You’ve mastered the grill; you and the broiler are BFFS; and you can work a cast-iron like you were born with it in your hand.
But despite all of your hard-earned culinary prowess, you cower every time you come near a slow cooker. What gives?
(Okay, you don’t cower; but you sure don’t reach for it when it’s time to think about dinner.)
If you’ve embraced the idea of “low and slow” when it comes to smoking a brisket or a pork butt, well, it’s time you tested the same theory with your slow cooker. It’s in the name, after all.
Here are all of the reasons why you should start cooking more with your slow cooker:
It’s ridiculously easy to use.
Plug it in. Prep and put in your ingredients. Wait. (Waiting is the hardest part.)
That pretty much summarizes most recipe instructions when it comes to cooking with a slow cooker. The only way it can get any easier is by cooking one of our slow cooker meals, which eliminate thawing, chopping, or anything else resembling prep. You can literally pour ingredients straight from your freezer into this magic machine and then go about your day.
It’s convenient.
With events like the big game coming up, it’s mighty convenient to be able to carry the dip you’re supposed to bring in a portable pot. Plus, you can easily plug it back in to reheat when you reach your party or potluck destination.
It’s great for multitasking.
If you make a giant mess every time you cook a big meal, next time, consider working the humble slow cooker into your workflow. You may prefer to pan-sear your steaks in a cast iron (and we’d never stop you), but that doesn’t mean you can’t multi-task and have a side dish slow-cooking the day away — trust us, come dinnertime, you’ll have less mess and less stress.
You can use it year-round.
While we all wish our grills and smokers were accessible in all year long, for most of us, they’re not. (Damn you, winter!) Thankfully, with a handy slow cooker on your counter, you can still cook some succulent ribs or a sumptuous side even if the weather isn’t on your side.
Women everywhere have crafted whole communities (i.e. Pinterest, which you should also re-visit — all the recipes!) around the magic device that is their slow cooker. Time to join the culinary revolution and just say yes to “low and slow” all day, every day.
