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Crockpot Safety
I have a half thawed chicken, can I put it in a crockpot before it fully thaws?
Thank You,
Don Carson
Hi Don,
Though older cookbooks and instruction manuals that come with slow-cookers suggest using frozen meats or poultry for better texture, it is now not recommended by food safety experts. In order for slow-cooking to be safe, food must reach 140°F. within the first 2 hours of cooking. This ensures that the food isn’t sitting in the temperature danger zone (40°-140°F.) allowing microorganisms to multiply erratically. It takes frozen meat longer than two hours to thaw and heat up to 140°F., allowing ample time for microbes to party. To test whether your crockery cooker will heat food to a safe temperature within the first two hours of cooking, run a slow-cooker test.
If you feel like taking the risk and starting with frozen or partially frozen meat, take time to check the temperature of the poultry prior to turning off the cooker. It should reach 180-degrees F. in about 15-20 seconds on a thermometer (don't insert by bone) to be sure all microbes are destroyed.
Slow-Cooker Test
If your cooker is not heating up to these temperatures in that two hour period, it will not heat food hot or fast enough to avoid food safety troubles. You can either purchase a new cooker or apply the tricks in Faster Slow Cooking to ensure your food heats up faster.
Faster Slow Cooking
If you really need the meal to be done at the minimum cooking time specified in a recipe, or sooner, try any of these handy tricks:
Remember the temperature of the food entering the pot determines overall cooking time.
Heat liquids before adding them to cooker.
Use only thawed meats. Sear them to warm them up.
Thaw and warm vegetables slightly by searing or steaming them until they are crisp-tender.
Cover the food contents or the pot with a layer of aluminum foil and then top with the lid. The foil will deflect heat back down into the food.
Start the cooker on HIGH while you prepare for work, church, family life, etc. Then, before heading out the door, turn the gauge to LOW to complete the cooking per recipe instructions.
Hope this helps,
Desi
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