A recently retired friend messaged me asking for suggestions on either purchasing a slow cooker or Instant Pot on her limited budget. It got me thinking that I have strong opinions about the appliances and other helpful products that keep me sane!
The one thing I cannot live without is this
slow cooker from Hamilton Beach. Not only is it quite inexpensive, but it has timed cooking. One of the biggest complaints I hear about slow cooker cooking is that food is overcooked. With this you can set it to cook for 6 hours and it'll switch over to "keep warm" until you are ready to eat. The meat probe is also great for roasts, whole chickens and more. You set the desired temperature and it kicks over to "keep warm" when the temperature is reached.
On the topic of slow cookers, I also swear by slow cooker liners. I buy them in bulk on
Amazon here, but the standard 4 packs are quite inexpensive at the grocery store and coupons are often available. The liners enable a quick clean up and your slow cooker is ready to use the next day!
Also, here's my best meal prep tip! I place a liner in the slow cooker and prepare a meal. Then I take out the liner and roll or twist the top and place everything in a freezer bag I've labeled with the contents. I then can freeze the meal, usually flat, and have it on hand for an easy dinner. I can just take the bag out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator the night before and then plop it in the slow cooker in the morning. As a bonus, thanks to the liners, the freezer bags just need a quick rinse to be reused.
So now, you're thinking, "That slow cooker is way too big for just me!" Well, that's where my other favorite things come in.
These containers are the perfect size for leftovers to be frozen:
"But how will I remember what is in each container??"
These AMAZING labels dissolve in water! As in, when you run the containers through the dishwasher they come out label-less!
And finally, what can you do with your perfectly portioned leftovers? You need a
Crock-Pot Lunch Crock! This small crock will heat up your food and keep it warm in time for your lunch break. It features a dishwasher safe removable insert. Being able to eat lunch without waiting in line for the microwave at work has been a game changer! I leave the crock at work and bring the insert back and forth to wash.
What are your best meal prep and slow cooker tips?
Coming Soon: My Instant Pot favorites!
