Can You Put Raw Meat in a Slow Cooker?

When you have a slow cooker in your kitchen, you can easily throw a few ingredients into it, and then you can leave it to cook while you go to other business or attend to other matters. This makes life in the kitchen a little bit simpler.

Slow cookers are incredible appliances that can transform a hastily prepared meal into a delectable dessert that everyone in the family will love. However, there are several components that should never be put into a slow cooker, but is raw meat one of those components?

You can put raw meat into a slow cooker; you just need to make sure that you leave the meat in the slow cooker for a sufficient amount of time to ensure that it cooks thoroughly and reaches a temperature that is high enough to destroy any potentially dangerous germs that may be present on the meat. Utilizing a food thermometer is the quickest and easiest technique to guarantee success in this endeavor.

What kinds of meat should you make an effort to avoid putting in your slow cooker when they are still raw? Why do some people think it’s a bad idea to put raw meat in a slow cooker? Why is it recommended that you brown the meat before placing it in the slow cooker?

Let us find out!

Can You Place Raw Meat in a Slow Cooker?

As the slow cooker gains in popularity, more and more people are beginning to ask themselves this insightful and very important question. The good news is that you can prepare a delicious dinner using your slow cooker even if you use raw meat as one of the ingredients.

It is not necessary to attempt to cook the meat separately; however, you may do so if you have the time. Even if you don’t, the slow cooker will still be able to prepare the meat for you. It is possible that this does not come as a surprise to you since you are aware that slow cooking the meat before adding it to the slow cooker somewhat nullifies the purpose of having a slow cooker in the first place, right?

This is correct since slow cookers were designed for the busy individual who just has time to pour ingredients into a pot and let it to cook; at the very least, the dinner turns out far better with a slow cooker than it would if you used just a conventional pot. However, can uncooked meat of any kind be put into your slow cooker?

Because the slow cooker is not suitable for cooking all types of meat, you should avoid using it to prepare specific kinds of meat, such as those listed above. If the meat is both fresh and fatty, you should be able to cook it in your slow cooker without any trouble even while it’s still raw.

If, on the other hand, your meat is not very fresh because it has been stored in the refrigerator for a few days, you should not put it in your slow cooker since doing so may cause the meat to become tough and chewy. Instead, you should use a different method. Do not put raw lean meat into your slow cooker since it will cook too quickly and may cause your slow cooker to catch fire. Instead, brown the meat in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker.

If you are not concerned with the chewiness or texture of the meat in the dish you are preparing, you are free to use whatever cut of meat you choose and put it into the slow cooker in its raw state. You should stay away from specific cuts of meat, though, if you have a low tolerance for chewy or slightly charred flesh.

The Benefits of Placing Raw Meat in a Slow Cooker

Although there are certain cuts of meat that should not be cooked in a slow cooker because they will become chewy, there are some clear advantages to cooking your meat from raw in your slow cooker along with the rest of the ingredients.

The fact that you do not have to first brown the meat before cooking it in the slow cooker is perhaps the most major advantage of using the slow cooker to prepare raw meats. Even if browning the meat first only takes approximately 10 minutes, there’s an extra 10 minutes that you might be putting toward getting anything else done instead.

Because, after all, you are using a slow cooker for a specific purpose, you want the meat to be able to cook together with the rest of your ingredients so that you do not have to cook the meat in a separate cooking method. This will ensure that you do not have to perform any additional steps in order to prepare a delectable meal.

When you place raw meat in your slow cooker, you not only cut down on the amount of time it takes to cook the meat, but you also eliminate the need to wash any additional dishes or spatulas that you would have required in order to brown the meat or cook it separately. The fact that the only thing you’ll need to clean up afterward is your slow cooker is possibly the single most important advantage of all.

Considerations for Placing Raw Meat in a Slow Cooker

If you are putting raw meat into your slow cooker without giving it a second thought, there are a few things you should be aware of in order to keep yourself and those around you safe. Some of these things to think about aren’t that significant, but others could have an impact on your health if you don’t give them enough thought.

