Nothing beats the scorching summer heat with a crunchy potato snack on the table. How much more if you are enjoying binge-watching Netflix movies with your friends on your couch.
Enjoying the day after having a busy schedule is worthwhile if you have some kind of potato snack in your corner.
There are lots of potato snack meals you can make, and you should give yourself a shot at making one.
Preparing a potato snack for your friends or for yourself is not that hard and complicated because all you got to do is to peel them off and fry them in the pan.
However, having a slow cooker will ease up the process and make potatoes crispier than ever. Today, we will learn more about the best craving tips for a crunch potato snack that you haven’t ever heard of.
Can you bake potatoes in a slow cooker?
Potatoes are one of the best side dish ingredients that can be partnered with any main course meal. It can boost your appetite and make the munch more worthwhile.
Having it as a snack will also fulfill your cravings, and we all know that potato fries are the most common snack meals that we can’t resist.
If we are talking about how slow cookers can make someone’s day, then it is best to know that they can cook almost anything, how much more if you have baking needs.
Hence, the answer is yes! You can baking potato in a slow cooker. Using a slow cooker will not only make it more convenient but can also give a more flavorful and crispy finish.
How long to bake potatoes in a slow cooker?
Baking potatoes in a slow cooker is a piece of cake, and it doesn’t take a lot of effort for them to get tender. That is because the slow cooker will handle everything for you.
All you need is to wait for it to bake the potato to make it tender for it to be eaten. In most cases, you can bake potatoes for 4 to 5 hours if you cook them on a high setting or 7 to 8 hours if you decide to cook them on a low setting.
Having that said, utilizing a slow cooker will give you the perks of preparing a full snack in advance when you are hosting a party at home.
How many baked potato servings can a 3 qt slow cooker prepare?
Having the best 3 quarts slow cooker will serve you at least four potato servings that are good for your family or a small circle of friends.
It bakes enough potato snacks that will suit your taste when watching a movie overnight with your family or with someone else.
Well, it depends on what potato recipe you will bake since it depends on how you will bake it, whether you create small snacks or a single serving potato food snack.
Do I need to wash the potatoes before throwing them inside the slow cooker?
Remember that potatoes are a root crop, meaning to say it comes from the soil. Thus you need to wash every potato thoroughly to remove the dirt.
Having them cleaned will ensure the safety of the food meal that you are going to prepare. Washing also the potatoes will also help remove excess starch, and that will reduce the carbs and calories to make it more nutritious.
When washing the potatoes, you need to use hot water for rinsing after you boil them, and afterward, use cold water before boiling.
Do I need to wrap the potatoes in tin foil before baking them inside a slow cooker?
Well, it depends on whatever potato recipe you are going to cook inside a slow cooker. But, if you want to just bake the potatoes for a crunchy snack, you need to wrap each potato in tin foil to tenderize the potato much faster.
It will also help quicken the cooking process for the potato to be cooked not only to the surface but also to the innermost part. You don’t want to have an undercooked potato on the inside since it will be hard to munch.
Can I put raw potatoes in a slow cooker?
In a regular setting and in most circumstances, potatoes can be baked well in the slow cooker, and most people worldwide can attest to that.
Even so, cooking raw potatoes in a slow cooker is referred to as the best method of making a potato meal. Adding them raw will ensure that the nutrients will be intact.
Aside from that, potatoes can also be added to make soups and even stews.
Is It better to slice the potatoes first before baking them in a slow cooker?
Yes! It is better to slice the potatoes first before baking them in a slow cooker because it will decrease the cooking time for them to be cooked thoroughly.
However, cutting them into smaller pieces will likely fall apart or be disintegrated further. Thus, if you want it to be cooked quickly, make sure that you cut them into pieces that will hold its shape much better so that it will look nicer on your plate.
More so, you can check the doneness of the potatoes by inserting a cutlery knife towards to center, and once it slides easily, that will be an indicator that it has been baked properly.
What type of potatoes can be baked in a slow cooker?
All kinds of potatoes can be cooked in the slow cooker, no matter the size or their shape. As long as it is a potato, your slow cooker will be happy to bake it for you.
Among these potatoes kinds are baby potatoes, fingerling potatoes, red potatoes, node potatoes, russet potatoes, Idaho Potatoes, yams, Yukon gold potatoes, and many more.
Technically, baking any kind of potato can be done in a slow cooker, but when it comes to baking time, the size of the potato matters.
It means that the bigger the potato you are going to bake, the longer baking time it needs.
Why are the potatoes still hard inside the slow cooker?
Before you put them in a slow cooker, potatoes are hard because of their rich starch components. The purpose of baking it in a slow cooker is to make it tender to be eaten.
Upon finishing the baking process and you still find that the potatoes are still hard inside, it means that those potatoes haven’t heated enough to eat through.
To solve these, you need to bake it again for less than two hours or until it has been cooked properly. Check for doneness by inserting a cutlery knife, and once it goes through, the inside parts are done and can be eaten accordingly.
Lastly, if you want to soften the potatoes at the start, you can chop them into smaller pieces and bake them at the bottom of the dish. Adding also water can make the potatoes more tender.
Can I bake potatoes without foil in a slow cooker?
Yes! You certainly can. Any potato recipe will work fine without having a tin foil wrapped in the potatoes that you are going to bake. Just make sure that all the potatoes are settled inside and evenly to perfectly bake the potatoes.
Why are the potatoes turned black when baking in the slow cooker?
Potatoes turning black is an indication of an overcooked dish. One moment that you overload the potatoes inside will cause it to steam more and burn.
Hence, it will turn black because of the intense temperature because of the overload. To solve this problem, you need to evenly place the potatoes inside the slow cooker and not crowd it.
Space them out a little bit so that they can have the same consistent temperature to bake it properly.
Is it worth it to bake potatoes in a slow cooker?
Baking potatoes in a slow cooker is a safe haven for most parents and chefs around the globe. Having it cooked in a slow cooker will give you the convenience of hands-free cooking.
It also uses minimal ingredients but can serve more people. Baking it in a slow cooker is perfect every time you need to have some snack when you plan to host a party or do binge-watching movies for yourself.
Are potatoes baked in a slow cooker nutritious?
As we all know, any recipe that is cooked in a slow cooker is considered nutritious because that is one of the many benefits of having a slow cooker in the kitchen.
It doesn’t reduce the nutrients of the ingredients inside because it is locked up with a cover lid. Hence, ensuring that there will be no nutrient loss upon cooking inside a slow cooker.
On the other side, potatoes are known to be high in starch content which makes them unhealthy at first; however, when baking them in a slow cooker, you will get high fiber content, antioxidants, and a good source of magnesium and potassium.
Naturally, potatoes are gluten-free and low in sodium, keep your heart beating and provide energy for the body.
What happens if I bake potatoes in a slow cooker too long?
Baking potatoes too long in a slow cooker will cause the potatoes to get mushy. If ever you make it to be baked for a longer duration in the warm setting, there will be the probability of food poisoning risks.
That’s why you need to set the cooking time properly when preparing a snack before going to work. Not only that it can cause food risk, but it will also burn the potatoes you are going to bake.
Final Words
Baking potatoes are a fun way to do using a slow cooker, and even your kids can even prepare it for you. Getting yourself a crispy and crunchy snack for the weekend can be a sort of an unwinding moment to forget all the troubles that you encounter for the whole week.
Get potatoes on your storage box and start peeling them to make potato fries or any mashed potato snack, perhaps.
Now that you learn the very aspect of baking a potato in a slow cooker give it a try at home. Give yourself a treat and enjoy watching movies with your family.
Having your cravings satisfied is one way to finish the long day.