A slow cooker can replace many other cooking methods in your life, such as baking, grilling, or boiling, and will save you a lot of time, but how does the flavor and texture of slow cooked foods rank when compared to their traditional counterparts? Well, it depends on the type of food you’re making. Many popular dishes benefit from the slow, low heat of the slow cooker, but not all of them do. How does your favorite food measure up?
- Chicken Wings
While you can make chicken wings in the slow cooker, most recipes call for you to stick them in the oven for thirty minutes afterwards in order for them to crisp up. The skin becomes really soft in the slow-cooker, which is great for some foods, but not so great for wings. So, it would probably be easier to save yourself the trouble and just bake them in the oven in the first place (or on a grill) instead of cooking them in the slow-cooker. - Ribs
This one depends on your personal preference. Cooking ribs in the slow cooker makes them very tender (literally falling off the bone). Whereas cooking ribs on the grill or in a smoker gives them a nice smokey flavor and a slightly crispy exterior. So, perhaps the best method for ribs is to start them off in the slow cooker for a few hours and finish them on the grill to get the best of both worlds. - Corn on the Cob
Making corn on the cob in the slow cooker can have some great health benefits as opposed to boiling it on the stove. When corn is boiled, it loses a lot of nutrients, not to mention it’s practically required to slather butter on the corn after it comes out of the pot to create some flavor. In the slow cooker, you can slowly steam the corn with seasonings and no butter, and it will turn out even more delicious. - Cake
From my experience, slow cooker chocolate cake never comes out with the same, rich flavor as when it is cooked in the oven. It also tends to be a bit drier. Crockpots are amazing for main and side dishes, but I am not sold on the majority of slow-cooker desserts. The only benefit I can see from using a slow cooker for cake is that it won’t heat up your entire house like the oven would. - Pasta
One major benefit of slow cooking pasta is that you typically don’t have to boil the pasta beforehand, which can save you some time. The drawback is that it’s relatively easy to overcook the pasta if you are not watching it carefully. For example, one commenter on a popular slow cooker lasagna recipe said that even cooking lasagna on low overcooks the noodles, so she had to put it on ‘warm’ instead. If you’re going to use the slow cooker, be sure to check the noodles periodically so they don’t become overcooked. - Taco Meat
Carnitas and shredded chicken tacos come out wonderfully when cooked in a slow cooker. Cooking these meats on low heat for several hours helps bring out a lot of the flavor and makes the meat tender and moist. Slow cooker definitely wins this round because it sure beats boiling pork or chicken and seasoning it afterwards. - Soup
Soups and stews are the most classic and reliable of slow cooker recipes. Yes, you can make soup on the stove in a stock pot and let it simmer for an hour,but it will not taste nearly as good as a soup that’s been cooking for 8 hours in the slow-cooker. The more time all those delicious ingredients have to blend together into one bubbly, aromatic concoction, the better. - Fajitas
Throwing some chicken, veggies, and spices in the slow cooker will result in a delicious, healthy meal for your family that requires almost no work at all. This method will create a tasty meal, but probably not quite as tasty as cooking the meat and veggies in a frying pan. The veggies in particular can become soggy in the slow cooker, but if you are looking for a healthier version of fajitas, the slow cooker version will still work just fine. - Pork Chops
While it’s hard to beat pork chops straight off the grill, slow cooker pork chops give them a run for their money. In a slow cooker, the chops come out incredibly moist and tender, and you have a lot of options when it comes to flavors. You can add some ranch seasoning, cream of mushroom soup, Dr. Pepper, or many other ingredients to infuse them into the meat and create a unique recipe. - Chinese Chicken (Sweet & Sour, Orange, etc)
Slow cooking Chinese chicken results in food that is substantially healthier and cheaper than traditional take out or even homemade, fried Chinese food. While the chicken will be intensely flavorful after cooking all day with veggies and spices, the downside is that breaded chicken pieces can become soggy. So, either lightly bread the chicken or skip the breading completely and make the dish even healthier.