To begin, the slow cooker does exactly what its name implies: it cooks food slowly. Because of this, if you put raw meat into the slow cooker and do not leave it there for a sufficient amount of time, the meat may still be raw in the center. When you consume raw meat, some germs on and inside the flesh may not be destroyed, and these bacteria, if they are swallowed, may cause you to have health issues.

If the meat is put in the slow cooker while it is still raw, the texture and taste of the meat may be altered. This was discussed before. You need to keep in mind that the meat that you cook from raw in your slow cooker will not develop a beautiful brown color to it, and some things, like the chicken skins, will not crisp up. This is something else that you need to keep in mind.

Quick Slow Cooker Tips with Raw Meat

If you put the raw meat in the slow cooker without first cooking it, you need to make sure that the meat cooks all the way through and to the appropriate degree in the slow cooker. If the meat is not cooked thoroughly, you put yourself at risk of contracting foodborne infections like E. coli or salmonella, both of which are unpleasant to deal with. If the meat is prepared correctly, however, you eliminate this risk.

In order to eradicate any germs that may be present in the meat, the temperature at which it is cooked should be around 140 degrees Fahrenheit. During the cooking process, you may check the temperature of the meat using a food thermometer to determine whether it has reached the desired doneness.

One more thing to keep in mind is that you should never put frozen meat into your slow cooker in order to thaw it before cooking it. Not only will this cause the process to take significantly more time, but the meat will also likely not be cooked to the appropriate temperature in time for dinner to be served.

If you want to use your slow cooker to cook raw meat, you must verify that the meat has been thawed and is at room temperature before adding it. Before you put raw meat into your slow cooker, it is a good idea to first let it warm up, as this may help you ensure that the meat is cooked more quickly and completely.

When you want to warm up your slow cooker, put it on high heat for about an hour; after it’s heated, dial the heat down to the temperature you need, and then add your ingredients to the slow cooker.

Why People Are Against Placing Raw Meat in a Slow Cooker

Some individuals are opposed to the practice of putting raw meat into a slow cooker so that it may be cooked and become part of a delicious dinner; yet, this can be done. You may imagine that people are hesitant putting raw meat in a slow cooker because they are afraid that it would not cook all the way through. This is a reasonable assumption.

Although you run the risk of this happening if you do not keep the meat in the slow cooker for the recommended amount of time, it is not the primary reason why people avoid doing this preparation method. The flavor of the meat that you get when you start the cooking process with raw meat in a slow cooker is the true motivation behind this method of preparation.

If you brown the meat before adding it to your slow cooker, not only will you have a good chance of properly cooking the meat through, but you will also have the opportunity to cook out and drain any of the excess fats and oils that are present in the meat, which can cause your meal to be greasy. Browning the meat before adding it to the slow cooker is recommended.

If you do not brown your meat first, then all of the extra fat and oil from the meat will be sitting in your dish, which might cause the food as a whole to be a little bit messy. These additional oils and fats have the potential to alter the flavor of the meal and raise the likelihood that it will be too watery, which will result in your being dissatisfied.

When you put raw meat in a slow cooker, it may change the texture of the meat itself, making it taste gritty when you eat it. This can be avoided by cooking the meat before putting it in the slow cooker.

Why People Advocate for Browning the Meat First

To summarize, browning the meat before putting it in the slow cooker will only add an additional ten minutes of labor and a few dishes to your day.

This doesn’t seem like such a horrible idea. If you fall into the type of someone who understands why other people advocate for browning the meat before putting it into a slow cooker, but you want additional information on the matter first, then keep reading.

Then, let us go over the reasons why many people advocate for this procedure of first partially cooking the beef, and maybe you will find the answers you need to persuade you either way. When you look into it further, you’ll find that there are just two primary causes behind it.

These considerations will only be relevant to you if you have very specific preferences about the flavor and consistency of your meat, or if you lead a very hectic lifestyle. Let’s take a look at the two most common justifications for why people recommend browning your meat first.

