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.
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 Birth of 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.
In'70, Rival bought Naxon. They took a look at the Beanery and renamed it the Crock Pot. In the early 70s, more women were working outside the home than ever before. The Crock Pot helped them to still provide a hot meal at the end of the day to their hungry families even though they were working all day.
Over the years, Crock Pots have evolved. They now have ceramic pots that are removable, making cleaning much easier than the old models. With the older pots, one had to be careful during cleaning that the electrical cord not get wet. The new ceramic inserts are dishwasher safe, as well, making clean up even easier. Some newer crock-pots also have an additional setting. They come equipped with High, Low, and Warm. A few are even computerized and will change automatically to warm when the food is finished.
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.
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 Birth of 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.
In'70, Rival bought Naxon. They took a look at the Beanery and renamed it the Crock Pot. In the early 70s, more women were working outside the home than ever before. The Crock Pot helped them to still provide a hot meal at the end of the day to their hungry families even though they were working all day.
Over the years, Crock Pots have evolved. They now have ceramic pots that are removable, making cleaning much easier than the old models. With the older pots, one had to be careful during cleaning that the electrical cord not get wet. The new ceramic inserts are dishwasher safe, as well, making clean up even easier. Some newer crock-pots also have an additional setting. They come equipped with High, Low, and Warm. A few are even computerized and will change automatically to warm when the food is finished.
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.
About the Author:
Choosing a chicken soup recipe can be difficult just because there are so many different ones to choose from! Do you want a thick stew like soup? How about a creamy soup? You could also make a delicate consomm if you prefer. There are so many ways to make this soup!
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