Good morning to those of you who caught me on Sunday’s WTHR Weekend Sunrise! This morning we were all about the slow cooking and crockpotting that we all LOVE during the fall.
When the weather turns cool, everyone digs into the back of the cabinet to retrieve it. The little miracle maid that sits on your counter all day long and cooks your meal for you while you’re at work goes more commonly by the name of crockpot. But when should you purchase a crockpot? How much should you spend? What kind should you get? And best of all what can you do with it to maximize your grocery budget this fall?
1) The Best Times to Purchase a Crockpot. If you don’t already have a crockpot you love {or three if you’re like me}, the news is good. This time of the year is one of the best 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.
2) 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 the 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 in moderation.
3) 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 will get the job done. Here are some of my favorites from Amazon:
- Crock-Pot 38501-W 5-Quart Round Smart-Pot Slow Cooker, White
$11.99
- Crock-Pot SCR300SS 3-Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel
$19.99
- Crock-Pot SCRMTD307-DK 16-Ounce Little Triple Dipper, Silver and Black
$29.99
- Crock-Pot SCCPVL600R 6-Quart Manual Cook & Carry Oval Portable Slow Cooker, Red
$30.99
- Crock-Pot SCCPQP600-B 6-Quart Smart-Pot Squond Slow Cooker, Black
$40.94
4) Think outside of the Soup Pot. I think that a lot of people think of soups automatically when thinking about 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 {another great baby food making site}, cook breakfast overnight, bake bread, cook dried beans, and even make crafts. Check out my Pinterest Board – Pot o Crock – for some of my favorite places to find crockpot recipes and ideas.
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}.
