When cooking potatoes in a slow cooker, one of the first questions that comes up is whether to place the potatoes on the top or bottom. Both positions have their benefits, so it really comes down to personal preference and what you’re making. In this article, we’ll go over the pros and cons of putting potatoes on the top vs. the bottom of a slow cooker to help you decide what works best for your recipe.
Putting Potatoes on Top
Placing potatoes on top of other ingredients in the slow cooker has a few advantages:
- Potatoes cook more evenly – Sitting elevated above the liquid, the potatoes steam and cook through without sitting in moisture. This can prevent them from getting overly mushy.
- Other food flavors get absorbed – With the potatoes on top, they’ll bask in the aromas and flavors from ingredients below like meats, onions, broths, etc. This adds more depth of flavor to the potatoes.
- Prevents burning on the bottom – Dense, starchy potatoes are prone to burning and sticking to the bottom inner crock. Keeping them on top prevents this.
- Easier to check and remove done potatoes – You can open the lid and check for doneness or remove the potatoes as they finish cooking without disturbing everything else.
Overall, placing potatoes on top is ideal if you want them to turn out evenly cooked, flavorful, and not overly soft or mushy in texture.
Putting Potatoes on the Bottom
Putting potatoes on the bottom of the slow cooker crock has advantages too:
- Acts as a protective layer – Potatoes form a barrier between other ingredients and the heated crock, preventing burning.
- Distributes flavor up into the dish – Juices and flavor from the potatoes will disperse up into the layers of food for added savoriness.
- Prevents top drying out – The top of crock dishes can dry out, so the potatoes add moisture.
- Less stirring needed – Potatoes form a base layer that doesn’t need periodic stirring.
The bottom position is great if you want to flavor food with potato juices, prevent burning, or avoid excessive stirring. Just keep an eye that the potatoes don’t overcook.
General Tips for Slow Cooker Potatoes
Here are some tips that apply whether you put the potatoes on the top or bottom:
- Cut potatoes into even-sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.
- Consider parboiling potatoes briefly before adding to the slow cooker to allow them to cook through but not get mushy.
- Add potatoes later in the cooking time if making a recipe with a longer cook time.
- Place potatoes around the outer edges of the crock near the walls if possible, where cooking heat is greatest.
- When checking doneness, potatoes should be fork tender but not falling apart.
- Use medium or low heat settings to prevent overcooking.
Potato Top Slow Cooker Recipes
If you decide to place your potatoes on the top, here are some great slow cooker recipes to try out:
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Potatoes steam perfectly atop a savory pot roast and vegetables. The potatoes soak up all the delicious flavors below.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Nestle chunks of potatoes on top of hearty beef stew meat and broth. As it simmers, they’ll turn out tender while adding thickness.
Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole
Potatoes and chicken pair well together in this comforting casserole. The potatoes steam just right on top of chicken, veggies, and cream sauce.
Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes
For a potato-focused dish, scalloped potatoes steam and cook gently atop milk, cheese, and seasonings for a creamy texture.
Slow Cooker Glazed Ham
Sweet potatoes add the perfect companion to maple glazed ham in this easy recipe. They infuse with each other’s flavors.
Potato Bottom Slow Cooker Recipes
Try out these great recipes with potatoes layered on the bottom:
Slow Cooker Beef Pot Pie
Cubes of potatoes under the fillings add thickness while preventing burning in this take on classic pot pie.
Slow Cooker Chili
Potatoes under the chili provide a subtle creaminess and help protect the bottom from scorching.
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
Putting potatoes under the corned beef allows them to impart extra flavor while staying intact.
Slow Cooker Roast Pork
Pork roast stays moist when cooked atop a base of potatoes, onions, and carrots.
Slow Cooker Potato Soup
What better base for potato soup than actual potatoes? They impart maximum flavor this way.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, both putting potatoes on the top and bottom of your slow cooker can work well. It mostly depends on your specific recipe and cooking preferences. Whichever way you choose, using the right cut, size, and doneness level are key for getting the best results from your potatoes. With so many tasty options, your slow cooker can make this humble but versatile vegetable into the perfect addition to any meal!