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50 Years Ago, Kansas City Introduced The Crock-Pot. These Women Taught America To Use It
kcur ^

Posted on 09/22/2021 7:23:01 AM PDT by mylife

No Midwestern cookout is complete without a delicious chili or dip simmering in a Crock-Pot. But when the device was first unveiled by a Kansas City company in 1971, it promised something more: freedom.

Before the Crock-Pot was a household name, it was called the Naxon Beanery — and offered a more specific, bean-centric purpose.

Patented by prolific inventor Irving Naxon, the Beanery was originally intended for a Jewish stew of meat and beans called cholent, which is slowly cooked on Fridays in preparation for the Sabbath.

090121_crockpot_patent_MM.png U.S. Patent 2,187,888 The bean cooker that eventually became the Crock-Pot was first patented by prolific inventor Irving Naxon in 1940. A nifty creation, for sure, but the "bean pot" never caught on with the masses — so in 1970, Naxon sold his device to Rival Manufacturing. The Kansas City company was already famous for kitchen gadgets like the Juice-O-Mat juicer and the Knife-O-Mat sharpener.

Purchasing the slow cooker was actually an afterthought for Rival.

"No one paid any attention to it," Rival president Isidore Miller told the Kansas City Times in 1981. "We almost forgot about it."

As the story goes, Miller handed the Beanery over to Rival's test kitchen, where an employee named Marilyn Neill had an immediate an epiphany: This can cook way more than just beans.

“From that point on, I believe they gave those home economists in the test kitchen a lot more attention than they ever did before,” says Roxanne Wyss, a former Rival home economist.

The newly-renamed Crock-Pot made its official debut in 1971 at the National Housewares Show in Chicago, sharply dressed up in colors like avocado and harvest gold. Print ads and television commercials flaunted the Crock-Pot as a miraculous, time-saving device, assuring women in no uncertain terms: You can have it all.

(Excerpt) Read more at kcur.org ...


TOPICS: Food; History; Miscellaneous; Weird Stuff
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no one ever heard of a bean pot till they put a plug on it in 1971
1 posted on 09/22/2021 7:23:01 AM PDT by mylife
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To: mylife

I love my croc pot!


2 posted on 09/22/2021 7:24:36 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to says it.)
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Ron Popeiel kicked his beany ass


3 posted on 09/22/2021 7:27:43 AM PDT by mylife (When I finish this job, I going to retire at Rancho Deluxe, just south of the Big Rock Candy Mt)
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To: mylife

Pot roast in the crock pot/slow cooker. With some nice potato chunks, quartered onions, carrots. A little Worcestershire sauce, small can of beef broth and/or some packaged onion soup mix (add water). An amazing meal to have ready when arriving home after work in cool/cold weather.

YUM


4 posted on 09/22/2021 7:28:24 AM PDT by NEMDF
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To: Puppage

I miss my old 1940s bean pot

paid $2 for that, gave it to a friend.


5 posted on 09/22/2021 7:29:58 AM PDT by mylife (When I finish this job, I going to retire at Rancho Deluxe, just south of the Big Rock Candy Mt)
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To: mylife

The crock pot is only 50 years old?!
I just always thought it was invented in the 40s or 50s


6 posted on 09/22/2021 7:30:05 AM PDT by Skywise
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To: NEMDF

Don’t the potatoes and carrots turn to mush?


7 posted on 09/22/2021 7:32:31 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom ("If I’m going to get my political views from those who chase balls, I’ll ask my dog.")
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To: Puppage

“I love my croc pot!”

We’re still using a crockpot we paid $5 for at a garage sale 25 years ago. Darn thing is indestructible. Crockpots are incredible gadgets.


8 posted on 09/22/2021 7:32:42 AM PDT by moovova (There will never be another fair presidential election in the USA.)
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To: NEMDF

kielbasa kraut and granny smith apple


9 posted on 09/22/2021 7:32:43 AM PDT by mylife (When I finish this job, I going to retire at Rancho Deluxe, just south of the Big Rock Candy Mt)
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To: mylife
they gave those home economists in the test kitchen a lot more attention than they ever did before

They actually used to have a class in HS "home economics". Sadly it was replaced by non useful classes in climate change and diversity studies.

10 posted on 09/22/2021 7:32:54 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: mylife

I have always loved my crock pot and have even used it as a sous -vide cooker with the help of a temperature controller. However I find I am using my Instant Pot pressure cooker and air fryer more these days. With colder weather there is still nothing like my crock pot to make comfort foods like soups and super tender beef pot roast. Interesting that my microwave, which I once thought was indispensable, and my kitchen range are now my least used kitchen appliances.


11 posted on 09/22/2021 7:33:31 AM PDT by The Great RJ ("Socialists are happy until they run out of people's money." Margaret Thatcher)
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To: The Great RJ
I am using my Instant Pot pressure cooker and air fryer more these days

Pressure cookers are crock pots on steroids, do abut the same thing in half the time or less. I am new to the air fryer and hope to experiment this winter when I have the time.

12 posted on 09/22/2021 7:35:26 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: mylife

I remember when I was a little kid my grandmother had an electric stove that had a well for a bean pot, built right into the stove top.

I also have a crock pot from the 50’s. It implements high/low functionality by having 3 pins in a row that are used with a common heating appliance plug, and a little slider in front of them. Slide it one way, and it exposes the center and one outside pin. Plug into that and it is high. Slide it the other way and the center and other pin gives you low. No switch needed. Very clever.


13 posted on 09/22/2021 7:35:57 AM PDT by beef (The Chinese have a little secret—diversity is _not_ a strength.)
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To: Skywise

I have one here from the 70s and it works but is a pos compared to a good old bean pot or the new crock pots that have removable crock linings


14 posted on 09/22/2021 7:36:27 AM PDT by mylife (When I finish this job, I going to retire at Rancho Deluxe, just south of the Big Rock Candy Mt)
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To: 1Old Pro

Imagine the thinking...


15 posted on 09/22/2021 7:37:49 AM PDT by mylife (When I finish this job, I going to retire at Rancho Deluxe, just south of the Big Rock Candy Mt)
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To: mylife

Avocado and Harvest Gold. Definitely colors of the 70’s!


16 posted on 09/22/2021 7:38:23 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (Claiming Racism, the antidote to personal responsibility)
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To: mylife

Our crock pot is 25 or 30 years old...


17 posted on 09/22/2021 7:39:39 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: mylife
I'm old enough to remember life without microwave ovens and clearly remember Mom and Dad getting our families 1st one, but I just cant remember life without crockpots.
I sure wish I could ask Mom about it but she's gone on ahead.
18 posted on 09/22/2021 7:40:41 AM PDT by Manic_Episode ( “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.”)
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To: Skywise
The bean cooker that eventually became the Crock-Pot was first patented by prolific inventor Irving Naxon in ..... 1940.
19 posted on 09/22/2021 7:41:06 AM PDT by jpsb
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To: NonValueAdded

mine is Harvest Gold and a pos but it works..


20 posted on 09/22/2021 7:42:31 AM PDT by mylife (When I finish this job, I going to retire at Rancho Deluxe, just south of the Big Rock Candy Mt)
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