It’s a staple in pretty much every kitchen, and great for whipping up some hot and spicy chili or a warm pot of stew. But what you may not realize is that the slow, even heating of your crock pot makes it ideal for several out-of-the-ordinary uses. So, pull out that slow cooker and have fun with some of these easy yet beneficial activities.
Hot Holiday Cocktails
Greet your guests with a hot and delicious cocktail this season. Simply pour apple cider into the crockpot, add some of your favorite seasonal spices, cover, and keep warm. When you’re ready, add your spirit(s) of choice into a glass and ladle in some of the heated mixture (if you add the alcohol into the pot, it will cook off). Or you can serve the non-alcoholic version, too.
Toasty Treats
Free up some oven space and roast your seeds and nuts in the slow cooker for a perfect treat. Grease the bottom of the crockpot and add a cup or so of raw nuts or seeds. Sprinkle with seasonings of your choice, toss to coat well, and cook for about three hours on high. Then let the mixture cool and enjoy!
Paint Stripper
Remove stubborn paint from small metal objects like cabinet hardware and door hinges by placing them in your slow cooker, covering with water, and letting them soak overnight. For extra tough jobs, add a few drops of dish washing liquid. Remove the items from the pot, let cool, and scrub off the excess with an old tooth brush.
Easy Humidifier
Dry winter air got you down? Fill the crockpot about ¾ full with water, cover, and “cook” on high for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove the cover and let that steamy air fill your kitchen and beyond.
A Delight for the Senses
Fill your home with the scents of the season by placing fruit and spices in the crockpot, adding enough water just to cover, and run it on low with the lid off. Try apples and cinnamon, or oranges, vanilla, and cloves, or make your own delightful blend.
Natural Air Freshener
You can banish pet, cooking, and other unpleasant odors with just a few pantry staples and your slow cooker. Fill the pot halfway with water, add a cup of baking soda, a few tablespoons of lemon juice, and mix. Heat uncovered on high for a few hours – or overnight if the odors are especially offensive.
What do half of these crock pot uses have in common? Improving the quality of your indoor! At Optimum Air, that happens to be one of our specialties though we have far more sophisticated and far-reaching solutions to offer you. So, if indoor pollutants are getting the better of you and other family members, contact Optimum Air today for a free in-home consultation and proposal.