Dust off your slow cooker and let’s get this party started! Crocktoberfest is here, and what better time to put your slow cooker to work for you, saving you time and money!
You know I love a good theme. I am also a nerd. So…
October is the perfect time to have some fun! How about dusting off your slow cooker and giving it a run for its money?
In October’s Grocery Savings Challenge, we’re focusing on the slow cooker to help us save money.
Let’s celebrate Crocktoberfest!
What is Crocktoberfest?
While Oktoberfest is a Bavarian fall festival held in October and featuring much beer and frolicking, Crocktoberfest is a celebration of the slow cooker. And it makes so much sense for us to hold it in October. The weather has cooled in the northern hemisphere, making for a perfect time to cook up what the slow cooker does best: stews, soups, sauces, and braises.
Not only is the slow cooker an amazing invention for busy cooks, but using it will also save you money.
How can the slow cooker save you money?
Let me count the ways!
- The slow cooker is a whiz at braising cheap cuts of meat. Inexpensive cuts of meat tend to be a little tough and require longer cooking times. The slow cooker is perfect at that, allowing you to enjoy some affordable proteins that taste delicious.
- Who wants to get take-out when dinner’s all ready? If you’re out and about during the day or just hunkered down in your home office, you’re far less likely to get take-out when a meal is already prepared. The slow cooker allows you to do that advance prep pretty easily without a lot of fuss.
- Big batches are easy-peasy in a slow cooker, so fill your freezer. It’s so simple to make a big batch of stew, soup, chili, pasta sauce, beans, etc… in the slow cooker which makes it simple to cook ahead and freeze extra for later. Having a stash in the freezer will save you time, money, and effort over the long haul.
Dust off your Slow Cooker!
This month on Good Cheap Eats, I’m encouraging you to use your slow cooker more!
I will be!
In fact, I’m endeavoring to use my slow cooker every day in October.
Yes, really! I’m not honestly sure I can swing, but I’m going to try.
In preparation, I’ve been experimenting with more slow cooking and developing some recipes I’ll share with you this month.
I also made sure our slow cooker recipe archive was tidy and organized!
To expand my horizons, I checked out a range of slow cooker books and decided on one to add to my collection, The Complete Slow Cooker from America’s Test Kitchen. I know from experience that they are a little more fastidious about recipe preparation than I am — which is saying a lot! — so I figured I wouldn’t end up with too many disasters and could increase my knowledge of strategies that work. I’ll include a review of the book and the recipes we test later this month.
What can you make in the slow cooker?
It’s really fascinating what you can make in the slow cooker! Some of the things on my list to make in October include:
- dips
- chicken wings
- ribs
- egg bake
- casseroles
- meatloaf
- sandwiches
- taco and sandwich fillings
- soups
- stews
- rice pilaf
- potatoes (baked as well as buttered)
- mashed potatoes
- carrots
- cheesecake
- party mix
- creme brûlée
- pudding cakes
- brownies
Some of the things I’ll be making this month are things I always make in the slow cooker.
Others are …. experiments. I’ll be sharing my experiments as I go along via Instagram, but I’ll be sure to give you a round-up each week in the Gazette.
Clearly, some of these things are not your set-it-and-forget-it type recipes. Many of the new and “can-you-really-slow-cook-that” recipes I’ve seen call for much shorter cooking times than you probably think of for slow cooking. This requires you to be home, but in a lockdown, pandemic kind of year, maybe the slow cooker has finally another time to shine?
I’ll let you know!
Does the kind of crockpot matter?
I don’t honestly know from experience if the type of slow cooker matters.
I was really interested in AT’s reviews of slow cookers. None of the six I own made their list as recommended. Neither were they on a list put out by Good Housekeeping. Or Food & Wine.
Gulp. I confess, I’ve been very brand loyal to the official Crock-pot name over the years. Perhaps that wasn’t wise?
Well, we’ll see how this month goes. I own three large ovals (will likely donate one for lack of space), one beaten up round, one mini, and one casserole style. Over the course of the month, I will use all six and see what I truly love and what could maybe give up some valuable kitchen real estate.
Want to join me for Crocktoberfest?
I hope you will! There are lots of ways to participate:
- Follow along here on the blog and leave a comment. I love to chat with you!
- Subscribe to the FREE Good Cheap Eats Gazette. It comes out each Sunday afternoon with a roundup of recent posts and behind-the-scenes details. If you’re subscribed, you’ll already have an email with the free idea sheet waiting for you. Check your inbox and spam before signing up again. Trust me, it’s better that way. Otherwise, sign up here.
