Yes, pressure cooking tenderizes meat — and it does it fast. The steam and pressure break down tough connective tissue into gelatin, turning chewy cuts like chuck roast and brisket into fork-tender meals in a fraction of the usual time. Ever spent hours braising a pot roast, only to wonder if there’s a shortcut? You’re…
No, you don’t need to cover food with liquid in a slow cooker. The food itself releases moisture as it cooks, and the lid traps that steam so everything stays moist. In fact, most recipes need only a small amount of liquid, or sometimes none at all. We dug into this question and found that…
No, you generally don’t need to add water when slow cooking chicken. The chicken releases plenty of its own natural juices as it cooks, which keeps it moist and tender all on its own. Adding water can actually dilute the flavor and leave you with bland, watery results. There are a few exceptions, though. If…
No, you don’t need oil in a rice cooker. The rice cooks perfectly with just water and rice, because the steam inside the sealed pot does all the work. Oil is optional, not required. So why do some recipes call for it? A small amount of butter or oil can add flavor and keep the…
Yes, you should rinse rice before putting it in a rice cooker. Rinsing removes excess surface starch, which helps prevent gummy, clumpy rice. It also washes away dust and debris from processing. Not all rice needs the same treatment, though. White rice benefits most from a quick rinse, while enriched rice may lose some added…
No, not all pans work on a gas cooker, but most do. The good news is that gas is the most forgiving heat source out there, so nearly every pan you own will probably work fine. The main exceptions are pans with delicate materials that can’t handle direct flame or uneven heat. Why does this…
No, you don’t need to preheat a slow cooker in most cases. You can simply add your ingredients and turn it on. The slow cooker is built to heat up gradually, so preheating is optional for most recipes. That said, there are a few exceptions. Some recipes, like chili or beef stew, turn out better…
Yes, pressure cookers need water to work safely and correctly. The steam that builds pressure comes from liquid, so without water (or broth), your food will burn and the cooker can get damaged. Most recipes call for at least 1 cup of liquid. But how much water you need depends on what you’re cooking. Pasta,…
Yes, you should clean your rice cooker after every use. Even one skipped batch can leave cooked-on starch that hardens and becomes a pain to remove later. The good news? It takes less than two minutes if you do it right away. Many experts say that skipping regular cleaning can also lead to leftover moisture,…
Yes, you can use a pressure cooker without the trivet in most cases. The trivet just keeps food out of the liquid, so if your recipe doesn’t need that, you can skip it. Many experts say it’s perfectly safe to cook without one. So when do you actually need it? We found that the trivet…