The ol' Crockpot stew!

Times were hard in the early 1930s; it was the time of the Great Depression and severe droughts in much of America. Yet, regardless of man's hardships, the human spirit is an indestructible piece of divine engineering. All people had was family and friends to comfort and support them, and what better way to bring those people together than with a good meal. Since food was not abundant, cooks had to stretch their ingredients as far as possible. So the concept of slow cooking food in a covered pot was developed by one Irving Naxon's grandmother, this would be the forerunner of the modern slow cooker, called the Naxon Beanery.

So in 1950, Irving Naxon decided that this product could have great success in the marketplace and patented his invention, which was essentially a portable bean cooker. Every good invention needs a suitable name, and so he aptly named it the "Bean Pot". This was an extremely significant development in the history of slow cooking, because it opened up a whole new range of recipes that could be used.

But where there is business, there is competition. It is the early 1970s, and a competing company launches the first commercially successful slow cooker under the Crock-Pot brand. This appliance had a removable stone cooking insert and a heating base, which made it convenient for home cooks. This had a massive impact on the way "slow cooking" was done.

In the late 20th century, slow cookers, commonly referred to as "Crock-Pots" and whose brand name became synonymous with the product, gained popularity for their convenience and ability to prepare hearty stews and other dishes with minimal effort. In the 21st century, slow cookers have continued to evolve into what what know today. With digital and programmable models becoming more common slow cookers are now widely used to prepare a variety of stews, including beef stew, chicken stew and vegetable stew.They remain a popular choice for busy individuals and families who want easy, time-saving meal preparation.

Slow cooker technology is constantly evolving, with features like Wi-Fi connectivity and smartphone apps that allow users to control their cookers remotely. This constant evolution ensures that slow cooked stews remain a staple in many households.

But despite the technological changes, the old crockpot stew did not lose it's soul. It still brings families together, just as it did all those many years ago, with recipes like the one in the link below. Simple and delicious.

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a49563/slow-cooker-red-wine-beef-stew-recipe/

I hope you found this foray into history as fascinating as I did, and if so, like a good crockpot stew, be sure to share this post with friends and family.

Happy cooking!