HELOISE Either term may apply to the same appliance

Dear Heloise: What is the difference, if any, between a slow cooker and a pot with a crock insert? J.L., Highland, Ind.
Good question! Most of the time, people use either of these terms for the same appliance: a cooker (some with a removable crockery container) that usually has low and high heat settings -- although there are programmable models on the market with a "warm" setting. They are great for cheaper or tougher cuts of meat, since after hours of cooking, they are tenderized and can be delicious.
Keep in mind that if you have an older model that cooks from the bottom, it might take a little longer to cook things than a newer model that has the heating element wrapped around the crock. You can call the manufacturer of your crock if you have questions, or visit its Web site.
Did you know that if you lift the lid from a slow cooker, you will need to add up to 20 additional cooking minutes? So, no peeking! And several hours of cooking only costs a few cents in electricity!
Of course, there are cookbooks available, and there are many recipes you can access free on the Web. So, give one a try and let me know what you think. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When cutting and chilling celery, use your potato peeler to scrape back the outside to eliminate stringing celery.
Also, use your potato peeler on zucchini, cucumbers and apples. It works. Mrs. Petite Lusteg, Escondido, Calif.
Dear Heloise: Most women fall into my category: one who can cook, would rather not, but must bend to the wishes of her family and cook, cook, cook.
The following are hints I have discovered:
UCooked canned biscuits can be frozen. To reheat, simply warm them in the microwave in a paper towel after sprinkling slightly with water.
UA whole pound of sausage can be cooked and frozen. Later, you can take the number of pieces needed from a freezer-safe bag and heat them about 30 seconds in the microwave. Sure saves on waste for a small family.
UThat rather expensive nonstick cookie foil can be lightly folded, placed in a freezer bag and used again and again (also works with regular aluminum foil).
USteel wool can be kept indefinitely by placing it in a small freezer bag and putting the bag in the freezer. (If left alone, it usually rusts and leaves a mark on the counter.)
The first two hints have been of great use to me, since my husband is now undergoing chemotherapy, and cooking "from scratch" is often impossible due to numerous doctor appointments. J.P., Camden, S.C.
Dear Readers: Are your appliance cords a tangled mess? An easy way to keep them neat is to fold them into even lengths and slip them into an empty toilet-paper or paper-towel cardboard roll. Heloise
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
King Features Syndicate