Cooking whole foods are best for health as they provide essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that our bodies need to function properly. And it’s even healthier when these meals are slow-cooked in an oven. If you’ve been wondering how to slow-cook whole foods in an oven, this simple guide will walk you through the process.
Slow-cooking whole foods in an oven is more cost-effective than buying processed options since you are not paying for the additional expenses of packaging and preservatives that come with pre-packaged meals. Additionally, when you cook whole foods from scratch, you can control what goes into your food and make sure it’s as fresh and healthy as possible. Slow oven cooking takes longer than other methods, but it helps to save money while providing a nutritious meal.
Tips to Slow Cook Whole Foods in an Oven Easily
My beloved Nana, with her many years of cooking expertise, has found some of the most efficient techniques for slow-cooking whole foods in an oven. She has made it so simple that anyone can effortlessly and quickly prepare a delicious meal, even aspiring cooks like me.
She has some fantastic tips when it comes to slow-cooking whole foods in an oven.
Follow a Meal Plan
Finding the right ingredients for a dish can be one of the most challenging tasks when cooking. Searching through cabinets and drawers in order to locate all of the necessary items can take up a great deal of time. Even after finding them, I have to decide which will work best for my recipe. It’s one of my habits that my Nana hates when visiting us.
She would always persistently urge me to adopt a meal plan to prepare meals more effectively, and I am truly grateful for this. Her constant nagging was of great help to me, as it enabled me to become proficient in cooking by following the instructions of a meal plan.
Don’t Forget to Preheat the Oven
When slow-cooking whole foods in an oven, Nana recommends preheating the oven. This step is essential to ensure even heat distribution throughout the food, resulting in an optimal cooking experience. Preheating the oven helps to ensure that you will have delicious and well-cooked food when slow cooking in your oven.
Set the Right Temperature
Setting the oven temperature correctly according to the recipe instructions is another thing that Nana emphasized when teaching me how to slow-cook whole foods in an oven. Incorrectly setting the oven temperature can have disastrous results when slow-cooking whole foods. It can result in uneven and burnt dishes. So, it’s essential to set the heat correctly.
For example, if you’re slow-cooking meals, you should set the temperature to its lowest setting. Slow cooking on low heat allows for all of the flavors to infuse into the dish, giving it a richer taste. Therefore, when considering how to cook your meal slowly and deliciously, always make sure to adjust the temperature accordingly.
Use the Right Cookware
Nana said that it’s essential to choose the right pan or dish that fits snugly over the food for optimal flavor and texture when slow-cooking whole foods. This will enable proper moisture and heat to be evenly spread throughout all of the ingredients, resulting in an even more mouthwatering meal. By selecting perfectly fitting cookware, you can ensure optimal distribution of liquid and heat for a delicious outcome.
This is important because one time when I was cooking a whole chicken in a large pot, which did not offer the result I wanted. Unhappily, my culinary efforts yielded a different outcome and left me disappointed.
So, it is absolutely essential to use cookware that fits properly over the food while cooking. Having the right size of cookware can also save you time in the kitchen since it reduces the amount of time needed for pre-cooking preparation.
Cook Big Batch
When cooking whole foods, Nana always emphasizes to me the importance of preparing large amounts that can be enjoyed for multiple meals. This way, I’m able to save time, money, and energy as opposed to cooking something new every day.
Favorite Whole Foods Slow Cooked Oven Meals
With our increasingly busy lifestyles, slow-cooking whole foods in an oven can be a real lifesaver. Sure, it’s easy to just order fast food, but with the health of our bodies and minds in mind, it’s important to take the time to prepare meals that contain nutritious whole foods. So here are some of my favorite meals that I like to make using the slow-cooked oven method – they’re delicious and sure to fill your belly with the nutrients it needs.
Garlic Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables
Slow Cooked Whole Chicken and Vegetables is a hearty, scrumptious one-pot meal that will tantalize your taste buds. You can cook this dish with whole chicken, potatoes, carrots, garlic, and an optional balsamic sauce to add flavor. The result of this slow cooking process yields tender, succulent chicken and flavorful vegetables that are packed with nutrients. Making this wholesome meal is incredibly simple and time efficient.
Slow cooked Barbecue Ribs
The succulent fall-off-the-bone texture of slow-cooked barbecue ribs is absolutely one of the most delectable dishes that must be cooked. The slow cooking process gives these tender ribs a flavorful, juicy, and delicious taste that cannot be compared to any other food item. This mouthwatering dish is the perfect combination of savory spices and smoky aromas – truly an unforgettable experience for anyone who has had the pleasure!
Butternut Squash Stew
One of the most beloved whole foods slow-cooked meals is a savory and flavorful Butternut Squash Stew, thoughtfully spiced with fragrant warm curry spices and a hint of sweet cinnamon. This stew truly embodies comfort food, as the combination of flavors creates an inviting warmth that will satisfy the heartiest appetite.
Slow Cooked Lamb Korma Curry
Lamb Curry is also another favorite of mine to slow cook in the oven. The flavors develop and intensify over time, creating an incredibly flavorful and aromatic dish that is sure to please. It’s a classic comfort food that I find myself returning to time and again! Cooked slowly over low heat, this delectable curry is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! Serve it over steamed basmati rice or alongside naan bread for an amazing dining experience.
Paleo Turkey Chili
Making slow-cooked paleo turkey chili is one of my most beloved comfort foods, and it’s not only gluten-free but also dairy free! I find great pleasure in this dish’s wonderful flavor and texture, as it has an incredibly satisfying taste. It warms me up almost instantly, and I can’t seem to get enough of it. It is truly a culinary masterpiece that will tantalize your taste buds with its heavenly flavors.
