About Tina Addair Expertise I can answer general questions on virtually any cooking related subject. I have reliable knowledge on cooking for large groups, cooking methods and techniques, ingredients, recipes and safety issues. My personal favorites are meat, seafood, poultry, and desserts, but enjoy everything. I do not have extensive knowledge about world cuisine, but can answer general questions relating to this subject.
Experience I have been actively cooking and studying the subject on my own for about 15 years. I worked as both a line and banquet chef for 4 years, and have trained as a pastry chef.
Awards and Honors I received a Customer Satisfaction Award from the hotel I worked at for being personally recognized by patrons for preparing outstanding meals.
Question I work and decided to make some spaghetti sauce in the crock pot when I went home for lunch. I thawed out the meat in the microwave and put the rest of the ingredients into the crock pot. I ran out of time to brown the meat so I just put it in the crock pot raw with all the other ingredients. It is cooking on low setting and now I am at work thinking about how maybe I shouldn't have done that... will the meat still cook or is my sauce ruined? Will we get sick if we eat it? If so is there a way to save it?
Answer Hi Adria! Yes, the meat will cook (there is no problem with putting meat into a crockpot from a raw state as far as cooking, as long as you cook it long enough), and no it won't make you sick. However, unless you used a ground beef with a very low fat content (i.e. extra lean or sirloin), you are probably going to have a rather oily spaghetti sauce. The only solution to this is to allow the sauce to cool. The fat will rise to the top and then you can skim it off. Then just rewarm your sauce. Good luck!
