Slow cookers – or crock pots – have become a cultural phenomenon in America and can be found in a majority of kitchens. Exchanging crock pot recipes is a major social activity for many cooks searching for endless variety and that perfect one-pot meal. Check your bookstore for ‘crock pot’ titles and you’ll see just how diverse this style of cooking has become.

Slow cooking is just that – allowing time and the right cookware to produce wonderfully moist and delicious meals with a minimum of involvement during the cooking process. It’s the perfect prepare-now-eat-much-later approach guaranteed to win fans among family members and guests. The aromas associated with slow cooking alone will garner repeated “Is it done yet?”pleadings.

Slow cookers are simple – an inner ‘pot’ (usually enameled) and an outer shell containing the heating element. Slow cookers are typically round in shape, but many cooks are opting for oval units that allow cooking of whole chickens and longer piece of meat, like ribs. Lids are typically glass for easy monitoring.

A separate ‘pot’ allows the ultimate in convenience. You can prepare your meal the night before, store it overnight in the refrigerator, and drop it into the heating element before you leave the next day. What’s not to like?

There are really only two considerations when looking to buy a slow cooker – size and control options. Units come in a variety of sizes, but most cooks favor the 4 or 5-quart size that’s perfect for the family-sized pot of chili or stew. Choose the size that fits your intended use and make sure the lid fits snugly to produce the all-important seal.

Basic controls are simple high-low-off settings. Newer units now include programmable features that allow delayed start, temperature changes, and warming cycles, all with digital readouts. Why be gone only four hours when you can stay gone for eight?

Slow cookers vary widely in price – from under $20 to over $300. Slow cooking is perfect for the family on the go that is willing to avoid fast food and return home to a delicious and nutritious meal that’s a winner every time – anticipation alone practically guarantees it!