5 Ways To Use Your Slow Cooker You’ve Never Thought Of

Because your slow cooker can do way more than pot roast and chili.

If you're a slow cooker convert, you know how useful this little workhorse appliance can be in your kitchen. From soups to stews to braises of all kinds, a slow cooker is capable of making a wide variety of recipes. Plus, being able to dump your ingredients into the pot and let it go without having to worry about it is a huge relief. Nothing feels better at the end of a long day than coming home to a hot, prepared meal at the ready.

We know we don't have to tell you about all of our fabulous slow cooker recipes, but did you know that your slow cooker can do so much more than cook a great pot roast or simmer an excellent pot of chili? We use ours in all sorts of unexpected ways that you might not have thought of, and we can't keep these tips and tricks secret anymore. Here are our top five favorite non-traditional uses for a slow cooker.

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The Best Unexpected Ways To Use a Slow Cooker

1. Steamed Desserts

From cheesecake and crème brulée to old-school British figgy pudding and Cuban-style flan, your slow cooker can be a godsend for desserts. The gentle, moist environment is no different than using a water bath in your oven and makes for super creamy treats with terrific textures.

2. Overnight Breakfasts

Whether you are feeding a group of hungry kids or visiting relatives, waking up to a hot breakfast is a wonderful thing. The good news is you don't have to get up early to make it happen. From overnight oatmeal to an eggy strata and breakfast casseroles, the slow cooker is great for adding ingredients in right before bed and waking up to a hot, delicious breakfast. Better yet, everyone can serve themselves as they start their day.

3. Melting Ingredients

Melting butter, chocolate, and shortening can go wrong very quickly if you're not babysitting your stove or microwave. With a slow cooker, however, you don't have to worry about scorching ingredients. Fill your slow cooker with a couple of inches of hot water, then put whatever you want to melt into a sealed glass mason jar. Add the mason jar to the slow cooker, pop the lid on, and set it to high. You'll have everything melted and at your fingertips, no danger of burning, in no time. Once melted, you can shift the slow cooker to warm to keep the ingredients liquid until you're ready to use them.

4. Infusions

Flavored oils, butters, or simple syrups can be wonderful ingredients. And even better, they're super easy to make in the slow cooker.

Put your ingredients into a sealed mason jar, place it in your slow cooker, add enough water to the pot to come halfway up the sides of the jar, and set the appliance to high. After an hour, turn the heat to low. The longer it goes, the more the flavors will infuse, so think two hours for a subtle flavor or up to four for more intensity. Then you can just strain and store.

5. Keeping Things Warm

Consider your slow cooker an alternative warmer when your oven is occupied. Whether you're dealing with a batch of sterilized canning jars that need to keep warm before filling, a pan of rolls out of the oven that you want hot on the dinner table, hot dog buns you want steamy soft, or a sauce or side dish that's ready before your main, the slow cooker can be a backup hot box.

Place a damp, clean towel on the bottom of the slow cooker, and stack whatever needs to be kept warm on top. Lay a clean, lint-free tea towel over the top to prevent condensation from dripping on the contents, then seal with the lid. Set to warm, and the slow cooker will hold your food without accidentally overcooking it.