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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Slow Cooker History

Crock-pots… almost everyone has one, but do they use them? Many just stay in the cupboard, completely underused. Slow cooking has been used for hundreds of years to get the most out of food, but it used to be a lot more work than it is today.

Ancient History

Slow cooking has been around ever since people figured out how to make an iron pot. One could be hung over a fire for many hours while food simmered in it, or a smaller one could be filled with ingredients and buried in the coals to cook. People have long known the benefits of slow cooking their food. The obvious detriment to these methods was the attention it took tending the fire all day and stirring the contents of the pots.

Meats cooked slowly are tenderized because the low heat softens the fibers. It also melts the natural collagen found within the meat, creating a gelatin-rich, delicious meal chock full of goodness. Fibrous vegetables like parsnips, turnips, and rutabagas also benefit from slow cooking. Dried crops like beans and lentils are slow cooked to create delicious, hearty meals.

The Crock Pot

In the’50s, Naxon Utilities Corporation of Chicago created the first slow cooker. It was called the Beanery All Purpose Cooker, and it was designed to help people cook baked beans. It was basically a ceramic pot that fit inside a metal pan with heating elements around the inside. This kept the heat even all around the food, but kept it out of direct contact.

Rival purchased Naxon in’70. The Beanery was renamed the Crock Pot and marketed to the many women who were leaving the home to go to work every day. Crock Pots helped many women feed their families every night. It made their lives easier knowing that a hot meal was waiting when they got home.

As the years have progressed, so has the Crock Pot. Now they feature removable ceramic pots for easier cleaning and storage of leftovers. The old ones were a single piece, making cleaning difficult due to the attached electrical cord. The new ceramic liners are even dishwasher safe, making them even more convenient for busy families. Many of the newer slow cookers also feature a warming setting as well as Low and High. Some are electronic and will automatically switch to warm when the food is done.

In the old days, women used slow cooking to make many different foods. Today, crock-pots are even more convenient. You can make roasts, stews, beans and all sorts of tasty meals in your slow cooker, even some more complicated dishes including lasagna, pulled pork, and seafood chowders. You can even cook homemade chicken noodle soup in a crock pot very easily. Almost anything can be made in a crock-pot.

You can also emulate your ancestors and bake breads by slow cooking. The more you use your crock-pot, the more creative you will get. You may even try desserts and dips if you get adventurous.

Miso soup is a staple in the Japanese diet. This nutritious soup is made of soybean paste and a special broth called dashi. It is simple to make. It is often served in Japan as part of breakfast. While this may take a little getting used to in America, this soup is delicious and can be eaten any time.