1    Set of instructions
Breads & Cakes
    There are a few tricks to remember when “baking” in one of these pots.
 First, turn the control to HIGH (or to the setting which is equivalent to
 the HIGH used in the recipes).  The LOW setting is too low to give breads
 and cakes the texture you expect.
    With breads, remember to cover the container with a lid or foil. Tie the
 lid or foil onto the container and place the container on a meal rack or
 trivet inside the pot.  If you don’t have a metal rack or trivet to fit
 your slow cooker, crumple foil and place it in the bottom of the pot to
 support the baking container.  Pour 2 cups of hot water around the
 container to provide steam for cooking the bread.
    When using a deep fryer type of slow cooker, check frequently to make
 sure the water hasn’t evaporated.  Add more water if needed.
    In general, it is not a good idea to remove the lid or foil from the
 bread container during the first 2 hours of cooking.  After that, check the
 bread by inserting a toothpick in the mixture.  If the toothpick comes out
 clean, the bread is done.
    When using a standard cake mix, the procedure is slightly different.
 Cakes are “baked” in a pan set directly on the bottom of the slow cooker,
 similar to the way you would do it in an oven.
    It is not necessary to use a trivet or water.  Instead of covering the
 uncooked cake mixture with foil or a lid, cover the top with four or five
 layers of paper towels.  Because there is more moisture in a slow cooker
 than in an oven, it is necessary to compensate for this with the paper
 towels to help absorb the moist top of the cake mix. Also, leave the lid of
 your slow cooker slightly open to let extra moisture escape.
    The type and kind of container to use for breads and cakes will depend
 on the size of your pot. Souffle dishes and springform pans also work, when
 they fit in the pot.
                 
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