Did you know that January is National Slow Cooking Month? In December, many of us slave over complicated holiday recipes that keep us bound to the kitchen—it’s no wonder that come January, we have renewed appreciation for an appliance that will do the heavy lifting for us.

The first slow cooker was invented by Irving Naxon, who patented it as the “Naxon Beanery All-Purpose Cooker.” Inspired by tales of cholent, a Lithuanian bean stew his grandmother used to make that was prepared largely using residual heat, he set out to create an appliance that would allow food to cook evenly throughout the day.

In 1970, Naxon sold his Beanery to Rival Manufacturing, who turned it into the Crock Pot we know today. The appliance became hugely popular with working mothers in particular; as its slogan noted, it “cooks all day while the cook’s away.” The invention of the removable crock in 1974, which made cleanup a cinch, added to the convenience factor. It was energy efficient, too, making it a boon to households during the oil crises of the seventies.

While the popularity of the slow cooker waned somewhat in the eighties, perhaps due to the ascendance of the microwave, it has remained a kitchen staple well into the twenty-first century. It seems we can’t get enough of the machine that lets us add our ingredients, turn a knob and walk away. Soups, meats and mulled cider cook as we rest or turn our attention to other things, all the while filling our house with appetizing scents of culinary delights to come.

Today’s Crock-Pots are increasingly high tech, with customizable heat settings and the ability to connect to other slow cookers to create multiple dishes. The new Wemo “Smart” Slow Cooker is even controllable remotely through wifi! It seems the Crock Pot is here to stay. This January, let your slow cooker make dinner while you let your goals for the new year simmer!