Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Slow Cooking Essentials for Your Home Kitchen

A man cuts salmon while looking at his tablet in the kitchen.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There’s a reason you tend to hear “slow and low” from the brightest culinary minds. It’s a slow-cooking mantra that yields big, cohesive flavors and some of the most nourishing dishes you can imagine. And it’s more than a state of mind. Slow cooking requires the right tools for the job.

So while patience is a prized virtue in the slow cooking realm (and a tough one to teach, we might add), so too is a good saucepan or pasta roller. A slow cooker along with some good recipes is a great start, of course, but there’s more to it than that. Granted, we’d love for you to go the whole hog and build the backyard brick oven for pizza. But you’re probably looking for some more accessible ways to up your slow-cooking game.

A man cuts salmon while looking at his tablet in the kitchen.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Here are the best tools for that task. While you’re in slow cooking mode, settle into one of the best cookbooks. They’ll help you along your quest to flavor country.

Lodge Enameled Dutch Oven

Lodge Enameled Dutch Oven with lid displayed upright.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are quite a few reliable vessels for preparing a slow-cooked gem, from deep pots to Tandoori ovens. We like a good Dutch oven, ideal for unhurried recipes. This six-quart option is affordable, offers a slick non-stick coating, and is the ideal size — not too large you’re afraid to lift it, let alone leave the leftovers in it and pop it in the fridge.

Erlene Home Fashions Pot Holders

set of blue checkered pot holders.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When it comes to oven mitts and potholders, it’s all about classic design. This option is timeless, with a look that deserves better than just being stuffed away in some crowded drawer. The rings are handy for hanging and you can throw ’em straight in the washing machine after you spill your favorite sauce on them.

Five Two Wooden Spoons

Food 52 Wooden Spoon on a white linen cloth.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The wooden spoon is the hero of the slow cooking movement, the go-to tool for all your stirring, sauteing, mixing, and serving needs. Go with a single standby or get an entire set. Either way, you’ll make a workhorse out of the age-old culinary tool, no matter what cuisine style you’re chipping away at. Soon, you’ll be gifting them to all of your friends who appreciate food, if they don’t already have one at the ready.

Canning Kit

Canning set displayed on a white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are a host of standard kits for canning out there that set you up with your basic grabbers and Ball jars. This one, though, is a little more specialized, with a stainless steel theme for looks and durability. Seven pieces are included, like vinyl-coated tongs, a handy magnetic lid lifter, a measurer, a jar wrench, and more. It’s your basic tool belt for preserving foods and extending the most bountiful seasons of the year well into the offseason.

Five Two Essential Roasting Pan

prime rib in a roasting pan sitting on the oven rack.
Anthony Tieuli/Getty Images

Roasts are a slow cooking staple; essentially, a tray is set up a bit with a rack that allows for even heating. This roasting pan is beautifully simple, made of aluminum, and fits with a pair of handles. It can handle 20 pounds worth of meat, so start putting together some family-style meals of lamb, wild game, or a bevy of roasted vegetables.

OXO Good Grips Gravy Separator

OXO Gravy Separator shown on a white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

An oft-overlooked tool, the gravy separator is more than just a one-and-done Thanksgiving accessory. It can be utilized for all kinds of sauces and fatty liquids wherein you want to remove some of the unwanted material. It’s a great design, with little to no mess involved, a built-in stopper, and the brand’s signature grippy hold.

Graf Lantz Trivet Set

Graf Lantz trivet on a white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Slow cooking tends to involve hot pans, bowls, and serving platters. Keep your table in good shape with these fashionable felt trivets. They’ve got a mid-century modern flair to them and are also great beneath warm drinks or as a temporary landing spot for frequently used tools that may still be dripping or hot to the touch.

Mark Stock

Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since. He spent years making, selling, and sipping Pinot Noir in the Dundee Hills before a full return to his journalistic roots in 2016. He's helplessly tied to European soccer, casting for trout, and grunge rock. In addition to The Manual, he writes for SevenFifty Daily, Sip Northwest, The Somm Journal, The Drake, Willamette Week, Travel Oregon, and more. He has a website and occasionally even updates it: markastock.com.

Send all editorial inquiries HERE.

The best Valentine’s Day chocolates to buy online (for your partner or yourself)
Satisfy your Valentine's sweet tooth with these incredible chocolates

 

 

Read more
13 best gifts for your girlfriend that she’ll adore
Get inspired by these amazing girlfriend gifts
girlfriend receiving gift.

Even though you may spend more time with your girlfriend than anyone else on your gift list, buying a gift for her can be the toughest box to check off. There’s a lot of pressure on guys to get the perfect gifts for their girlfriend, and expectations can be high. Should it be romantic? Practical? Sentimental? Fun?
The truth is, any gift you give your girlfriend can be perfect as long as it comes from your heart. That said, we know buying girlfriends gifts is challenging, so we’ve put together a list of ideas. They span the gamut in terms of interests and prices, allowing you to suit your needs and find the best gift for your girlfriend.

For the Audiophile
Skullcandy Crusher ANC Headphones

Read more
12 Best Whiskey Glasses to Elevate Your Drinking Experience
Uncommon Green Maps Glass featuring map of Anchorage, Alaska.

Whiskey is the sophisticated man's drink of choice. Especially in the colder months of winter and early spring, a glass of whiskey neat warms the spirit. The complex aromas, the wide-ranging flavor profiles, the varying origins, and the rich traditions are all reasons why it's a spirit that deserves special accessories. In a nutshell, if you're drinking any type of whiskey out of standard bar glassware, you could be doing yourself and your high-priced booze a disservice.

Whether you're a whiskey snob or only occasionally indulge in a nightcap of bourbon or scotch, it's essential to know how to drink whiskey properly. It's also good to know your options regarding the different vessels available to elevate your whiskey drinking experience. There's a staggering amount out there to choose from. Some are aesthetically pleasing, some are designed based on the science behind the spirit — giving you the best experience, and some are a little of both. We'll get into how to choose the perfect glass for your specific needs a little later. But first, let's go over some of the best whiskey glasses we found out there.

Read more