The Resurgence of In 1940, something magical happened. An indispensable device was invented that would become iconic despite its simplicity,
and would go on to aid hungry people all around the world. That’s right, it was none other than the inimitable Crock-Pot.
It originally was invented as a work-around to prepare cholent — a slow-cooked stew — for the Jewish Sabbath. Irving
Naxon (born Nachumsohn) designed his “Beanpot” slow cooker to prepare the stew the day before, as it was forbidden for
Eastern European Orthodox Jews to cook on the Sabbath. When Naxon sold his slow cooker to American manufacturer
Rival, the name of the device was changed to Crock-Pot.
CHEAT THE SYSTEM WITH A Rival’s Crock-Pot grabbed the lion’s share of the market and its name eventually replaced the
term “slow cooker” in most Americans’ vernacular, much like the patented brand name Chap-
Stick is commonly used to refer to any brand of lip balm.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the era when slow cookers found a boost in sales and
their way into most American homes was the 1970s, when more women began entering the
workforce and vacating the kitchen where they held their role as the stay-at-home mom in
the proverbial nuclear family for centuries.
By 1975, Rival was marketing the Crock-Pot slow cooker as an invaluable and
integral tool for working moms who didn’t have time to prepare a wholesome dinner
when they got home. They could simply throw in a few ingredients early in the
morning and have dinner ready by the time the workday ended. From stews
and pot roast to chili and even cakes, and in a wide range of sizes, the Crock-
Pot promised families and singles alike that dinner would be ready
when they got home, all without using too much electricity.
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