Gina Rae Mitchell

Use Your Slow Cooker All Year 

Once you start digging out your slow cooker and using it to cook delicious homemade meals, you quickly become a fan. Many of us start to think about soups, stews, chilies, and all sorts of other delicious fares that lend themselves to slow cooking (pot roast anyone?) when fall and cooler temperatures come around.  

We love our slow cookers during the cooler months of the year, but come spring, this amazing little kitchen appliance goes back in the cabinet. If you ask me, that’s a mistake. Slow cookers are wonderful appliances year around. Yes, they are perfect for those hearty winter dishes that we used to cook at the back of the stove in the darker months. But believe me, that pot of beef stew tastes just as delicious in the spring or summer.  

 

The main reason many stews and roasts are winter dishes is that they had to cook and bake for a long time. In the hot summer months, we don’t want to heat up the house any more than necessary. And running the stove or oven for several hours before dinner will certainly do that.  

 Use Your Slow Cooker All Year – Summer Heat

But guess what doesn’t heat up the house? Your slow cooker. It puts out a lot less heat and it’s portable. That means that on a really hot day when your air conditioner is barely keeping up, you can go plug in the slow cooker on the porch and have dinner cooking while you hang out in the backyard with the kids.  

 

Your slow cooker also comes in handy anytime you’re grilling in the backyard. No more slaving away in the kitchen fixing side dishes while everyone else gets to hang out in the yard and watch your husband grill burgers. Instead, you do a little prep work in the morning, start a side dish in the slow cooker (cheesy potatoes are always a favorite around here) and you can grab a drink and join the fun in the yard.  

 

Of course, those same dishes will also come in handy at the annual company barbecue or the extended family 4th of July cookout. When you’re asked to bring a side dish, cook it in the slow cooker and bring everything along. Just plug it in and those baked beans or the squash casserole you made will still be piping hot when it’s time to eat.  

You’ll find the slow cooker is also handy at potlucks throughout the year and let’s not forget about the holidays. There’s always a lot of cooking going on and you have to do a whole lot of planning to make sure you have room on the stove and in the oven to get it all cooked in time. How much easier would your holiday cooking be if you could have a couple of things simmering away in your slow cookers? You can start them in the morning and don’t need to worry about anything until it is time to eat.  

Use Your Slow Cooker All Year – Traveling

I tell you, there’s no reason to pack away that slow cooker. Use it year-round. Take it with you on vacation to cook simple meals your kids will love right in the beach house or motel room.

Don’t forget those all-important liners to make clean up a snap no matter where you are!

Adjust the flavors and seasonings and the types of dishes you cook depending on the season. Take advantage of this cooking appliance throughout the year.  There is a good reason nearly every household has one. They are so versatile so use your slow cooker all year!

Recipes

Slow Cooker Philly Cheesesteaks Are So Tasty and Easy to Make

 

Crockpot Breakfast Potatoes

This recipe is simple and perfect for a large crowd!

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https://crockpotladies.com/recipe/crockpot-cherry-dump-cake/#wpurp-container-recipe-8913

More slow-cooker posts

You can find more recipes in each post as well as tips for purchasing and using your slow cooker to its potential.

Gina’s Slow-cooker Bourbon Bacon Pulled Pork

1 Whole Chicken And a Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Sunday Series  – Plan Your Meals

Slow Cooker Sunday Series – Getting Started