The Key Difference Between High And Low Slow-Cooking

The slow cooker is a simple appliance that has really freed home cooks from the stove and oven. This appliance consists of an insert, which can be made of ceramic or steel, that sits in a metal housing. The housing warms up and the insert heats up too, using gentle continuous heat to cook the food, according to Hamilton Beach. 

Most slow cooker recipes take from four to 12 hours to cook, which means you can go about your day and come home to dinner ready and waiting for you. That's possible because of the low cooking temperatures and the fact that the appliance has a lid that holds in the heat, per Today. It's difficult to burn or overcook food in a slow cooker, which makes this appliance ideal for beginning cooks.

But there are some things you need to know about slow cooking, according to The Food Network. The temperature settings mean something, and they are used in very specific ways. What is the key difference between high and low slow-cooking?

Even food cooks slowly on both settings, high heat and low heat on the slow cooker are very different, and how they are used changes the recipe. The temperature range varies from about 170 degrees Fahrenheit for the low setting to 280 degrees on the high setting, according to the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Given this, cooking on high takes about half the time as cooking on low. And that gives you flexibility.

For instance, if you want to make a recipe that calls for cooking for four hours on high, but you want to be away from the stove longer, you can cook that recipe for eight hours on low. And if you are late getting started in the kitchen and the recipe you want to use calls for a 10-hour cook time, you can start the slow cooker on high for three hours, then finish on low for four.

You can't do that for some recipes, such as those featuring fish, pasta, and delicate vegetables, which should be cooked for a shorter period of time on high heat, per Miss Vickie. And tough meats need longer cooking times on low heat to break down connective tissue.

Your slow cooker may be very simple, with just a dial you can turn from "Off" to "Low," "High," and perhaps "Keep Warm," or it may be digital type you can program. Instant pots can be used to slow cook food, and there are even pressure cookers that can be used as slow cookers, like this one on Amazon. No matter which type you have, read the instruction booklet that came with your appliance to learn how to use it. After you have cooked a few recipes successfully, you may want to change the cooking times and temperatures to suit your needs.

Now that you are a slow cooker expert, try these recipes. Slow cooker chili is an easy classic, made spicy with chili seasoning mix. Slow cooker country chicken is true comfort food, rich with baby potatoes and carrots. You can even make slow cooker whole wheat and spelt Idaho potato rolls for a holiday side dish, or slow cooker Cajun buffalo meatballs for an appetizer with a kick. Try slow cooker ham and potato soup that is creamy and flavorful, or make slow cooker pot roast for the most tender beef you will ever eat.