Though the slow cooker appeared to be a fad gadget and, in fact, sales slumped as fast food became more available, better designs and a focus on healthier home eating has again made the slow cooker quite the rage. A 2002 Betty Crocker Kitchens study out of Minneapolis estimated that a little over 80 percent of all homes currently boast a slow cooker and sales continue to ring steady. Though microwaves outsell slow cookers, certainly the crock pot market is healthy and likely to remain solid.
If you have a crock pot gathering dust in a back closet or if you don’t own a mother’s little helper, then rethink your kitchen strategy. Though crock pots are often the butt of jokes and though some of the poorly selected slush meals created by those not willing to learn the basics have given crock cooking a bad name in some circles, many families would be lost or on the way to McDonalds if not for the slow cooker.
If you do own one of the old burnt orange or fatigue green models from years gone by, it might be best to trade in and up and try one of the more family friendly models. On the other hand, consider pulling out the oldie but goodie and experimenting. Though the older models do have limitations, any cook can work with an old crock pot and determine whether an upgrade might be appealing. Try a few dishes. Then decide.