The Crock-Pot is an electric slow cooker that replaces cast iron Dutch ovens and can maintain a constant temperature for even cooking. It originated from the Naxon Beanery multi-cooker and was reintroduced by Rival Industries in 1971. The Crock-Pot has evolved to include digital timers, temperature settings, and removable pots. Crock-Pot recipes are widely available, but cooks must ensure to add seasoning to maintain flavor during the long cooking process. They are sold in various stores and can range from $15 to $200.
A slow cooker, or Crock-Pot, is a fairly recent innovation in the cooking world. These electric ranges replace cast iron Dutch ovens, as they can cook food slowly, at lower temperatures. However, the benefit of a clay pot is that it can maintain a constant temperature for a number of hours, ensuring even cooking.
The Crock-Pot has its origins in the Naxon Beanery multi-cooker. This appliance was manufactured before 1950, but other manufacturers liked the idea of an electric slow cooker and started making lookalikes. Rival Industries bought the Naxon company in 1970 and, with it, its slow cooker. Renamed the Crock-Pot, the slow cooker was reintroduced in 1971 and hasn’t looked back.
A crock-pot consists of a pot, usually made of glazed ceramic or porcelain (hence the “crock” part), and a housing with heating elements inside. They are usually covered with a glass lid. The original Crock-Pot had pots that couldn’t be removed from the housing, along with two temperature settings: low and high. While helpful, the lack of temperature variability has sometimes caused foods to overcook and lose a great deal of flavor. The Crock-Pot caught on in large part, because women were reentering the workforce and needed a way to dine shortly after arriving home. The Crock-Pot is also famous for its ability to make cheaper, tougher cuts of tender, appetizing meat, which saves you money at the grocery store.
Some major changes have been made to the Crock-Pot since the 1970s. Many now have digital timers, which can be set for the stove to shut off or go into a “warm up” setting after a certain amount of time. The Crock-Pot also often has low, medium and high temperature settings now, allowing for more control over the cooking process. One of the best innovations was the removable cup. With the old crock pot, the cook had to wash the appliance very carefully, as no water was needed to enter the housing with the heating elements. This has made washing a pot a difficult and tedious task. A removable saucepan means the cook washes it just as he would any other saucepan, and many pans are dishwasher safe.
Crock-Pot recipes are available by the thousands on the Internet and in nearly every cookbook. However, a cook must take care to ensure that his or her concoctions have plenty of flavor during the cooking process, as 12 hours in a clay pot can strip the flavors out of many foods. Adding a little seasoning before serving will help brighten the flavors of the food.
The Crock-Pot and other slow cookers are sold everywhere that sells small appliances. They can be found in discount stores, department stores, home stores and online. Prices can range from $15 US Dollars (USD) to $200 USD, depending on the manufacturer and features.
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