Day 333.
Happy Black Friday! I hope each of you had as wonderful of a Thanksgiving as I did. It was also terribly easy---we had 6 crockpot dishes and a turkey-in-the-oven. Lots of food, and a super-easy clean-up.
But.
At about 10pm last night, the house was cleared, and I noticed a funk. It wasn't bad, but it was a slightly sour smell of old mulled wine, and dirty dishes. Instead of actually cleaning the dishes and emptying the wine crockpot, I eliminated the odor.
With the Little Dipper!
The Ingredients.
--water
--baking soda (for the little dipper, I used 3 T)
--crockpot
The Directions.
Pour water into the crockpot you are going to use. Add baking soda. Mix. Plug it in and turn to low (the Little Dipper and some of the small ones don't have settings, they just plug in). Keep the lid off.
Let the baking soda do the job of soaking up unpleasant odors.
If you would prefer to use the crockpot as an air freshener, fill with water, and add:
--drops of essential oil
--potpourri scent
--2 tsps of vanilla or other desired extract
--ground cinnamon, and cloves
--a cinnamon stick
--slices of lemon
The Verdict.
I was quite pleased with how the baking soda really did absorb the kitchen odors. I took the mini crock into another room later and smelled the water----it smelled strongly of mulled wine.
woah.
42 comments:
I'm new to your blog, but I'm so glad I found it. I'm excited to have new recipes to use in the coming year. And some to use at Christmas. Jacquie in AZ
What a nifty tip! The best! Thanks, I'll be remembering this one!
Oh my gosh, this is a great idea. I only have a giant, ancient (nine year old) Crockpot, but I will still use this. So often i return to the house after a walk and notice I can smell that night's dinner...or breakfast. Uck.
Wow, I never would've thought of that. Thanks!
Thanks for the tip. I have a Little Dipper that I rarely use. This will be a good use for it.
Clever, clever, clever!!!!
I use my mini crock all the time as a candle melter thingy (lol). Ya know, like the ones that you sit the candle on. I just sit the candle in the crock and plug it in. I think it makes the candles last longer. BUT, after you do this, the wick sinks and it can't be used as a regular candle again.
"I only have a giant, ancient (nine year old) Crockpot,..."
LOL! That is a baby crockpot! I am still using the one that I bought in 1978!
this is a great idea...I have to try it!!
Thank you for all the recipes and tips! We used crockpots to cook the extra stuffing that didn't fit in the bird, and another one to keep the mashed potatoes warm. We were all pleased with how well they both turned out! I will definitely use them again next year at Thanksgiving.
This is a timely post. My sister's apartment smells kind if stale from being shut up but with a new born baby in the house I don't want to use any sort of spray so this should do the trick. :-D
What a great idea! I'll definitely use this to get rid of those funky smells that pop up now and then. Right now though, I'm going to go put in some vanilla or cinnamon and give the house a nice welcoming aroma!
Anonymous--well, *I* think it's ancient because it has no timer, no warm setting, and when I go to a store with all the new fancy crockpots I just drool. I did find on the Rival website a plug in timer that adapts your crockpot, but the catch is you are limited in your cooking time choices before it'll switch to warm.
Still, I am grateful that I have a crockpot at all so I can do all these cool things Stephanie thinks up!
Great idea! Another reason to get a little dipper. Oh Santa...
I love baking soda. I love slow cookers. You are brilliant!
Guess what's going on my Santa list this year !
I haven't owned a crockpot since about 1980 something, but I want one now and thanks to you, I have the enthusiasm to USE it !
I found your blog when my husband started working an hour away and I realized I needed to start cooking (I DO NOT cook). He now raves to his friends how great I am...and I had my in-laws over for a fully Crockpot Thanksgiving and my brother in law commented and how good my cooking was. THANK YOU!!!
This would be really smart to do while making stinky stuff like bacon or fish.
This is a good idea! I would never have thought of it and now I can't wait to try it.
Thanks!
