The history of the slow cooker is not a long one. In the early 1960’s the West Bend Corporation first manufactured the electric bean cooker. This kitchen was featured as the Bean Pot. It was basically a clay pot on a tray that was heated. The Beanery was actually the first true precursor to slow cookers. “Naxon Utilities Corporation” was responsible for developing that one.
In the year 1970, Rival Industries bought Naxon, which also gave them the rights to the Beanery. This began Rival’s exploration into the world of slow cookers. The company found that many types of food cooked beautifully using this very method. Once this was discovered, 25,000 pots were brought out and sold to the public as the first official Crock-Pot during 1971.
Another innovation in 1974 came with this product when the inner pot could be removed for cleaning. People were also encouraged to save energy. By using the Low Voltage Crock-Pot this was easy.
With more women working, Rival began showing them how easy it would be to prepare meals with her slow cooker. Rival knew that it would be attractive for women to be able to cook while at work. Then, in the mid-’70s, other companies jumped in to make their versions. However, most of them no longer exist.
Rival continues to be the market leader today with their slow cooker. They command a whopping 85 percent of the market. They offer a variety of sizes in many different models. These models have proven over the years to be extremely useful.
They now come with automatic controls and even timers to help you cook more effectively. Many cookbooks packed with food recipes have even been written specifically for today’s cooks.
Rival isn’t the only cooker brand being made today, but it’s probably still the best known. You can find large luxury models if you have a large family. You can cook everything from beef stew to roast in them.
They’re great for spaghetti sauce, chili, and just about any one-pot meal you can come up with. Everyone has such a busy life these days that the slow cooker is used daily in some homes.
You can find them from a 16-ounce size up to a 7.4-quart size. This is the size of the vessel. Most have different heat settings to cook on high or low, some even have a setting to warm. The low setting heats things to a temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit and the high setting heats food to 190 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
A certain amount of liquid is also needed to cook food properly. This amount varies depending on what you are cooking. So follow the instructions in a cookbook on this subject or the operating instructions that come with the manual.
Another innovation that has happened with slow cookers is that of the rice cooker. Specialty rice cookers are nothing more than an offshoot of the original slow cookers. Thus continues the story of the very convenient kitchen tool.