My new slow cooker seems to cook faster than my previous slow cooker that I bought 20 years ago. Could this be? Yes. To keep up with food safety standards, slow cookers manufactured today cook at slightly higher temperatures than older models. So, you will find that foods become hot and steamy more quickly.
While cooking family dinners I often run out of room in my regular oven. Can I use my slow cooker to serve dishes such as mashed potatoes? If so, what setting should I use? Yes. Simply spray your ceramic crock with nonstick cooking spray and spoon in the mashed potatoes. Cover with the lid and set the slow cooker on the Warm setting. This will keep the potatoes (or other side dishes) warm without scorching them.
The power went out, and I discovered my cold slow cooker full of food has been sitting on the counter for several hours. If I heat the food to steaming hot, will it be safe? Food that sits at room temperature for more than two hours is no longer safe to eat and should be discarded.
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