Hamilton Beach Stay or Go SCO-55HA, Manual

8

Tips for Slow Cooking

• The crock should be at least half-filled for best results. If only half-

filled, check for doneness 1 to 2 hours earlier than recipe time.

• Stirring is not necessary when slow cooking. Removing glass 

lid results in major heat loss and the cooking time may need to 
be extended. However, if cooking on High, you may want to stir
occasionally. 

• If cooking soups or stews, leave a 2-inch (5-cm) space between 

the top of the crock and the food so that the recipe can come to 
a simmer.

• Many recipes call for cooking all day. If your morning schedule 

doesn’t allow time to prepare a recipe, do it the night before. 
Place all ingredients in crock, cover with lid, and refrigerate
overnight. In the morning, simply place crock in slow cooker.

• Some foods are not suited for extended cooking in a slow cooker.

Pasta, seafood, milk, cream, or sour cream should be added 2
hours before serving. Evaporated milk or condensed soups are
perfect for slow cooking.

• The higher the fat content of meat, the less liquid is needed. If

cooking meat with a high fat content, place thick onion slices
underneath so meat will not sit on (and cook in) fat.

• Slow cookers allow for very little evaporation. If making your

favorite soup, stew, or sauce, reduce liquid called for in original
recipe. If too thick, liquid can be added later.

• If cooking a vegetable-type casserole, there will need to be liquid 

in the recipe to prevent scorching on the sides of crock.

• If cooking a recipe with root vegetables, place root vegetables in

the bottom of the crock.

Food Safety Tips

• Do not use frozen, uncooked meat in the slow cooker. Thaw any

meat or poultry before slow cooking.

• To store leftovers after cooking, do NOT place the entire crock in the

refrigerator since contents will take too long to cool. Instead, divide
leftovers into smaller containers and place into refrigerator.

• Never allow undercooked or raw meat to sit at room temperature 

in the slow cooker. Once meat is placed into the crock, it should be
cooked immediately (unless prepping slow cooker the night before,
where crock should be placed into the refrigerator).