Health Tip: Operate a Slow Cooker Safely

A slow cooker is a handy tool that can cook all day long so you can enjoy a healthy meal without a lot of preparation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service offers this slow-cooker safety advice:

• Make sure the cooker, countertops, utensils and your hands are clean before you cook.
• Make sure all meat or poultry is properly thawed before adding to the cooker.
• Do not overcrowd the cooker by adding too much food.
• Keep the lid in place while food is cooking.