Cooking Guide: How Long to Cook Frozen Meatballs in Crockpot on High
The slow cooker brings many conveniences to life. However, when frozen meatballs are put in and cooked on high heat, how long it takes for them to be cooked becomes a life detail that needs to be considered.
How long do you cook frozen meatballs on high in a crockpot?
Frozen meatballs cooked on high heat in a crockpot take 2.5 to 3 hours to be fully cooked.
First, put the frozen meatballs into the crockpot. Then pour in your favorite sauce or other liquid. Make sure the meatballs are evenly covered, otherwise, they will easily dry out. The internal temperature of the meatballs must reach 165°F (that is, 74°C) to be considered completely cooked.
For better results, don't open the lid frequently during the cooking process. Once opened, the heat will escape, and the cooking time will be lengthened. If you plan to add vegetables, it is best to add them in the last hour to avoid overcooking the vegetables. When the meatballs are cooked and softened, they are ready to eat.
Is 4 hours on high the same as 6 hours on low?
From the final effect, these two cooking methods are indeed not the same. Meatballs cooked for 4 hours on high heat will be relatively firm, with more soup being reduced. The taste is a bit drier. Meatballs cooked for 6 hours on low heat are softer and juicier, and the soup will also be better preserved.
Which cooking method to choose mainly depends on personal preference. If you want a smoother texture for the meatballs, it is recommended to simmer slowly on low heat. If you are in a hurry, you can also cook the meatballs on high heat, but the taste will be a bit worse.
Temperature has a great impact on ingredients. High heat easily makes the surface of the meatballs a bit overcooked, but low heat can make the meat quality more uniform. For making strong-flavored dishes like braised or curry, slow cooking on low heat makes it easier for the flavors to penetrate.
How to keep meatballs from drying out in the crockpot?
Add enough soup: This is the most basic method. Let the soup cover the meatballs by 2 to 3 centimeters. In this way, even if there is water evaporation during stewing, the meatballs will not be exposed.
Stew on low heat: It is better to choose low heat to stew meatballs. In this way, the meatballs are not easily contracted and hardened.
Add starchy ingredients: Adding some starchy ingredients like potatoes, carrots or white radishes to the soup is quite useful. They can make the soup thicker and thus reduce water evaporation.
Add ingredients with high oil content: You can add ingredients with high oil content such as pork belly or chicken thighs.
Open the lid less: Try not to open the lid frequently during stewing. Each time the lid is opened, a lot of water and temperature will be lost.
Add soup in time: If you find that the soup has become less, add warm stock or clear water. Don't add cold water, otherwise it will affect the stewing progress.
Choose the right pot and cover with plastic wrap: It is recommended to choose a pot of appropriate size. If the pot is too large, the water will evaporate faster. You can also cover the part where the lid and the pot body contact with plastic wrap to reduce water loss.
Should I stir frozen meatballs while cooking in the crockpot?
There is no need to stir frozen meatballs frequently. Generally, turning them over once every 1 to 2 hours is enough. The most important thing is to wait until the meatballs are completely thawed before making the first turn, which takes about 30 to 40 minutes. This can avoid the meatballs from breaking.
When stirring, it is recommended to gently turn the meatballs on the lower layer to the upper layer with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula. The movement should be gentle. If there is enough soup and the meatballs are evenly distributed, in fact, there is no problem at all without stirring, because slow cooking allows the ingredients to be naturally cooked thoroughly in a mild environment.
In order to make the meatballs heat more evenly, you can pay attention to the placement when putting them in. Try not to pile them up. The soup should cover the meatballs. In this way, even without stirring, each meatball can be fully heated.
How do I know when frozen meatballs are done in the crockpot?
Judgment with chopsticks: The simplest way is to insert chopsticks into the center of the meatball. If it can be inserted easily and there is no pink raw meat visible, it means it is cooked.
Judgment by cooking steps and time: When cooking frozen meatballs in a slow cooker, first select high heat and cook for 2 hours, then turn to low heat and continue stewing. Doing this can quickly thaw the meatballs and reach a safe eating temperature while keeping the meat tender and juicy. After following these steps, it is basically cooked.
Check after simmering: If you want the meatballs to be more flavorful, after confirming that it is completely cooked, turn off the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes. At this time, the meatballs will continue to absorb the flavor of the soup and the taste will be better. However, before eating, it is best to cut open a larger meatball to see if the center is completely cooked.
What should I do if the frozen meatballs are still cold in the center after cooking in the crockpot?
This situation is generally caused by setting the temperature too low at the beginning or not having a long enough cooking time. Simply cook on high heat for another 1 to 2 hours to ensure that the meatballs are completely heated.
Next time when cooking frozen meatballs, you can soak them in warm water for 10 minutes for pre-thawing. This can shorten the overall cooking time. And start by cooking on high heat for 2 hours to quickly raise the temperature of the meatballs to the core, and then turn to low heat for slow cooking.
