Crock Pot Designs: The Fun Starts Here

There are now crock pot designs to match your inner favorite cartoon character, Nerd or superhero. So buckle up and let’s go on a ride. The fun starts here!

Crock Pot Designs: The Fun Starts Here
Crock Pot Designs: The Fun Starts Here
This post contains affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read the full policy here.

Slow cookers, or crock-pots as they are commonly known, were originally patented in 1940 as a “bean simmer pot” and the first “Simmer Crock” hit the market in 1950 with limited success.

In the 1970s, Crock-Pot became an unlikely symbol of the women’s liberation movement as more women took control of their own destiny by working outside the home. It was a way for women to earn a living and still take care of their families. It was proof that the Modern Day Woman could, indeed, do it all.

Crock-pots haven’t changed much since their inception and why should they? They are the epitome of simplicity. Just throw something in there, turn it on and leave it to its own devices. Now, there have been a few minor improvements, such as larger sizes and timers but in general, they are the same as the originals shown above.

Some things never change:

  • Manual high, low and warm setting
  • Removable Stoneware insert for easy serving and cleaning
  • Aluminum housing
  • Non-skid rubber feet for stability
  • Cool-touch handles
  • Glass lid
  • ETL Certified and UL listed.

But guess what has changed?!?! Crock-pot Designs. There’s now a crock-pot design to match your favorite cartoon character, Nerdist tendencies and inner superhero. So buckle up and let’s go on a ride. The fun starts here!

In A Galaxy Far, Far Away

This film franchise has ended but rest assured that Stars Wars will live on in our hearts and our minds…and on Disney+. After being rejected by two major studios, the first movie Star Wars: A New Hope was finally granted the go-ahead by 29th Century Fox. What was to be a low-budget, standalone film morphed into a saga that has continued for over 40 years. Oddly enough, that means that the Star Wars franchise has been around since the 70s…just like Crock-Pot. Coincidence? I think not.

Mandalorian 7 Quart Slow Cooker

Crock Pot Designs: The Fun Starts Here
Mandalorian 7 Quart Slow Cooker

Star Wars Slow Cooker
2 Quart for appetizers, dips, sauces

Star Wars 2-Quart Slow Cooker
Star Wars 2-Quart Slow Cooker

Baby Star Wars Slow Cooker
2-quart

Baby Star Wars 2-Quart Slow Cooker
Baby Star Wars 2-Quart Slow Cooker

Just For Fun

M-I-CCCCCCC-K-E-YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY M-O-U-S-E!

Who doesn’t love Mickey? He turned 90 years old just a couple of years ago so I think it’s safe to assume that we all grew up with him in our lives!

Mickey made his 1928 debut in the short film Steamboat Willie, one of Disney’s first sound cartoons. The new Disney mascot was created in secret to replace Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, the Disney mascot that was co-owned by Disney and Universal Studios.

Mickey Mouse Duo Slow Cooker
5-quart cooker with 20 oz dipper pot

Mickey Mouse Duo 5-quart cooker with 20 oz dipper pot
Mickey Mouse Duo 5-quart cooker with 20 oz dipper pot

Disney Mickey Mouse 90th Anniversary Slow Cooker
2-quart for appetizers, dips, sauces

Disney Mickey Mouse 90th Anniversary Slow Cooker
Disney Mickey Mouse 90th Anniversary Slow Cooker

Mickey Mouse Food Head Slow Cooker
7-quart

Mickey Mouse Food Head 7 Quart
Mickey Mouse Food Head 7 Quart

New Age Cartoons

Pixar was the brainchild of Disney executive John Lasseter. He pitched the idea of using computer animation for producing movies but Disney’s reaction was not what he expected: They fired him.

He teamed up with George Lucas, and later Steve Jobs, to create Pixar Studios. Despite an Academy Award nomination and some success in advertising, the company struggled. It wasn’t until their 1988 Academy win for “Tin Toy” that things started to look up. Turns out Disney wanted in after all. And the rest, as they say, is history.

What’s that? Who’s Jack-Jack? Just ask a Millennial. Or a Post-Millennial. I’m sure they’ll think it’s charming that you don’t know.

Pixar Trio Slow Cooker
20-ounce Warmer only, does not cook food

Pixar Trio Slow Cooker 20-ounce
Pixar Trio Slow Cooker 20-ounce

Disney Pixar Characters Slow Cooker
7 Quart

Disney Pixar Characters Slow Cooker 7 Quart
Disney Pixar Characters Slow Cooker 7 Quart

7-quart cooker complete with rocket ship cooking control and Luxo Ball lid handle

Lightning McQueen Slow Cooker
4-quart

Lightning McQueen Slow Cooker 4 Quart
Lightning McQueen Slow Cooker 4 quart

Honorable Mention

These character powerhouses were dreamed up by Illumination Entertainment and Nickelodeon, respectively.

