The Crockpot is Your Cold Weather Family Meal-Making BFF

Benefits and Tips for Crockpot Cooking

We all know how hectic life can be. Between work, errands, and social obligations, finding time to cook a nutritious meal can be tough. It’s also that time of year where we crave the warm foods that comfort us, and the easy cold salads just don’t cut it. Enter the crockpot, also known as a slow cooker. This humble kitchen appliance can help you prepare a delicious, hot, healthy meal with minimal effort.

What is a Crockpot?

A crockpot is a type of slow cooker that's designed for busy home cooks. It allows you to set it and forget it, as it slowly simmers your food over several hours. This is ideal for busy weeknights or when you want to come home to a hot meal without having to put in any work. This slow cooker has been around for about 75 years, and they’ve developed over that time into one that is even more user friendly for the busy household.

How Does It Work?

Crockpots and slow cookers work by slowly heating food at a low temperature. This allows the flavors to develop and meld together over time, resulting in a tastier final product. Additionally, if you are cooking animal proteins, they are often more tender as the food is cooked slowly over an extended period. Crockpot settings vary, but typically there is a high heat setting, which can cook dishes in as little as 4 hours, and a low heat setting, ideal for overnight or daytime cooking.

Benefits of Using a Crockpot

#1 - Set it and Forget it Convenience

One of the best things about using a crockpot is that you can set it and forget it. Simply add your ingredients to the pot, set the timer, and go about your day. No need to worry about checking on the food or stirring it occasionally - the crockpot will do all the work for you.

#2 - Affordable Meals

Another great benefit of crockpot cooking is that it is very affordable. Crockpots are ideal for cooking cheaper cuts of meat that require longer cooking times to break down the tough fibers. This type of meat is usually much more affordable than its more tender counterparts. In addition, beans and other budget-friendly ingredients can easily be cooked in a crockpot. This is also a great way to help you meal prep for the week which ultimately helps save you money and time!

#3 - Hands-free Cooking

Crockpot cooking is also great for those who don’t enjoy spending a lot of time in the kitchen. With this type of cooking, you simply add your ingredients to the pot and let the machine do its job. This leaves you free to do other things around the house or take some time for yourself.

#4 - It'll make your house smell amazing.

 Don't underestimate the power of smell - it can trigger positive emotions and anticipation at the end of your day. There's nothing like coming home to the mouthwatering smell of a home-cooked meal waiting for you—and your family will love it too!

#5 - Versatile Cooking Method

One of the best things about crockpots is that they're incredibly versatile. They can be used to make recipes from hearty stews and soups to quinoa dishes and vegetable medleys. They're great for throwing together a quick and easy dinner, but they can also be used for breakfast, lunch, and even dessert recipes!

#6 – Easy to Clean

Since the crockpot can be a source of one-pot meals, it makes cleaning up a lot easier. There’s only one dish to wash! These meal helpers are also easy to maintain. Once it’s clean you can store it until the next time!

#7 – Gradual Cooking Enhances Flavors

Food that is prepared in a crockpot ends up simmering for several hours, allowing the flavors, spices, and seasonings in the recipe to soak up and blend well. This makes the end result of the meal much more flavorful. Soups, stews, roasts, etc. will satisfy those tastebuds and bring you that warmth and comfort during the cold weather!

#8 – Meals Tend to Be Healthier

Using a crockpot allows you to cook your meals at a lower temperature over a longer period (without worrying), and this helps save nutritional value of the foods as high heat temperatures break down and destroy nutrients in foods. Therefore, the crockpot allows your foods to retain more nutrients (thus providing your body with more nutrients). The low and slow method of the crockpot also helps reduce any release of toxic chemicals that often happens at high temperature cooking. One example of toxins that are produced and absorbed by the body with high heat cooking is advanced glycation end products (AGEs). We absorb these toxins when consuming fried, broiled, or grilled meats, cheese, and other foods of animal origin. AGEs increase risk of diabetes, kidney and vascular diseases, inflammation, Alzheimer’s disease, insulin resistance and more. The crockpot will provide you with less exposure to these AGEs!

There are tons of recipes for breakfast staples like oatmeal and quiche that can be made in a crockpot. So whatever meal you're looking to make, chances are there's a way to make it in a crockpot.

Crockpot Formula

When it comes to crockpot recipes, there is a basic formula that you can follow to ensure that your dish turns out perfectly. In general, the recipe formula for crockpot dishes is as follows:

• Add the seasoned meat or protein of your choice to the crockpot [browning optional]

• Add plenty of vegetables, cut to about the same size

• Pour in a sauce or broth to cover the ingredients

• Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours

• Once you finish cooking, stir in some fresh herbs and canned beans

Selecting a Recipe

There are thousands of crockpot recipes out there, so it can be tough to know where to start. When you're looking for a recipe, make sure to choose one that includes plenty of fresh, whole-food ingredients. Opt for recipes that require simple, real ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store.

Another thing to consider when choosing a recipe is cook time. Some crockpot recipes can take eight hours or more to cook, which might not be practical if you're trying to get dinner on the table in less time. Also, if you are using dried beans, a super economical and nutritious base for meals, you may need to soak them overnight first before placing them in the crockpot with vegetables.

Here are some of my favorite easy recipes from my meal plans for hands-free cooking:

• Instant Pot/Crockpot/Stovetop Chicken Cacciatore

• Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas

• Slow Cooker Herbed Turkey Breast

• Slow Cooker Italian Herb Chicken

• Slow Cooker Beef

• Slow Cooker Curried Chicken

• Cuban-Style Black Beans

Other recipe ideas include:

• Short Ribs

• Beef Stew/any stew

• Split Pea Soup

• Slow Cooked Chili

• Chuck/Rump Roast

• Goulash

• Chocolate Lava Cake (yes, you can even make desserts in the crockpot)

• Apple Cinnamon Oats (or other oat flavors)

• Baked Apples

• Frittata with Kale, Roasted Red Pepper and Feta

• Veggie Omelet/Omelets

• Breakfast Casserole

• Casseroles in general

• Beef Bone Broth

• Beef and Broccoli

• Meatballs

• Brussels Sprouts

• Mashed potatoes

• Applesauce

• Cinnamon and Honey Nuts

• Slow Cooker Apple Butter/Apple Butter

• Cranberry Sauce

• Spiced Hot Apple Cider

• More! 

Now that you know the basic formula and tips for preparing crockpot dishes, you can start experimenting with different ingredients and flavor combinations. The possibilities are endless! Get creative and have fun with it. Crockpot cooking is a great way to make healthy and delicious meals with minimal effort. So give it a try and see for yourself how easy and enjoyable it can be.

If you’re looking for more recipe ideas or would like a week of crockpot ideas make sure to schedule a free discovery call with me where we can go more in-depth of what you’d like! Just click here to schedule.