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A crock pot or slow cooker is an electric cooker that cooks food at a slow pace and at relatively low temperatures. A crock pot is a round or oval-shaped cooking pot with a removable glass lid. The pot is made of glazed ceramics or porcelain with a thermostatically controllable heating element placed between the outer metal housing and inside pot. The pot serves the dual functions of a cooking vessel and a heat reservoir. Sizes of crock pots vary from 500 millilitres to 7 litres and the operating temperature of these cookers is between 80 degrees Celsius and 90 degrees Celsius. Some cookers operate at 90 degrees Celsius for one hour and then switch over to 80 degrees Celsius.

Cooking in a slow cooker is simple. Raw vegetables and ingredients are simply placed inside the pot. The lid is then secured tightly and the cooker is switched on. Heating elements reach a steady temperature which is controlled by a thermostat. Liquids in the pot transfer the heat to the raw food and this gets cooked slowly at the set temperature. Vapours from the liquid travel upwards and get condensed on the lid, keeping the flavours intact. The food stays warm as long as the cooker is operating.

The main advantage of a crock pot is the slow cooking as food such as meat often tastes better when cooked at lower temperatures over longer periods. The 1970s and 1980s saw the popularity of crock pots rise among former housewives as it allowed them to start cooking dinner before leaving for work and enjoy a meal when they returned.

Enterprising cooks experimented by putting seared meats along with partly cooked vegetables, and the process of blending flavours and aromas was later finished in a crock pot. However, the loss of trace nutrients and vitamins is the main disadvantage of cooking in a crock pot apart from the lengthy process of cooking. In spite of this, the crock pot over the decades has proved to be a user-friendly cooking aide. In addition, operating, cleaning and maintaining a crock pot is easy. This slow cooker can be an ideal cooking tool for couples and small families.

Some of the popular slow cookers available online include the Breville 4.09-Quart Slow Cooker, the Hamilton Beach 7-Quart Slow Cooker and the Rival 6.87-Quart Slow Cooker.