When most people think of slow cooking, they imagine a crockpot simmering a stew for hours. And while that’s certainly one form of it, slow cooking is so much more. It’s a mindset — one that starts long before a pot is on the stove.
Choosing What to Cook
Slow cooking begins with intention. It’s about deciding what you want to create and giving yourself the time to make it well. Sometimes that means choosing a recipe that calls for hours of patient simmering. Other times, it’s about selecting a few perfect ingredients and letting them shine.
Sourcing Your Ingredients
Part of the pleasure of slow cooking comes from the ingredients themselves. Taking the time to buy fresh vegetables from a market, picking herbs from the garden, or selecting quality cuts of meat or fish turns the process into something more mindful. The journey to the table begins here.
In the summer months when I’m home, I first go to the garden to see what’s ready to eat and base my dinner on that. There’s a special satisfaction in knowing a meal began just steps from your kitchen.
The Preparation
I prefer to cook alone, with music playing softly and perhaps a glass of wine at my side. Cooking becomes a ritual for my senses: the smells, the stirring with a wooden spoon, the heat rising from the stove. I gather all my ingredients before I begin, almost like setting the stage for a quiet performance.
Years ago, my husband gifted me a set of Wüsthof knives. In some cultures, giving a knife is considered bad luck, but to counter the effect, the giver includes a coin for the receiver to return — breaking the “spell.” I love that little bit of folklore. There’s magic in slow cooking.
Cooking with Attention
Slow cooking doesn’t have to mean low-and-slow heat over many hours. It can also mean cooking with attention, letting flavors develop naturally, and not rushing the process. A sauce stirred gently, vegetables roasted until their sweetness deepens, or bread left to rise at its own pace.
A Broader Definition of Slow Cooking
When we see slow cooking as more than just equipment or time, it becomes a way of being in the kitchen. It’s about connection — to the food, the process, and the people who will enjoy it. The result is a meal made with care, and you can taste the difference in every bite.
If you enjoyed this reflection, you might also like What Slow Cooking Can Teach You About Patience — a gentle look at how time and care in the kitchen mirror the rhythms of life.