Can you put frozen vegetables in a slow cooker?
In this article, we will answer the question “Can you put frozen vegetables in a slow cooker?”, and what food you should never cook in the slow cooker?
Can you put frozen vegetables in a slow cooker?
No, you cannot put frozen vegetables in the slow cooker. Always thaw the canned and frozen vegetables before putting them in the slow cooker. The vegetables always go in the slow cooker at the end of the cooking time.
Putting frozen vegetables in the slow cooker will keep the vegetables in the unsafe temperature zone for too long because of the temperature difference. The slow cooker will reach the set cooking temperature too slowly which will favor the growth of pathogenic microbes.
Easy crockpot vegetable recipe
Ingredients
- 8 cups fresh or frozen vegetables of your choice (e.g broccoli, green beans, and cauliflower)
- ***If using fresh vegetables, add ¼- ½ cup of water to the crock***
- 3 tablespoons butter
- Salt and Pepper
- Desired seasonings
Instructions
- In the crockpot, add your favorite vegetables and sprinkle them with some salt, pepper, and your desired seasoning. Mix well.
- Finish off with some butter on top of the veggies.
- Cover the crockpot and cook for about 2 hours on high.
- Take out the vegetables using slotted spoons and serve warm.
Foods you should never cook in a slow cooker
Fish
Cooking fish in the slow cooker is a big no. The slow cooker is the best option for braising and cooking tough cuts of meats and fibrous vegetables.
Fish, being a lean or quick-cooking protein, will dry out in the slow cooker and your entire home will start to smell like seafood. Your best bet is to pan-sear or roasts the fish in the oven.
Boneless chicken breast
Boneless chcike pieces or breast piece will dry out in slow cooker. If you wish to make chicken in the slow cooker, go for the bone-in chicken and de-skin the chicken before cooking.
Green vegetables
Slow cooker requires cookes food at a low pace at a low heat. Green vegetables are not a good candidate for slow cooker because they will wilt and lose their fresh color and crips texture in slow cooker. The tip to making veggies in the slow cooker is to always add them during the last 10-15 minutes of the cooking time.
Cheese
Any dairy product including cheese is not supposed to be cooked for prolonged time periods. Cooking cheese at a low temperature for amlong time in slow cooker will cause the whey protein to lump and crumb.
The end result is crumbly cottage-cheese like textue which looks nothing like the creamy cheese. The best way to cook cheese is to stir it only once in the cooker and adding it during last 10 minutes of the cooking time.
Cheap vanilla extract
Slow cooker is the go to choice for many people who love to bake cakes, cinnamon rolls and sweet breads etc.
But we wary of what kind of vanilla you are putting in your batter or else you will end up was an alcoholic taste in your baked product due to the vanilla extract. Invest in a high quality vanilla extract If you often bake using a slow cooker.
Pasta
Pasta requires to be cooked in a salted boiling water. Such temepaturres are difficult to achieve in a slow cooker.
Pasta is very starchy and requires to be cooked for a specific amount of time. If you choose slow cooker to boil pasta, chances are you will end up with an overcooked gelatinous or mushy mess.
Fresh herbs
Fresh herbs are not supposed to be heated slow and low all day long. They will lose their aroma and color. Therefore, never cook fresh herbs in a slow cooker. Either add them to your sauce for sauteeing or use for garnishing your dish.
Good steak
Slow cooker is meant to tenderize tough and cheaper cuts of meat. A good quality steak is supposed to be heated for a very specific time at a specific temperature. Cooking it in a slow cooker all daya long will deprive it of its juices and make it tough.
Long-grain rice
Long-grain rice should enver go in the slow cooker. Slow cooker leaves the rice at the edges of the cooker fairly overcooked, hard and dry. While those in the middle are undercooked.
Other FAQs about Vegetables which you may be interested in.
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “Can you put frozen vegetables in a slow cooker?”, and what food you should never cook in the slow cooker?
