Crock-Pot cooking is making a comeback. Debuting in the 1970s with the slogan, “Cooks all day while the cook’s away,” the slow cooker revolutionized the way Americans thought about dinner. A godsend to women returning to the workforce, this low-wattage appliance helped moms across the nation deliver hot, nutritious meals to their families without heating up the kitchen. Even better, it helped budget-conscious citizens save time, energy and money.
If you haven’t used your Crock-Pot in awhile, those are great reasons to dust off your slow cooker and return it to its rightful place on your kitchen counter. In doing so, you’ll join a trend sweeping the nation through blogs, magazines and social networking sites. Plug in to this growing conversation, and you’ll discover three great reasons to use your slow cooker this holiday season.
1. The Crock-Pot saves you time. Simply chop all your ingredients the night before, toss them in the crockpot that morning, then return hours later to discover a hot, ready-to-serve meal. Some bloggers prepare their ingredients weeks ahead, freezing all the spices, veggies and meats in gallon freezer bags. They even write the food-prep steps on the bag so they don’t waste time looking up the recipe. Just dump and go.
I don’t know about you, but with everything on my to-do list this holiday season, the last thing I want to worry about is preparing a home-cooked meal at the end of an exhausting day. Bonus tip: Because you use one pot, clean up is a cinch! You can actually spend time with your holiday guests instead of scrubbing pots and pans in the kitchen.
2. The Crock-Pot saves you money. First, you won’t be tempted to dine out as much, knowing you have a warm, nutritious meal waiting for you at home. Second, you can buy cheaper cuts of meat, since the Crock-Pot cooks with an even, moist heat for hours, delivering a tender, juicy meal every time. Third, a typical slow cooker costs as much to run as a single light bulb, saving a ton of energy as compared to power-hungry ovens.
3. Crock-Pots keep you healthy. Slow cookers bring out the natural flavors in your ingredients, so you can add less sodium and sugar and still get great taste. Most Crock-Pot recipes are loaded with veggies, too. Compare that to the calorie and fat content of your typical fast-food menu!
Whether you’re new to Crock-Pot cooking—or a seasoned, slow-cooker pro—you won’t regret saving time, money and energy with your Crock-Pot this holiday season.
Note: For more helpful hints on Crock-Pot cooking, check out Crockin’ Girls and Get Crocked.