Between balancing working from home and spending time with the family, slow cookers offer an easy solution for spending less time in the kitchen cooking meals and more time creating memories with loved ones.
What is the difference between a crock pot and a slow cooker?
Both slow cookers and crock-pots cook the same types of food using moist heat. Great for making soups, stews, and kid-friendly weeknight dinners, they require longer cooking times to ensure a delicious result. Crock-pot is the name of a famous household brand created in the 1970s, initially marketed as an innovative bean cooker. While a slow cooker refers to a metal pot appliance that sits on a heated surface to cook rather than inside a heating unit or “crock.”
How does a crock pot work?
Crock pots and slow cookers have been around for generations and continue to be a popular choice for families and working professionals as a simple and easy way to make delicious mouth-watering meals without spending hours in front of a stove. Thanks to their braising technique, slow cookers use moist heat at a low temperature to turn tough cuts of meat and dried beans into tender and succulent dishes. Crock pots are slow cooker appliances that combine a heavy stoneware crock with a snug-fitting lid.
What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker?
While slow cookers can create many delicious meals and soups, there are foods you should steer clear of unless you want a recipe disaster. A dairy product like milk, cream, cheese, or yogurt often curdles when used in a slow cooker. Couscous and rice are a couple of grains to avoid. When using a small slow cooker, they become mushy or undercooked. Lean meats, like chicken breast, should be avoided when using a slow cooker because they can dry out quickly and don’t require long cooking times. For faster cooking options check out our selection of Pressure & Multi-Cookers from popular brands like Instant Pot that offer an alternate one-pot option for whipping up some delicious dinners in less time.