Crock-pot® is the trademarked name for the first electric slow cooker, an appliance that revolutionized the way people cooked in the early 1970s. Slow cooking has spawned a slew of new recipes, including spaghetti and spaghetti sauce. Crock-pot® spaghetti sauce is simply spaghetti sauce cooked in a slow cooker such as a Crock-pot®.
One of the benefits of using a Crock-pot® to make spaghetti sauce is the cooking method provided by the slow cooker. The flavors of herbs and spices, such as basil, oregano, and peppers, become more infused due to the longer cooking time in a Crock-pot® spaghetti sauce, as opposed to a stove-top pan. Slow cookers can improve the flavor and texture of sauces when compared to stovetop cooking.
A simple internet search for Crock-pot® spaghetti sauce will yield a plethora of results to sort through, but home cooks can also check out the official Rival Crock-pot® website or cookbook for recipe ideas. There are a few things to consider before making spaghetti sauce, but another benefit of Crock-pot® spaghetti sauce is the option to cook the pasta separately or with it.
Cooking time is something to think about before making Crock-pot® spaghetti sauce. The majority of recipes will require six to ten hours of cooking time. As a result, a hastily prepared meal is not suitable for slow cooking. Consider the size of the cooker as well. Crock-pot® capacities typically range from three quarts (96 ounces) to seven quarts (224 ounces). Cooking in the Crock-pot® may not be suitable for feeding groups of more than ten people.
It’s best to leave the lid on when using a Crock-pot® to cook food. Lifting the lid frequently allows heat and moisture to escape, lengthening the cooking time inadvertently. Remove the lid only if the recipe specifies stirring or adding ingredients. In most cases, stirring or adding ingredients to spaghetti sauce is unnecessary unless the noodles are incorporated for a one-pot spaghetti or pasta dinner.
Crock-pot® spaghetti sauce, whether made from scratch or from a recipe you’ve found, can be a delicious culinary experience. Not only can the cook make the sauce while escaping the kitchen for the day, but the aroma of the sauce is also comforting, especially on cold winter days. Many recipes call for only a few ingredients, while others call for more complex flavor combinations, but all can be tweaked to suit individual tastes. To create new flavors, try experimenting with different meats, such as ground sausage, turkey, or pork, as well as spices and seasonings.