plastic pot liners that are FDA approved such as Reynolds premium slow cooker liners, Crock-Pot slow cooker liners, and PanSaver EZ clean slow cooker liners. These disposable liners are meant for single-use and make cleaning such a breeze.
One more thing is to work with the recommended cooking time and temperature settings. Say you’ll be out of the house for around 10 hours and the recipe you’re working with recommends six to eight hours cooking time.
Most of us will be tempted to set the cooking time to 10 hours in time for us to get back home. After all, the temperature setting is on low so what could go wrong? Well, it will overcook and possibly burn.
The best thing to do is to cook it for six hours and set it to warm for the remaining time until you get home.
Start With The Easy Recipes First
Most slow cooker experts recommend trying out simple recipes to give you a feel of how the cooker works. Every slow cooker is different, the better you understand yours, the easier it will be for you to try out complex recipes.
Check out these simple but delicious recipes that you can try:
- Heartwarming chicken noodle soup by Damn Delicious.
- Flavorful Vegan chickpea chili that contains garbanzo beans from Tori Avey.
- Sweet and Sour Island Beef by Cat Lady Cyndi from Allrecipes.
- All-time favorite Mac and Cheese by Cookies and Cups.
- Yummy Pulled Pork recipe from My Baking Addiction.
What Happens If You Overfill a Slow Cooker?
Overfilling your cooker to get more food out of it doesn’t work. Food in a slow cooker is meant to simmer not steam. Many moms confess to doing this and ending up with an overflow.
Two things may happen when if you overfill your crockpot. First, the food will not cook evenly or thoroughly and you’ll probably need to extend the cooking time. It’s likely that by the time you’re through cooking, the food will look messy and unappetizing.
Secondly, if the food overflows, you’ll have a messy kitchen to deal with. Imagine yourself, after a long day, dealing with a half-cooked meal and a dirty countertop. It’s a no-no.
Can You Cook Off Liquid In a Slow Cooker?
You happen to peek through the glass lid and realize that your dish has way too much water. Is there a way you can cook off the liquid?
Here’s what you can do, remove the lid in the last 1-2 hours of cooking and turn the setting to high. This may help some of the liquid to evaporate and even thicken the sauce.
What do you do if you set the slow cooker in the morning, came home in the evening and found your food cooked and swimming in soup?
You can always dump it, but why waste perfectly good and nutrient-rich soup? Drain and freeze it for use another day or you can put it on the stove, add some cornstarch (or whatever else you want) and make some sauce.
Can You Dry Cook in a Slow Cooker?
You absolutely can and many seasoned slow cooker cooks swear by this. It is, however, important to choose your meats carefully before attempting to dry cook. Chicken breasts, fillet steak, pork fillet, and other tender meat cuts don’t turn out well when dry cooked. If anything, they dry out.
Go for pork shoulder, beef shin, oxtail, lamb shank, and chicken thighs and drumsticks among other tougher cuts. Ensure that the slow cooker is covered with root vegetables like onions and carrots, drizzle oil then add your meat.
Conclusion
Liquids add flavor to your food but they are not a necessity. You can use them in moderation to enhance flavor and ensure your food has sufficient steam.
Do you have any questions or comments? Leave them in the comment section below, we would love to hear from you.