Saves on Cooking Time

The fact that you have to spend more time browning the meat raises the question of how this may possibly save you time. Even though you will have to spend an extra 10 minutes browning the meat before putting it in the slow cooker, the end result will be that the meat will be ready to eat much sooner.

Because of this, the length of time required to prepare your dinner as well as the amount of time your slow cooker has to be turned on will be cut down. After it has been browned, the internal temperature of the meat does not need to reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit for it to be considered fully cooked through.

The fact that you will need to clean more dishes after you have finished browning the meat before putting it in the slow cooker is the only drawback of browning the meat beforehand. This might take a considerable amount of time depending on how clean your kitchen is, so you will need to evaluate whether or not it truly saves you time to consider doing it.

Adds Extra Flavoring to the Food

There are a lot of individuals across the globe who are under the impression that if you brown the meat before you put it in your slow cooker, you will end up with meat that has a more robust taste. This is mostly accurate; for example, browning the meat before cooking it may add some flavor to the dish; nevertheless, to term it superior may be going a little too far.

The flavor of the meat is enhanced by browning it first since this helps to seal in the juices and juices help to lock in the flavor of the meat after it has been seared. Incorporating this step first may also enhance the texture of some meats since it does not cause the meats to become gritty in the process.

If you brown your meat before putting it in your slow cooker, you will not only have the advantage of a healthier dinner, but you will also be able to drain any extra fats and oils from the meat that you would have otherwise consumed. If you do not brown your meat, you will not have this option.

If you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, or if you are just trying to be healthier and eat better foods, then browning the meat first may be a good option for you, even though it does add on some additional effort, cooking time, and dishwashing. If you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, or if you are just trying to be healthier and eat better foods, then browning the meat first may also be a good option for you.

But in the end, it all comes down to how you enjoy your cuisine and whether you want to take the time to brown the meat before putting it in the slow cooker or whether you’d rather simply toss it in uncooked.

FAQs

Do you have to cook meat before putting in slow cooker?

“Browning, or caramelizing, the meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn’t absolutely necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result,” he says. “Browning” refers to the process of turning sugar into a liquid, and “caramelizing” refers to the process of turning sugar into a solid. The rich taste and vibrant color of the completed meal will be contributed by the caramelized surface of the meat.

How long does it take to cook raw meat in a slow cooker?

Put the ground beef in the bottom of a slow cooker that has a capacity of 6 quarts. Use a big spoon to break up the meat, and then pour the water over the top. Cook, covered, on high for two to three hours or on low for four to six hours.

Can you put raw meat in a slow cooker with vegetables?

Even if it may not make sense at first, it is possible to place raw meat and veggies in a slow cooker at the same time.

Can you put everything raw into slow cooker?

You can literally simply toss all of the ingredients into many different types of recipes, but notably soups and stews. It may be great to sauté the onions before adding them to the dish since the flavor is different than when you put them in raw, but you should try with both methods because you could discover that you prefer one over the other.

What happens if you don’t brown meat before slow cooking?

Before adding ground beef or any other kind of ground meat to your slow cooker, you should always brown it in a pan first. This will prevent the meat from becoming clumpy and will save unnecessary fat from being added to the finished meal.

Do you have to put liquid in a slow cooker?

When using a slow cooker, one of the most frequent errors that people make is adding liquid to every dish. However, unless you are creating a soup or stew, you really do not need any more liquid. If you follow every recipe to the letter and add liquid, you will almost certainly be left with an excessive amount of uncooked food after the cooking time is up.

Final Thoughts

There is no valid reason for you not to be able to put raw meat into your slow cooker in order to cook it and create a delicious dinner out of it. However, if you are going to do this, you need to be sure that the meat is cooked all the way through before you go on to the next step.

It is advisable to invest in a food thermometer in order to verify that the internal temperature of the meat has reached 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This will guarantee that any potentially dangerous germs that may be present in the meat have been effectively eliminated. Have fun, be safe, and, most importantly, enjoy the delicious meals you make in your slow cooker!