Home Gear Appliances Slow Cooker
Updated: Mar. 08, 2023
There are plenty of reasons to slow-cook your way through June, July and August.
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We tend to think of the slow cooker as a winter appliance because it rocks at cozy comfort foods, but there are many perks to using it in the summer. Some would argue it’s even more useful in the hot season. Keep reading to learn why and to find slow cooker recipes you’ll actually use this summer.
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It Won’t Heat Up Your House
During the dog days of summer, we’d rather make no-cook recipes than turn on the oven. But don’t forget your trusty slow cooker. This appliance won’t warm up your kitchen while preparing a home-cooked meal. Here’s a barbecued pork chop supper to get your started.
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Taste of Home
It’s Easy to Transport to Potlucks
When you get invited to your neighbor’s backyard barbecue party, you’ll need to think of a potluck-ready summer slow cooker recipe (we have more than a few!). These dishes are easy to take with you and they won’t need to be heated up in the oven at your host’s house.
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Slow Cook Once, and Eat All Week
Slow cookers make big batches of food that you can eat all week. Make a slow cooker Sunday dinner to enjoy over the next few days or cook a whole chicken to use in lunches throughout the week. Spending less time making dinner means you’ll have more time to spend in the evening sunshine.
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It Will Lower Your Energy Bill
There are two reasons why using a slow cooker will lower your energy bill. The first is that this small appliance doesn’t use as much energy as your oven or stove. Woohoo! The second is that because it won’t heat up your house like an oven would, there’s no need to crank up the air conditioning when you’re making dinner. Give this recipe a whirl on the hottest of days.
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Dinner Will Cook While You’re at the Beach
Sunny days = beach days. Don’t worry about dinner while you’re frolicking on the sand and getting your feet wet, because it’s been slow-cooking all day—waiting to be devoured when you walk in the door. We recommend coming home to these peachy baby back ribs.
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There Will Be Fewer Dishes to Wash
There are many slow cooker recipes that ONLY require a slow cooker. Aka: one-pot meals. Fewer dishes to clean mean you’ll have more time to enjoy the evening sunlight. So take an after-dinner walk through the neighborhood with your family or pour yourself a glass of wine and relax on the deck. You have the time!
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Taste of Home
It Makes Classic Summer Foods
The slow cooker is known for making tender meat, which is why we love to make pulled pork in it all summer long. We recommend our root beer pulled pork sandwiches. There are also plenty of summery side dish options, like smoky baked beans and cheesy creamed corn.
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Taste of Home
It Can Take Care of Dessert
Classic summer desserts like cobblers, crumbles and grunts turn out beautifully in the slow cooker. Try our slow cooker berry cobbler for your next family reunion or block party. Just remember to add a scoop of ice cream after it’s scooped out of the slow cooker.
Originally Published: April 17, 2018
Author
Emily Racette Parulski
As a senior editor, Emily manages Taste of Home’s newsletter and promotions team and edits digital content. She has been writing and editing food and lifestyle content professionally for more than a decade. When she’s not working, Emily can be found in her kitchen baking something sweet or enjoying a scoop of frozen custard somewhere in Milwauk...
