10 Reasons to Buy a Crockpot

Crockpots, also known as slow cookers, are one of the best inventions ever to simplify meal preparation. You can use it for anything, even dessert.

• You can cook ground beef or ground turkey with almost no work
  Making spaghetti? Or chili? Just throw the ground meat in the crock for a couple of hours and when it's time to actually cook most of your work is already done!

• You can cook almost anything else with almost no work
  Crocks cook soups, stews, roasts, and chicken and countless more meals incredibly easily. Just throw all the ingredients in, turn it on, and go do something else.

• You can start your dinner as early as 10 hours in advance, or as late as 4 hours in advance
  Most meals can be cooked on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.

• Crockpots will simplify your cleanup
  Most crockpots have a removable ceramic dish that cleans up very easily.

• You won't need to stay in the kitchen, or even the house while your dinner is cooking!
  Most slow cookers are designed to be left alone, so you can go to work, exercise, sleep ... anything but cook! (check your cooker's manual for safety instructions)

• Crock pots won't heat the house like using an oven would

• Crock pots will save you money on electricity
  Crocks use less electricity than ovens

• Your meals will be more tender and flavorful
  Crocks cook meals in their own juices, keeping everything quite tasty. The roast I make in the crockpot gets so tender it just falls apart when I try to cut it.

• Slow Cookers can be used to keep food warm until dinner
  Some even have a keep warm setting and will automatically switch to that setting when the food is done cooking.

• Slow Cookers simplify potluck
  Cook cocktail meatballs or warm dips or sauces in your crock and take it straight to the party still in the cooker!

So, which slow cooker should you buy?

I would definitely suggest getting an oval slow cooker (can't cook a chicken as easily in a round one, even with the same capacity), and getting one with the removable ceramic bowl. I had one without a removeable bowl that you could also use for deep frying, and the non-stick coating wore off after only a few uses - It started getting into my food and then I had to throw the whole thing out.