Slow cookers are a fabulous tool for busy parents, busy spouses, and just plain busy people. It's hard to find time to cook a delicious and healthy meal where you're rushing off to work, picking up the kids from their multitude of activities, or just trying to unwind after a hard day.

I Need More Time!

The best part of a slow cooker is just being able to more or less "dump and go", albeit more elegantly.

But there are also some hints and help available to using your slow cooker. I just discovered these 10 Tips for Slow Cooker Success from Pillsbury and I thought that I'd share them! I learned a lot of things and there are just some great ideas and good tips!

1. Get to Know Your Cooker

Just as ovens cook differently, so do slow cookers. Some slow cookers cook food continuously at very low wattage - called a continuous slow cooker. This type has 2 or 3 fixed settings: Low, High, and Auto.

Another type is called the intermittent cooker, which cycles on and off in order to maintain a constant temperature. If your slow cooker has dials or temperatures, it's an intemittent cooker.

Slow cooker come in many sizes, from 1 quart to 6 quarts. Check the capacity of the cooker for the recipe that you're making. Generally, slow cookers work most efficiently when they're between 2/3 and 3/4 full of food.

2. Begin with the Basics

Before adding food to the slow cooker, spray the inside of it with nonstick cooking spray. This will save you a LOT of cleanup later!

Food placed in the bottom of the slow cooker will usually be moister and it can help to rotate meats halfway through cooking if they're on the bottom.

Root vegetables take longer to cook, so cut then into smaller pieces and place them on the bottom.

To reduce fat and calories, remove skin from poultry and trim excess fat from meats before cooking.

3. Time It Right

Many recipes use the low setting because a longer cooking time often fits better into your daily schedule. However, you can shorten the cooking time by turning the slow cooker to high for 1 hour, which counts as 2 hours on low.

Don't forget to check for doneness.

Slow cooker offer flexibility! Most cooked food can be held up to an hour on the low setting without overcooking. (My personal slow cooker has a keep warm setting and I've never had a problem with overcooking.) Some recipes can even be kept on low for several hours.

Resist the temptation to lift the lid on your slow cooker until shortly before serving. Removing the cover allows heat to escape and adds 15 to 20 minutes to the cooking time.

4. Add a Flash of Flavor

Use dried leaf herbs instead of ground because they retain their flavor during the longer cooking time. Fresh herbs should be stirred in during the last hour of cooking so they stay flavorful.

Ground red pepper and hot pepper sauce tend to become bitter during long slow cooking. Use small amounts and taste during the last hour to decide whether you need to add more.

For a more pronounced flavor in soups and stews, substitute broth for water or add bouillon cubes with the water.

You can develop the flavors in the juices by removing the lid and cooking on high for the last 20 to 30 minutes. This evaportes the water so the flavors become more concentrated and intense. Use the juice as a gravy or sauce.

5. Plan a Perfect Ending

Some herbs, such as oregano and basil, change flavor with extended cooking time. Stir these in during the final hour of cooking.

Fish and seafood fall apart during long hour sof cooking and some seafood, such as shrimp, becomes very tough. Add these ingredients during the last hour of cooking.

Tender veggies, sch as fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, and zucchini, should be added during the last 30 minutes so they don't become overcooked and mushy.

Frozen veggies will keep their bright color and crisp-tender texture if you add them during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Long-cooked dairy products, such as milk and sour cream, have a tendency to curdle. Add these ingredients in the last hour of cooking, particularly if they're being used as a sauce.

For a little extra flavor or texture, sprinkle the top of your slow cooker meal with chopped fresh herbs, grated cheese, crushed croutons, or corn ships, chopped tomatoes, or even sliced green onions just before serving.

6. Thicken It Up

To make gravy, pour the juices into a saucepan. Remove and discard any excess fat. For every cup of juice, use 1 tablespoon or cornstarch or 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour.

To thicken a stew or other main dish, turn the slow cooker to the high setting. For each 2 cups of liquid, mix 2 tablespoons cold water and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Stir mixture into the cooker. Cover and cook for 20 to 30 minutes.

7. Play It Safe

Thaw meat and poultry in the fridge or in a microwave oven following the manufacturer's directions.

Do not undercook foods. For food-safety reasons, slow cooker recipes containing raw poultry or beef should cook a minumum of 3 hours.

Don't use your slow cooker as a storage container.

Food should not be reheated in a slow cooker.

8. Take It On The Go

A slow cooker is the perfect appliance to bring to poltucks, family gatherings, or to the cabin for the weekend. Here are some tips to toting it:

Wrap the slow cooker in a towel or newpaper to keep it warm, then place in a box or other container that will stay flat in the car.

Attach rubber bands around the handles and lid to secure the lid when traveling.

Serve cooked food within the hour or plug in the slow cooker and set on the low or keep warm setting to keep food warm for hours.

9. Adapt Your Own Recipes

Look for a similar recipe in a slow cooker cookbook to use as a guide for quantities, amount of liquid, and cooking time.

Unless your are making a soup, reduce the amount of liquid in your recipe by about half because liquids do not boil away in a slow cooker.

Use less expensive cuts of meat and trim as much visible fat as possiblef rom the meat.

Instead of fresh dairy products, such as cheese and milk, try canned condensed soups, nonfat milk powder, or canned evaporated mlik. Or add the fresh ingredients near the end of cooking.

Be sure to allow sufficient cooking time. Most meals require 8 to 10 hours on the low setting.

10. Cook It Right at High Altitude

Most food take longer to cook, particularly meats. The time may be up to twice as long as the recipe suggests. Try cooking meats on the high setting instead of on low to shorten the cooking time.

Dried beans will also cook more slowly. It is recommended that you soak them overnight in water first.

Cutting veggies into smaller pieces than the recipe suggest will help them cook faster.