Good morning! I live at altitude and need to cook on high. What would be the cook time, please?

Michelle
  • Posted by: Michelle
  • September 28, 2020
  • 627 views
  • 3 Comments

3 Comments

AntoniaJames July 22, 2021
At what altitude are you? I live at 5,000 feet + a bit. The general rule is to cook the dish on high for the first hour only, and then to add 1 hour of cook time for each 4,000 feet of elevation. Here in this part of Boulder County, that means an hour and a quarter of extra cooking time. Include that first hour on high in the total time calculations. Of course, mileage varies, depending on the slow cooker, the temperature of the ingredients when you start the dish, etc.

Looking at this recipe, and thinking back on the times I've cooked chicken in a slow cooker here, I recommend that you check the pot after five hours - even at this altitude - as boneless chicken recipes always seem to take less time than is called for in the recipes. (Of course, that also depends on how large the chicken thighs are, etc.)

One final tip. Here, especially, it's essential that you not lift the lid unless you absolutely must. Considerable heat and moisture are lost every time you raise the lid. You want all of that to stay in the pot until you are nearly at the end of your cooking time. ;o)
 
Michelle July 23, 2021
How funny – I'm in Boulder County, too! This is really helpful, thanks.
 
AntoniaJames July 23, 2021
Michelle, wonderful to hear you're nearby! I'm trying to figure out the best way to find other Food52 kindred spirits here in Boulder County (and Weld, Larimer, Broomfield), to organize a Food52 potluck here in Longmont. (I suggested and organized the very first Food52 potluck ever, back in January 2010 in the SF Bay Area and then hosted quite a few after that while living in the East Bay.). If you are interested, please send me a note at antoniajames @ gmail . I'm thinking about doing it sometime in September. ;o)
 
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