How to Fix Watery Slow Cooker Meals
When talking about slow cookers, one thing I often hear is being dissatisfied with the consistency of slow cooker meals. I understand it completely but have learned a few tips and tricks to get my desired consistency.
If your meal looks watery, consider what you want the consistency to look like and add a thickener. A slurry is the best technique for thickening liquids. But what is a slurry?
A slurry is a mixture of a liquid and a starch, such as cornstarch or flour, used to thicken soups, sauces, and gravies. To make a slurry, you first need to mix the starch with a small amount of cold liquid, such as water or broth, until it forms a smooth paste. Then, you can gradually add the slurry to the hot liquid that you want to thicken, stirring constantly. The slurry will help to thicken the liquid as it cooks, creating a smooth and velvety consistency
Here is an example of how to make a slurry:
- In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until it forms a smooth paste.
- In a saucepan, heat 1 cup of broth or other liquid until it is hot but not boiling.
- Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the hot broth, stirring constantly.
- Cook the mixture, stirring constantly until it reaches the desired thickness.
Remember to add the slurry gradually and stir constantly to prevent lumps from forming. You can adjust the amount of slurry that you use depending on how thick you want the final dish to be.
Here are some natural thickeners:
1. Flour
2. Cornstarch
3. Oats
4. Arrowroot
5. Psyllium husk
6. Tapioca
7. Coconut flour
8. Xanthan gum
9. Seeds (chia, flax)
10. Gelatin
Adding a thickener will help a lot for a slow cooker. If you are using an InstantPot, you can also set it to sauté and thicken the food by having it boil off some liquid, reducing it until you get your desired thickness.