The History of the Crock Pot

By Ken Kudra

We tend to take our crock-pots for granted these days. They sit in the cupboard, unloved and unused until we really need to throw in a pot roast or something before we head off for work. Slow cooking has been around for hundreds of years, though. We do not realize how good we have it now.

Way Back When

People have been slow cooking ever since they learned how to use iron to make cookware. A pot could be hung over a fire, keeping food simmering all day long. Smaller Dutch ovens could be placed under the coals themselves to cook all sorts of meals. It did not take people long to learn that slow cooking could make their food taste wonderful. In those days, however, slow cooking required careful tending of the fire all day long, as well as frequent stirring of the cooking food.

Slow cooking tenderizes even tough cuts of meat through the gradual softening of the fibers in the meat. The low heat gradually melts the natural collagen within; making a delicious, thick, and gelatin-rich meal that is full of nutrition. Long cooking times over low heat slowly breaks down the fibers in tough root crops like rutabagas, parsnips, and turnips. It also tenderizes stored crops like dried beans and lentils until they are not only tender, but also delicious.

The Crock Pot

The Beanery was introduced in the'50s by the Naxon Utilities Corporation of Chicago. It was designed to make baked beans. The Beanery was a ceramic pot fitted inside a pan lined with heating elements inside. This design allowed for even heating without direct contact with the food, making it easier not to burn the contents.

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 passed, the Crock Pot has been improved. With features like removable ceramic inserts for easy cleaning and more settings, it has become more useful than ever before. Unlike older models that only had High and Low settings and were in one piece, making cleaning difficult; the newer models often feature a Warm setting as well as being easier to take care of.

While women made many dishes slow cooking the old way, today's crock-pot is even more versatile. Beans, stews, casseroles, and roasts are the most common dishes made in the crock-pot. You can also make foods like lasagna, barbecued pork, and even your favorite chicken noodle soup recipe in your crock-pot.

Like the old methods, you can also bake breads and cakes in your crock-pot. If you find you enjoy slow cooking, you may want to branch out and try desserts and other great recipes as well. - 30241

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