Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

[Jamestown1630]

I think we’ve only ever done two or three things in a crock pot that really turned out well; my crock pot has gotten the most use as a way to carry to a party and warm up dishes that have already been cooked otherwise. But one of the things we’ve found that the crock pot does pretty well is pulled pork. (Don't laugh, Texans - we're currently apartment dwellers ;-)

We’ve tried several recipes that turned out OK, but I wanted to make pulled pork in the crockpot like the Carnitas that we get at Chipotle (again, don't laugh! I just like it). A few months ago, I ordered what looks like a lifetime supply of Juniper Berries, because someone online had insisted that they were the key – but for us, they were not; and now I’m stuck with a huge vacuum-packed jar of berries that I’ll probably never use up in the remaining time that the Lord has allotted me.

But: I think I found the recipe last weekend. My husband signed up to receive email recipes from Cooks Country, and a recent one was for ‘Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas’; we tried it, and it was excellent. The secret seems to be citrus, which you don’t really taste AS citrus; but somehow, it adds that elusive 'je ne sais quoi'.

A slight variation of the recipe is available at the Mels Kitchen Cafe website; the Cooks Country recipe suggested crisping the final product in a fry pan, but Mels Kitchen does it under the broiler, and I think that makes a better product:

https://www.melskitchencafe.com/slow-cooker-pork-carnitas

After about a year of ‘window-shopping’ pressure cooker options, we have decided to purchase an Instant Pot. We are going for the 8-quart ‘Duo’, because that seems to offer the most versatility. I became interested in this product because of all the reviews on how well it does hard-boiled eggs (makes them very easy to peel, even very fresh eggs) bone broth, and yogurt-making. Husband is interested in the fast-cooking of meats.

Do any of you who have an Instant Pot have favorite recipes/uses for it?

-JT

[Jane Long]

My fave thing I’ve cooked, so far, in my multi cooker was a frozen pot roast. The pot roast went from freezer to table in a couple of hours.

I’ll have to try the frozen chicken breasts. Love the idea of having for various dishes.

[Jamestown1630]

I’m anxious to try the pulled pork; it’s the only thing that really turns out well in a crock pot, and the pressure cooker will make it a lot faster.

[Yardstick]

Okay, so this pot is pretty big then. And, wow, cheesecake! I just watched a couple of videos and it looks surprisingly doable. To my surprise the crusts are coming out cooked and not soggy. That means the steam must be mostly staying steam (i.e. water in its gaseous state) rather than condensing into water vapor. So it may actually be a fairly “dry” environment in there.

[Jamestown1630]

I’m still confused about the ‘science’. At first I thought ours was defective because it vents a lot of steam as it’s building pressure; but it seems to be working right.

I’ll believe the cake business when I see it ;-)

We got the 8 qt. one, because one of the main things we wanted it for was batches of bone broth; but there are two smaller sizes.

[Yardstick]

Yeah, these things are a tricky thermodynamics problem. The interior will be filled with steam, which is a gas, not a liquid, and so in that sense it will be dry. But even though it’s dry it won’t absorb water like air will. So it’s dry but nonabsorbent, which means it won’t make things soggy yet will leave foods’ natural moisture intact.

Or something like that!

It would be interesting to hear the designers explain the science and what exactly its special benefits are.

[Jamestown1630]

They have an exhaustive website but I haven’t had time yet to delve very deeply:

http://instantpot.com/technology/what-is-electric-pressure-cooker/

[Tammy8]

I replaced my old Crock Pot with a new one recently too. I found the new one on low seems like the old one on high and high is a lot hotter than the old ones ever got. Could be my imagination but I like the new one better.

[Aliska]

Thank you for going to all that trouble for me. It looks like you can only buy it in 6-packs. I don't care about my stove any more because it is so old, I keep the top wiped clean but around the burners and underneath, if I mop up liquid spills and don't worry about the rest, buy new rings and drip pans every so often.

The hood ammonia solution gets that pretty well.

youtube has a video of some woman really going at her stove; she even lifted the top up to get at what was above the oven. I never knew you could do that. :-)

Still I'll watch for that degreaser because it could be useful for many other things. Do you ever listen to Gary Sullivan on the radio on weekends? He has a remedy for almost everything but I can't remember the names of the products.

Thank you again for your help.

[Aliska]

There you are; I let myself get sidetracked, overtaken by the news and a visit by a family member. I read all your post with interest and can relate to all of it except you have more knowledge of optics (Prisms) than I.

I, too, quit the optometrists after one last bad prescription. Lost money on it, too. I found a Norwegian opthamalogist and explained to her what happened with the glasses. She got things going better, and I could tell she was doing a better job with those "things" they push up to your eyes and fit over your nose. When I got my new glasses I was so relieved!

At least twice before they have screwed up prescriptions, one when I was still in school. They didn't want to believe me, but I convinced them somebody didn't read it or grind it correctly. They grudgingly admitted I was right and ground new lenses.

I hope I can work up to getting a driver's license again. It's not just eyes but anxiety at having to drive when I haven't done that part of town for so long and also I have a really hard time walking so I don't go out to my car unless I have to and it's extra difficult to carry stuff like I used to with ease.

Then I'm depressed today over family and politics. Luckily I didn't get mad.

[greeneyes]

Yes, but I’m thinking the name may be the same, but the device could be different. As I understand it, they bring the food to a certain temp, turn off the heat and insulate, and then let it finish cooking without using any more energy.

[V K Lee]

No trouble at all (gave me an opportunity to call my sis :)

If you have a Tractor Supply near, you might check them for something called “Mighty Boss” Not a retailer frequently visited so not familiar with the actual product and uncertain if it can be used in food preparation areas. It comes highly recommended and much less expensive in cost.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/mighty-boss?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051

Yes, LOL, the top of the range does come off, can be raised.
We’ve an electric range for years. The last one had a top/burners which was on a hinge and could be raised from front to back. And, the glass oven door can be removed as well. LOL Who knew? At the moment we’ve a glass top range which is a disappointment. So many different pots and pans are not user friendly with such a product. Poor consumer Intel on my part. So glass pots are used only for microwave and cast iron cookware used only in the oven. Not abandoning either (thankyouverymuch)

[greeneyes]

We always save our leftover seed till the next year.

We don’t use weed killers, so I have no experience with that.

Our pear trees have not yet produced, but I would think that wrapping them in newspaper would allow them to ripen.

For faster results, try putting a few in a bag with an apple just for fresh eating quicker.