It probably helps keep the air hydrated, too.
Great idea!
I'm in the market for a new crockpot since my old one desperately needs to be replaced. I've read many online reviews, but I am wondering which crockpot is your favorite. Have you used any that you would not recommend?
Thought about you when using my crockpot yesterday. Thought about you again when I was cleaning my crockpot this morning... so not only will you have cooked 365 crock meals, but you will have washed that dang crockpot(s) 365 times! Bet you can't wait for 2009.
Hi~
How long did you leave the little dipper plugged in? I just wondered if you left it overnight....or just a few hours. Sounds like a great idea!
LOL!
How cool. I can't wait to try it on my turkey stock smell.
I just found you through "todays creative blog"!! Thank-you for making a blog on crockpot cooking!! I love my crockpot! I will be back often.
I precooked my sausage and veggies for the stuffing then added it all with the Pep farm herb mix to the crock with about a half gallon of fat free chicken broth. Plugged it into a plug in the office and voila. Turkey cooked in less time.. was easier to put in and take out sans the 7 lbs of stuffing. I would do this again.. I will try the deodorizer. Wish I had it the day I roasted the turnip!
I have a electric potpourri crockpot...I think I'm going to try this in it.Thanks!
I purchased a new 6 quart Crockpot about 3 years ago, but I recently starting using my 4 quart 1972 crockpot (with Off, Low and High settings only) a few weeks ago--to make the applesause recipie. Love it and make applesause every week. My husband accidently dropped something heavy on the lid and broke it, but a plate or large bowl works.
For the deodorizer trick, I will use a tiny popourri crockpot (plug in only; not for food use).
Great idea! I will definately try that!
I wonder if this will help with the fresh paint smell? Off to try it now.
YOU ARE BRILLIANT-- I hate that smell, I am going to remember this next time I cook fish.
Love your blog! Great ideas! And the question is.....will you continue to do this throughout 2009?? Thank you so much!
great idea! I have an ancient thrift store find crockpot but it has served me well.
My sensitive pregnant nose thanks you so very much! I used my big crockpot in the bedroom after our three year old had a night of diarrea and vomiting. I left it on downstairs overnight and for the first time in weeks, I woke up to NO FOOD SMELLS!! So awesome! Thank you!!!
What a great idea!
Well I burned a soy sauce/brown sugar marinade in my oven so I have my Lil Dipper running right now. We'll see if it takes away the gnarly burnt smell!
Also I got my Lil Dipper at the Salvation Army Thrift Store for $2. It's a snazzy red color too!
I love this idea! We use baking soda a lot here... and I don't want any fake deodorizers around... but I really do need something right now so this is just the thing to try. Is a good thing I was looking through old posts!
Recently I tried using chicken feet to make chicken stock in my slow cooker, not realizing that the feet had "turned". The whole house filled with a disgusting, rotten smell.
I put about a 1/3 of a cup of baking soda and a lot of water in my 6-quarter, turned it on, and in a few hours that pervasive smell was completely absorbed by the baking soda.
Thanks for the tip.
Will be doing this tonight during dinner!! Awesome!
This is a great idea I would have never thought of this. I did baking soda with lemon and another one in a potpouri warmer with vanilla and baking soda. My house should be magical in a few hours ;)
for those looking for a good crockpot...
I'm using a rival crockpot from the 70's. When I moved out I purchased a new crock pot and it was HORRIBLE I begged my mom to trade me and she gave me the crockpot I've been using my entire life, nothing compares to the original rivals. I mainly buy 50's-70's cooking and bakeware because they really don't make things how the used to!
Another great way to have your home smell great is through soy candles! Soy wax holds the scent better and does not release harmful chemicals into the air as paraffin does. Not to mention paraffin candles encourage our dependence on foreign oil, soy is grown in the USA and helps support American farmers and local businesses. I make soy candles and any left over wax I have I put in a potpourri pot and it works amazingly.
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Happy Slow Cooking!