5 Best Low and Slow Cookbooks You Will Enjoy
There’s nothing more comforting than a steaming hot and hearty soup or a tender fork and juicy pot roast on a cold winter evening. Cooking your food low and slow guarantees you superb-tasting dishes and meat that almost melts in your mouth. Even if you’re not a Michelin-star-rated Chef, you can still cook delicious food through low and slow cooking methods by following these highly-rated low and slow cookery books!
Why is Low and Slow cooking popular?
Although the term ‘low and slow’ cooking seems unfamiliar, you’ll be surprised to know that this cooking method has already been used for many decades. Low and slow refers to cooking food under low temperatures for long periods of time. It has become a popular cooking method among chefs and home cooks because slow cooking produces flavourful and more nutrient-dense dishes and tender and juicy meat like BBQ.
What are examples of low and slow cooking methods?
There are a lot of cooking methods out there, but not all of them are low and slow cooking methods. Some of the most popular low and slow-cooking methods include:
- Sous vide
- Smoking
- BBQ
- Braising
- Poaching
What equipment do I need for low and slow cooking?
If you’re keen on using low and slow-cooking methods to cook your dishes at home, it’s good to be informed about the kinds of equipment that you can use. As someone with years of experience as a butcher and a passion for cooking, I can tell you how to prepare for low and slow cooking; whether it’s smoking, braising, poaching, or sous vide-ing. Who knows, you already might have everything you need in your kitchen!
- Slow cookers (like the crockpot!)
- Dutch ovens
- Smokers
- Sous vide machine
- Roasting Pans
- Braising Pots
What are the benefits of using low and slow cooking methods?
Generations before us have used slow cooking, a great way to deliver sumptuous meals with tender cuts of meat. There is no way that you can compare this to the boom of fast food chains all over the world! Although low and slow cooking has been used for many years, we might be unaware of how many benefits this method has.
1 Flavours are distributed better
Because slow cooking has longer cooking times compared to other cooking methods, there’s more time for your meats to absorb the seasonings, spices, and flavors.
2 Lesser chance you’ll burn your food
Low and slow cooking methods require you only to use low temperatures, which allows you to cook your meats through and through without scorching them and your pans.
3 You get tender and juicy meats
Most of the time, the types of meat that are used in low and slow cooking are the tougher cuts of meat, such as brisket, chucks, round, etc. This long cooking time ensures that your meats will be fork-tender once they are done.
4 Great for one-pot meals
Low and slow cooking methods allow you to enjoy cooking one-pot meals that can help save you time and effort. Pop everything in the pot and let your gas stove do its magic!
5 Retains more nutrients versus high-heat cooking methods
There is a well-known misconception that slow cooking destroys nutrients instead of retaining them. The truth is actually the opposite. Slow cooking helps retain and stabilise more nutrients than its counterpart.
5 Slow Cookery Books You Will Love
Who doesn’t love a good cookbook? Home cooks and those who cook for a living enjoy cookbooks because they can get great tips, tricks, and fool-proof recipes for all kinds of dishes. There are cookbooks for almost every dish and cuisine; this includes cookbooks about low and slow cooking. We’re listing five of the most recommended low and slow cookery books you can find on the internet.
Author: Neil Rankin
Neil Rankin, chef of award-winning restaurant ‘Temper’ in London, shares his knowledge, tips, and tricks on cooking meats the best way. His years of experience in the kitchen ensure you get fool-proof methods of cooking meat to impress your friends and family.
Low & Slow Cooking
Author: Robyn Almodovar
This book is a treasure trove of incredible recipes from Robyn Almodovar, winner of Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen and owner of the Palate Party food truck that has garnered numerous awards. Flip the pages and read how Robyn helps you become a better cook in the kitchen and be the star of the next dinner party you’re going to host! From appetisers to snacks to main courses and desserts, this book has it all.
Project Smoke
Author: Steven Raichlen
Step up your BBQ game and impress your family with the help of Steven Raichlen’s cookbook. Steven Raichlen is an affluent TV host, American culinary writer, and novelist. With his list of books on grilling and BBQ, working with numerous chefs, and cooking show hosting stints, you can’t go wrong in purchasing this book to master the art of BBQ and smoking.
Vegan Slow Cooking for Two
Author: Rhyan Geiger
Low and slow cooking is not just for meat lovers! There are many vegetarian options for those who don’t want to eat meat but still want to enjoy the deep flavours of low and slow cooking! Rhyan Geiger, founder of Phoenix Vegan Dietian, a community for new vegans to make the transition to a vegan diet more fun and easier. This book includes 85 recipes that offer expert guidance and recipe tips for vegans and non-vegans who want to cook healthier and cheaper meals at home.
Low and Slow FAQ
For this method of cooking, it’s more advisable to use tougher cuts of meat like the rump, brisket, leg, shoulder, etc. The more connective tissues and ligaments, the better. The longer cooking time is enough to tenderize your meat.
The slow cooker is now becoming a stable equipment in the kitchen. It is a versatile pot where you can cook stews, soups, roasts, and even bake bread.
Yes, definitely! A seasoned and experienced butcher can recommend to you the best cuts of meat and the best methods to cook them. At The Meat Inn Place, you get great advice from our local butchers, from types of meat, the best cuts, and even recipe suggestions!