Although they don’t have the big-name connections of some of the others, they deserve respect in their own right. The Minions is the highest-grossing non-Disney film of all time and SpongeBob SquarePants has a television history spanning over 12 years (so far).

They have certainly earned a spot in the Crock-Pot Hall of Fame!

Minions Slow Cooker
2-quart for appetizers, dips, sauces

Minions Slow Cooker 2-quart
Minions Slow Cooker 2-quart

SpongeBob SquarePants Slow Cooker
7 quart

SpongeBob SquarePants Slow Cooker 7 Quart
SpongeBob SquarePants Slow Cooker 7 Quart

Super Heroes

Comic book superheroes have been around since the 1930s. The first was Mandrake the Magician in 1934 but it didn’t take long for him to be overshadowed by The Phantom (1936), Superman (1938) and Batman (1939).

Frankly, I’m not surprised. Mandrake’s superpower was his ability to “make people believe anything, simply by gesturing hypnotically”. Since he was, apparently, unable to make anyone believe he was the top superhero, he definitely deserved to go.

Like Crock-Pot, superheroes haven’t changed much since they showed up on the scene some 80-plus years ago. Why mess with a good thing? Let’s get cooking with the Earth’s mightiest superheroes!

Spiderman Slow Cooker
7-quart

Spiderman Slow Cooker 7-quart
Spiderman Slow Cooker 7-quart

Superman Slow Cooker
2  Quart for appetizers, dips, sauces  

Superman Slow Cooker 2  Quart
Superman Slow Cooker 2  Quart

Captain America Slow Cooker
2 Quart for appetizers, dips, sauces

Marvel Captain America Shield Slow Cooker 2 Quart
Marvel Captain America Shield Slow Cooker 2 Quart

Batman Slow Cooker
2 Quart size for appetizers, dips, sauces

Batman Slow Cooker 2 Quart
Batman Slow Cooker 2 Quart

Marvel Kawaii Slow Cooker
7 Quart

Marvel Kawaii Slow Cooker 7 Quart
Marvel Kawaii Slow Cooker 7 Quart

Wonder Woman Slow Cooker
7-quart

Wonder Woman Slow Cooker 7 Quart
Wonder Woman Slow Cooker 7 Quart

Well, That Was Fun!

Well, there you have it, all the fun I could muster up all in one place. Which one are you going to get? Let me know in the comments below!

Oh, and, in case you’re wondering, I owned the Flame Red and Avocado Green Crock-Pots, circa 1971.

Because I really am that old.

All my best,

Cynthia
cynthia@cynthiaeats.com

Review: KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Mixer

I LOVE my KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer  The sleek design and durability have made this mixer a kitchen status symbol.

I’m going to tell you the truth…I LOVE my KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer.  I have the Empire Red model pictured above. I’ve had it for a number of years now and I use it constantly.

The sleek design, the pop of color and durability have made this mixer a kitchen status symbol, displayed proudly on valuable counter space even in small apartments, rather than stored away in a cabinet.

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer in Cobalt Blue
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer in Cobalt Blue

This brand is so iconic that Julia Child’s blue KitchenAid is in “her” kitchen recreated by The Smithsonian Institute for the National Museum of American History.

Despite its pretty face, this thing is a workhorse. Throughout its 100-year history, the KitchenAid has proven to be a piece of culinary equipment that is incredibly strong and reliable. It has been a trusted brand name with some of the highest customer ratings for any product sold online.

In addition to the stellar reputation and high demand, the pricing of their mixer product line remains affordable and accessible to virtually any home chef, as well as the professional chefs, bakers and foodies who have invested in a KitchenAid appliance.

The History of Kitchenaid Mixers

The Hobart
The Hobart

The history of KitchenAid Mixers began with a company called The Hobart Electric Manufacturing Company.

Hobart was founded in 1897 by Clarence Charles Hobart out of Troy Ohio. They specialized in creating powered food production machines for the foodservice industry.

In 1914 Herbert Johnston, an engineer working for the Hobart Corporation came up with the concept of an industrial-size electric free-standing mixer for the foodservice industry.

The original 80-quart mixer was called The Hobart and proudly served on U.S.Navy battleships in World War I.

Original KitchenAid Model
Original KitchenAid Model

In 1918 The Hobart Corporation began testing a new brand new product – A smaller version of The Hobart, intended for home use.  The KitchenAid trademark was registered with the U.S. Patent Office in 1919.

That same year, the mixer that will win the “Oldest Running Hobart Mixer Contest” in 1990 is built and sold to Von Hatten’s Bakery in Fort Smith, AR.

The home models were pricey at $189.00 (the equivalent of $2,800 when adjusted for inflation) and heavy (65 pounds!).  Many stores wouldn’t stock them because of the price so Hobart sold them door to door, using a mostly female workforce.