- Follow along on Instagram. I do live streaming every weekday at 9:30 Pacific. You can find me @jessicagfisher.
Whether you cook in your slow cooker once, twice, or thirty-one times, I hope you’ll let this money- and time-saving device help you more in the kitchen.
Helen says
I actually no longer own one as I mostly use the Instant Pot now for soups and stews and the like. My family aren’t big “meat and potato” eaters so the roasts like my mom would make (and I love and miss!) aren’t something I need to own a cooker for. The Instant Pot definitely doesn’t do slow cooking well so I have honestly been debating getting a new slow cooker lol it’s tempting to add one to my Walmart grocery pickup. I’ll definitely be following along this month!
Cheri A says
Helen,
I also only own an IP and a small CP now. I recently read in a group that we need to change the button from “less” to “more” so that it reaches the correct temperature. I’m going to try this.
Jessica Fisher says
Thanks for sharing, Cheri! Multitaskers are so nice when they can really multitask!
Helen says
Cheri, the main difference is that the IP only heats from the bottom whereas the crockpot heats from the sides as well. So it can slow cook smaller amounts, but I feel like a full pot of stew would sit in the “danger zone” too long unless you were stirring it often. The less and more of the IP settings definitely don’t correlate to low and high on a CP
Suze Clark says
That’s intestinal cause the Slow Cooker heating coils are on the bottom but quests the heat diffuses through the ceramic insert. My IP is a poor slow cooker. I researched IP and discovered I would have to spend $200 + to get an IP that was also preformed well as a SC.
Jessica Fisher says
Ha! I am still coming up to speed on the IP, but we’re going to have an IP month in the new year. 😉
Helen says
Let me know if you have questions 😉
Shayla says
Totally looking forward to this challenge!!
Jessica Fisher says
Glad you’re going to jump in, Shayla!
Lizzy Jahncke says
I’m looking forward to following this. At the beginning of September I altered my themed meal plan to include Crockpot Monday because soccer practices keep us out over the typical dinner time. This way we have dinner ready the moment we walk in. However, I do not have a large repertoire of favorites for the Crockpot, so I’m happy to see what you’re making and maybe to try a few new things!
Bonus info: I bake my granola in the Crockpot. The method is similar to making party mix in it. It’s not a chunky granola, though.
Jessica Fisher says
I’ve been thinking of adding granola to my list. Can you share your method?
Lizzy Jahncke says
I can’t tell you the exact baking time, and I imagine it would vary based on batch size and cooker size. I have a 6 qt. oval. I like to make a batch of granola that’s about 8 cups oats. I cook on high with the lid on sideways so heat stays in and moisture gets out. I stir about every 30 minutes. I would say it takes a couple hours, but I just judge it at stirring time to know if it’s done.
Molly says
Overnight oats! I tried this last night – steel cut oats in the mini crockpot. It needs a little adjusting.
Jessica Fisher says
I used to make those all the time. It’s been awhile. Can’t wait to hear about your adjustments.
Christina S says
I am absolutely in! I need to make up a crockpot plan. I think today will be apples – either applesauce or apple crisp.
Krys says
Can’t wait to start! Easy cooking is what I need.
Jessica Fisher says
Glad you’re joining us, Krys!
Kathy says
I confess, as Helen, that I tend to use my instant pot more than the crockpot. If I have a crockpot recipe I want to make, I look up how to make it in the instant pot. But that said, I do like the idea of throwing stuff in the crockpot in the morning and it’s done at night. So I will be looking for those type recipes, as well as cooking staples such as beans and rice. I don’t care for crockpot recipes that are for 2 hours, I figure I can just make those type of recipes up on the stove. Thanks for all your hard work!
Jessica Fisher says
Thanks for sharing, Kathy!
Cindy W says
The timing for this is impeccable – I have to return to work after (Canadian) Thanksgiving in mid October. It’ll be a big adjustment after cooking at home for my family of six for seven months (and a rude awakening for them!). Did your white chicken chili tonight but overcooked the crap out of the white beans in the IP first – so it became chicken chick pea chili ;-). After the crisis-caused adjustments, my family pronounced it very tasty – *I* pronounced it EASY! I’m looking forward to this!
Juls Owings says
I just gave my granddaughter my crockpot. We don’t use it. Don’t like the boiled/steamed texture of meat in it especially chicken (we like crispy skin). We don’t fix big pots of stews etc and the little crock pot just doesn’t seem to do it for us. I have used my crock pot for keeping homemade noodles or mashed potatoes warm at family get togethers. Our freezers are full and so it the pantry