The next few weeks will be some of the shortest days of the year as we get closer to the Winter Solstice.

I noticed yesterday when I left work at 4:45 p.m. it was pretty much dark. According to The Weather Channel app, sunset is at 5:17 p.m.

This means when I get home, I have zero desire to cook dinner because I feel like I should be getting ready for bed.

That’s where one of my favorite kitchen appliances comes in handy: the slow cooker.

If I take a few minutes before I leave in the morning to get a meal in the slow cooker, I get to come home to the smell of dinner being done.

A slow cooker cooks food at a low temperature over a longer period of time than other cooking methods.

The pot’s heat, its lengthy cooking time and steam created by the tightly-covered lid destroy harmful bacteria, making it safe for food preparation.

As with any appliance or food preparation method, safe handling is important when using a slow cooker.

Remember these tips when using your slow cooker:

Wash your hands before and while preparing foods. Make sure your slow cooker, utensils and work area are clean before using the slow cooker.

Thaw meat or poultry in the refrigerator before putting it in the slow cooker. A lot of recipes on the Internet say to cook frozen meat in the slow cooker, but it is not safe according to food safety guidelines.

Keep perishable foods refrigerated until preparation time.

Put vegetables in the slow cooker before meat or poultry because they take longer to cook.

Only remove the lid to stir your meal or check for doneness. No problem for me as I’m not even home when it is cooking.

Cook foods at the proper settings according to the instructions of your recipe. If you are going to be gone all day, it is safe to cook foods on the low setting for the entire time.

Food will remain safe for consumption in the slow cooker as long as it is working.

If a power outage occurs and you are not at home, throw the food away, even if it appears done. If you are home and the power goes out, finish cooking the food in the slow cooker by some other method that does not require electricity such as a gas stove or an outdoor grill.

For more information on food preparation and safety, contact the Clark County Extension office.

I’ve also included a few recipes from North Dakota State University Extension Service. Contact the office if you would like other recipe suggestions.

Shonda Johnston is the Clark County Extension agent for family and consumer sciences. She can be reached at 859-744-4682 or by email at shonda.johnston@uky.edu.