A Kitchen Hero: The Slow Cooker Through the Ages
- dhporterbooks
- Jan 11
- 4 min read
Why did the crock pot fail culinary school?
Because he was a slow cooker!
January is National Slow Cooker Month, and so, thinking about crock pots got me to thinking . . .
A Kitchen Hero
One of my most vivid Christmas memories as a child was of my Mother receiving a crock pot for Christmas. Now, before you naysayers do your naysaying and ask quietly or even out loud why did she get such a Christmas gift - she had asked for that crock pot. This was, after all, the 70s. Children got five inexpensive gifts at Christmas time and maybe some candy in their stockings. Our best vacations were camping on weekends and in the summer or playing in the back yard after school and on weekends.
And Mom, while a great cook, never fell in love with being in the kitchen. So to her, that crock pot, despite its clunkiness and all-in-one-piece style (the ability to pull the crock from the base for cleaning did not come about for another two decades or so) meant freedom from the kitchen whether it was in the house or in the camper on the weekend.
Rival's 70s era slow cooker. This was the same model my Mom had and loved for years!
And honestly, I love my slow cooker for the same reasons today, although I do love to cook when I have the time. Nonetheless, Mom and I were/are no different from cooks in generations and centuries before us when it comes to freeing up time from cooking. Sometimes, you just don't want to be . . . gasp . . . in the kitchen!
Ancient Origins
The slow cooker, a staple in many modern kitchens, boasts a history far more ancient than its electric origins. For centuries, the concept of slow cooking – gently simmering food over extended periods of time – was a cornerstone of culinary practice. In medieval times, resourceful cooks utilized cast-iron pots suspended or nestled above the glowing embers and coals in fireplaces, allowing stews, porridges and more to slowly meld their flavors for hours. Such practices continued into the American colonial era and beyond with the tradition of "bean pots" left to cook overnight in the cooling ashes of a hearth. The magic, of course, regardless of the historical era, was in the low but consistent heat, which tenderized tough cuts of meat and allowed hardy vegetables to break down into rich, comforting meals while the familly went about their daily tasks.
Modernizing the Kitchen Hero
The true innovation of slow cooking arrived in the 20th century with electricity. In 1936, Irving Naxon, inspired by his mother's bean pot, patented a device he called the Naxon Beanery. This early electric slow cooker paved the way for Rival's iconic Crock Pot, introduced in the early 1970 by Rival Manufacturing. Its affordability, convenience, and ability to cook meals for modern families revolutionized home cooking, bringing the ancient art of slow simmering into the modern age.
By the time I married in the early 90s, removable, dishwasher-safe crocks became a game-changer by simplifying cleanup. Thus, the slow cooker's place in modern kitchens was cemented. Today, slow cookers offer a myriad of perks: they are incredibly energy-efficient, perfect for preparing meals with minimal supervision, excellent at tenderizing inexpensive cuts of meat, and most offer a variety of settings beyond the on/off switch and low/high heat cooking. From hearty chilis and comforting pot roasts to effortless desserts and overnight oats, the slow cooker continues its simmering saga, proving itself an indispensable tool for delicious, fuss-free cooking.
An Offer Your Can't Refuse!
Have you neglected your slow cooker lately? Are you in need of recipes that you can count on to be nourishing and delicious? National Slow Cooker Month is a great time to bring out your kitchen hero or just try a few new recipes!
Sign up for my newsletter A Petticoat & A Pen, and I will gift you with a FREE ebook High 5 to the Slow Cooker! In this zippy little book I share five of my favorite slow cooker recipes! Now, I really do cook these on a regular basis. These are not plucked from AI or a website somewhere. They are easy to prepare and taste awesome (which is why I cook them so much)! They cook while you go about your life, and leftovers freeze well and taste just as good as when fresh!
And less time in the kitchen means more time for reading, writing or whatever makes you happy!
Make at least one of my recipes, then drop me an email and let me know what you think at donnahechlerporterbooks@gmail.com!
About Donna
Donna Hechler Porter has always had stories in her head. When they were not swirling and gnawing, she had her head in a history book - both fiction and non-fiction. Now, she puts her love of old things, including her genealogy, to good use by writing both genealogy books and novels. She has published five historical novels, several of which have won awards, four genealogy books on her family history, and several smallish books including a book on the 1778 Big Siege of Fort Boonesborough and a book with tips and tricks for bringing history to life for young people. A graduate of Texas A & M University, she currently teaches middle school English and literature at a small private school east of Houston and runs a private tutoring business. She stops for all garage sales and to collect treasures from the side of the road. She dreams of life in a log cabin in the woods, even as she is addicted to antique and thrift shopping.
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"A Petticot & A Pen"
Sign up for Donna's newsletter "A Petticoat & A Pen" by clicking on the link below or scrolling back to the top of the page and clicking the link. You will get the first updates on my latest projects, tips for your own writing journey, insights into my writing world, and more! Best of all, a FREE gift is waiting for you at the other end!
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