Slow Cookers: A Culinary Institution, Divided

May 3, 2025 | Slow cooking

Slow-cooker chawanmushi, submitted by Paula Winchester of Kansas City, was the dish that made me sit up and listen in 2014. I was on the phone with Grant Achatz, the award-winning chef behind Alinea in Chicago, as he was telling me about all the things I could make in a Crock-Pot.

The Slow Cooker as a Feminist Icon?

While slow cookers are not a trend, they are a cultural institution, deeply associated with mothers. They evoke feelings of comfort and nostalgia, but also evoke a certain disdain, often portrayed as a dowdy, staid one-way ticket to beef stew. Slow cookers are unique in the depth of feeling they evoke, with no other cooking method receiving such strong emotions.

Not Just a Feminist Icon, But a Cultural Institution

The slow cooker was invented by Irving Naxon in 1936. He marketed and sold his invention as a “Beanery” for thirty years, but in 1970, he sold it to the Rival Company, which re-branded it as the Crock-Pot. This was a time when women were joining the workforce in increasing numbers. Rival immediately began marketing the device to women, with ads like “The Working Woman’s Dream!” and “Mom’s-Gone-Shopping Casserole.”

These ads reflect the societal expectation that women would be the primary caregivers, and that cooking would be their primary responsibility.
The slow cooker was seen as a solution to this problem, allowing women to prepare meals while working outside the home.

Devaluing Daily Cooking

The slow cooker’s marketing campaign had the side effect of devaluing the daily cooking responsibilities of working women. This is evident in the way the device is often portrayed in media and advertising, as something that is easy and effortless, rather than requiring skill or effort.

“It has a lot to do with our cultural associations between the cooking we do on a daily basis, for sustenance, and drudgery or obligation,”

says Marilyn Morgan, an historian and archivist who teaches on gender and food history at Harvard and the University of Massachusetts.

The Slow Cooker’s Legacy

The slow cooker’s legacy is complicated, reflecting the complexities of family life and the expectations placed on women. While it has been a source of comfort and convenience for many, it has also been a symbol of the devaluation of daily cooking responsibilities.

Reasons for the slow cooker’s legacy	Effects on women
Marketing campaign	Devaluing daily cooking responsibilities
Societal expectations	Primary caregivers and cooking responsibilities

Breaking Down Barriers

Slow cookers can be a powerful tool for breaking down barriers and challenging traditional notions of cooking. As a food editor and writer, I’ve had the opportunity to work on various projects, including a slow cooker cookbook.

I’ve found that slow cookers can be used to make a wide range of dishes, from simple egg custard to complex braises.
The slow cooker allows for a level of flexibility and creativity that traditional cooking methods may not.

The Future of Slow Cooking

The future of slow cooking is bright, with new and innovative recipes being developed all the time. As a result, slow cookers will continue to be a staple in many kitchens, and their legacy as a cultural institution will continue to evolve. Slow cookers are not just a tool for cooking meals, but a reflection of our values and expectations.

A Recipe for Change

To break down the barriers and challenge traditional notions of cooking, we need to rethink the way we approach slow cooking. This means embracing the slow cooker as a powerful tool for creativity and experimentation, rather than just a convenient way to cook meals.

Experiment with new ingredients and recipes.
Try new cooking techniques and methods.

A New Perspective

By adopting a new perspective on slow cooking, we can begin to challenge traditional notions of cooking and break down barriers. This means recognizing the value and creativity that slow cooking can bring to the table.