Perfect pasta can be made using your crock pot. With a few tips, you will get delicious pasta every time. There are many different ways to make pasta with crock pot recipes. It all depends on what recipe you are making.
Cooking Pasta as a Separate Step
In some crock pot recipes, you will see them recommend preparing your pasta as directed on the package. Once it is done, you can add it to the crock pot or you can serve your meal on top of the noodles. This approach works best with meats and sauces, as well as recipes like stroganoff.
Other recipes may require that the pasta be partially cooked until it is just tender. The pasta is then added to the crock pot for the last half hour to cook with the rest of the ingredients. This approach works well with chicken Alfredo, casseroles, some soups and other dishes. The noodles will finish their cooking in the crock pot and soak up some of the flavors while they are at it.
Making the pasta separately is more work than just using the crock pot. However, taking the time to boil your water and cook the pasta just right gives you perfect noodles when you need them. This technique is not appropriate for all recipes, however.
Cooking Pasta in the Crock Pot
Some recipes are written for uncooked pasta. These recipes are less work for you in the long run, though you will still need to add the pasta towards the end in most recipes. You could use this technique if you were making Chicken noodle soup, minestrone or ramen. For normal pasta, you will want to add it into the crock pot between 30 to 60 minutes before serving. If you are making ramen, 10 to 15 minutes is sufficient to cook the noodles on the high setting.
Finally, there are some recipes that tell you to put the pasta in right at the start. Lasagna is one crock pot dish that must have the noodles put in immediately. Macaroni and cheese is another. If you make this dish, do not expect to leave it cooking all day, however. Most mac and cheese recipes for the crock pot are done in 90 minutes to 2 hours, tops. Stuffed pasta shells and baked ziti are other pasta dishes for the crock pot that must have the pasta added at the beginning. Watch the clock when making this type of dish so your noodles do not get overdone. It will be mushy and shapeless if it cooks too long.
Pasta does just fine in the crock pot. All you need to do for success is to use the right approach for each recipe. Pasta is more delicate than something like beans, so keep an eye on the cooker until you know how the recipe will work. Sometimes it may take a few times to get it right.
Before you know it, you will be turning out delicious pasta meals for your family using your crock pot. Comfort food never tasted so good, or was so easy to make. - 31875
Cooking Pasta as a Separate Step
In some crock pot recipes, you will see them recommend preparing your pasta as directed on the package. Once it is done, you can add it to the crock pot or you can serve your meal on top of the noodles. This approach works best with meats and sauces, as well as recipes like stroganoff.
Other recipes may require that the pasta be partially cooked until it is just tender. The pasta is then added to the crock pot for the last half hour to cook with the rest of the ingredients. This approach works well with chicken Alfredo, casseroles, some soups and other dishes. The noodles will finish their cooking in the crock pot and soak up some of the flavors while they are at it.
Making the pasta separately is more work than just using the crock pot. However, taking the time to boil your water and cook the pasta just right gives you perfect noodles when you need them. This technique is not appropriate for all recipes, however.
Cooking Pasta in the Crock Pot
Some recipes are written for uncooked pasta. These recipes are less work for you in the long run, though you will still need to add the pasta towards the end in most recipes. You could use this technique if you were making Chicken noodle soup, minestrone or ramen. For normal pasta, you will want to add it into the crock pot between 30 to 60 minutes before serving. If you are making ramen, 10 to 15 minutes is sufficient to cook the noodles on the high setting.
Finally, there are some recipes that tell you to put the pasta in right at the start. Lasagna is one crock pot dish that must have the noodles put in immediately. Macaroni and cheese is another. If you make this dish, do not expect to leave it cooking all day, however. Most mac and cheese recipes for the crock pot are done in 90 minutes to 2 hours, tops. Stuffed pasta shells and baked ziti are other pasta dishes for the crock pot that must have the pasta added at the beginning. Watch the clock when making this type of dish so your noodles do not get overdone. It will be mushy and shapeless if it cooks too long.
Pasta does just fine in the crock pot. All you need to do for success is to use the right approach for each recipe. Pasta is more delicate than something like beans, so keep an eye on the cooker until you know how the recipe will work. Sometimes it may take a few times to get it right.
Before you know it, you will be turning out delicious pasta meals for your family using your crock pot. Comfort food never tasted so good, or was so easy to make. - 31875
About the Author:
Chicken soup can be eaten as a meal or a snack. It is a terrific choice when someone is feeling sick. Studies show it can help people get well from colds and flu. As a snack, it is a great way to fill up kids after school yet still leave them hungry enough at dinner time.