Updated 1955 KitchenAid Model
Updated 1955 KitchenAid Model

The brand struggled to catch on due to the high cost and stiff competition. The current silhouette was introduced in the 1930s by an industrial designer named Egmont Arens and when eye-popping colors were introduced in 1955, the brand took off.  The rest, as they say, is history.

My Glorious KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Mixer

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer in Empire Red
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer in Empire Red

The wonderful thing about the Artisan KitchenAid Mixer is its versatility.  It comes with a flat beater paddle, dough hook, wire whip, splash shield, and a stainless steel bowl..  It has 10 speeds and a tilt-head design that allows for easy access to the bowl.

The Flat Beater Handle

  • This is the primary multi-purpose beater and should be used for heavy mixtures such as:
    • KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Flat Beater
      KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Flat Beater

      Cakes

    • Frostings
    • Cookies
    • Meatloaf
    • Mashed potatoes
    • Shredding cooked chicken, pork or beef

The Wire Whip

  • The Wire Whip is meant primarily for incorporating air into:
    • KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Wire Whip
      KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Wire Whip

      Eggs

    • Egg whites
    • Whipping cream
    • Some candies
    • Angel food cake
    • Mayonnaise
    • Making butter

The Dough Hook

  • The dough hook is used for kneading yeast dough such as:
    • KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Dough Hook
      KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Dough Hook

      Bread

    • Coffeecakes
    • Pizza dough
    • Buns
    • Pasta dough

These are only a few examples of the usefulness of this mixer. All the ways to use these included attachments are limited only by your imagination.

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Mixer Attachments

Did someone say attachments?  Ohhhhhh, my! This is where things really heat up.

These 14 attachments will make you rethink the way you cook.

KitchenAid Pasta Maker
KitchenAid Pasta Maker

You’ll be able to grind your own meat and poultry to ensure that you get the quality and fat content you desire. 

Pasta making will be a one-stop project! 

Vegetables?  Slice ’em, dice ’em, grate ’em, spiralize ’em, noodle ’em or puree ’em — any way you want.  (Did I just hear you humming the tune to “Any Way You Want It”?)

KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder Attachment, White
KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder Attachment, White

Oh, and don’t forget to make some ice cream for dessert!

These attachments will fit any KitchenAid Mixer, no matter the model or when it was manufactured.  It will fit your mixer, your neighbors’ mixer (yeah, you better hide ’em), they’ll even fit the mixer Grandma left you in her will.  KitchenAid actually GUARANTEES it!

Mixer Attachments:

 Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder Attachment

KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment
KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment

Metal Food Grinder Attachment

Pasta Roller and Cutter Attachment

KitchenAid Pasta-Extruder Attachment

Ravioli Maker Attachment

KitchenAid Ravioli Maker
KitchenAid Ravioli Maker

7 Blade Spiralizer with Peel, Core and Slice

Citrus Juicer Attachment

All Metal Grain Mill

Masticating Juicer and Sauce Attachment

KitchenAid Masticating Juicer and Sauce Attachment
KitchenAid Masticating Juicer and Sauce Attachment

Sifter + Scale Attachment

Food Processor Attachment and Dicing Kit Attachment

Vegetable Sheet Cutter Attachment

Tilt Head Flex Edge Beater

But, wait!  There’s more!  After you’ve picked out your perfect set of attachments, let’s look into their assortment of mixing bowls.

Your KitchenAid is a thing of beauty, a sleek, shining piece of art on your countertop but now you can make it even more alluring with a decorative mixing bowl!

The ceramic bowls are titanium reinforced to resist chipping, cracking, crazing and staining, and are guaranteed with a 5-year no-chip limited warranty.  They’re freezer, microwave, dishwasher and oven (up to 475°F) -safe.

The glass bowls are freezer, dishwasher and microwave friendly (although they may break more easily than the ceramic style).  Both styles fit the locking mechanism of any of the tilt-head models.

Mixer Bowls:


Clear Glass Bowl with Measurement Markings and Lid

KitchenAid Quilted Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
KitchenAid Quilted Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl

Ice Cream Maker

Hammered Glass Mixing Bowl with Lid

Quilted Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl

Ceramic Mixing Bowl: Ink Watercolor

Ceramic Mixing Bowl: Confetti Sprinkle

Ceramic Mixing Bowl: Mermaid Lace White

Ceramic Mixing Bowl: White Chocolate

The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is a true classic.  Its original design was so well done it has needed very few alterations since it first entered the market. They come in a full range of attractive colors and possess accessibility that anyone can handle.

From the young, eager chefs just entering the kitchen to professional chefs who want a quality product, these mixers are quintessential examples of an industrial-grade machine disguised in a pretty color. This wide appeal is what helps make KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixers stand out among other mixing appliances.

All my best,

Cynthia
cynthia@cynthiaeats.com

This post contains affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read the full privacy policy here.
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