You can catch me every Sunday morning WTHR, Channel 13 (The Indianapolis NBC affiliate) sharing ways to save money and slay debt. Tune in at 7:45 AM tomorrow to hear ideas for saving money when it comes to reading your favorite books. Here’s a sneak peek of the tips I’ll share:
Yay, it’s October! I’d rather declare it Crocktober. While soups and meats cook easily while you work the day away in your crockpot, there are a number of other great dishes you can whip up in your crockpot. From breakfast to dessert, from side dishes to baby food, it’s time for you to think outside the pot. So let’s talk about the nuts & bolts of slow cooking this morning.
The Best Times to Purchase a Crockpot: If you do not already own a crockpot you love (or three if you’re like me), the news is good! We are headed toward the best time of the year to purchase one. The prices will begin to fall as we head toward Thanksgiving and then hit rockbottom on Black Friday. So if you can “tough” it out for now, keep scanning the deals as the days of September and October slip away.
How Much Should I Spend on a Crockpot? This is really like asking a question akin to “How much should I spend on a car?” It simply probably depends most upon how much money you have in your budget for household items. As a rule of thumb $20-$30 is a decent price but Black Friday usually brings the price down to $10 or even as little as $4 at the Big Box Retailer Stores. I have 3 crockpots, each purchased a different Black Friday for only $4. They all still work great and I love them. So while pricier models are certainly out there, be cautious because a basic crockpot can get the job done. All things are best in moderation.
What Kind of Crockpot Should I Purchase? You’ll go cross-eyed if you spend too much time on Amazon looking at crockpots. There are crockpots with multiple settings, crockpots with locking lids, crockpots with timers, crockpots with three separate containers, crockpots with accessories and crockpots in every color, shape, and size. Think very practically about your purchase and ask yourself the following questions. How many people do you plan on feeding? Will you travel with the crockpot? Will it sit on the counter or be stored in the cabinet? Do you need a function like a timer or will you be home and able to tend to the crockpot yourself? My best advice is don’t get carried away. A very basic model can get the job done. Be sure to read the reviews online before purchasing anything.
Think outside of the Soup Pot. Many people automatically think of soups when considering crockpot recipes. Or they think about slow cooking large portions of meat. While both are yummy and useful, there are plenty of other amazing uses. You can use your crockpot to make baby food, cook breakfast overnight (we LOVE to make French Toast), bake bread, cook dried beans, use as a rice maker, and even make crafts. Pinterest is a great place to find crockpot cooking ideas and inspiration. Follow me on Pinterest and check out my “Pot ‘O Crock” board for some of my favorite places to find crockpot recipes and ideas. One of my absolute FAVORITE places to find recipes tis fall is the site Recipes that Crock. A few of the delicious recipes that I found that site today are:
- 10 Hot Beverages to Fix in Your Crockpot Hot Chocolate, Cider, Witches Brew, Hot Toddies, & more! Spoiler alert: there is a Nutella beverage people.
- 10 non-traditional Uses for Crockpots Dying yarn, making play dough, lotion, potpourri, removing paint, and more. I LOVE these ideas.
- Crustless Pumpkin Pie Say what?! What a lovely way to celebrate the season without much fuss. nom nom nom!
I LOVE making rice in our crockpot. Rub 1 T of butter in the crockpot. After it is well coated, leave the remaining butter inside. Add 1 cup of rice & 2 cups of water. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high 2-4 hours. I love to add sea salt, a squeeze of lime juice, & a 2 T of salsa for a delicious kick. But the basic dish is great with any additive – cinnamon sugar, soy sauce, hot sauce, you name it. 🙂
Crockpots can certainly be a money saver but don’t go in the hole by biting off more than you can chew (or even need). Maximize your time and money and come home to a yummy dinner at the end of a long day this fall.
Here are some great Slow Cooker Deals I found on Amazon:
- Crock Pot SCR450-PT 4-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker, Black Demask Pattern
$16.99
- Crock-Pot SCR200-B Manual Slow Cooker, 2 Quart
$11.99
- Crock-Pot SCDD 32-Ounce Manual Double Dipper Warmer, Black
$15.62
- Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Oval Stay Or Go Slow Cooker , Stainless Steel
$29.99
Gain inspiration to pay off debt! Check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
[…] know, turns out I’m not the only one that refers to this month as Crocktober. Yesterday on WTHR, I talked about ways to save when it comes to your handy dandy crcokpot. Today, […]