I have a policy of not buying kitchen gadgets that only serve one purpose. (Although I think a cherry pitter would be a worthwhile exception to that rule...) One of my favorite multitasking appliances is my slow cooker, and here are eight reasons why:

1. Start it and forget about it: I can start the slow cooker early in the day when I tend to have a more flexible schedule. By the time we get to the crazy part of the day, instead of scrambling to get dinner on the table, we're ready to serve.

2. Doesn't heat up the kitchen: The more we use the oven at this time of year, the more we run the air conditioning. The slow cooker generates much less heat in the kitchen.

3. Can use cheaper cuts of meat: Because of the long cooking time, you can use less expensive cuts of meat which would otherwise tend to be tough.

4. Dinner is never dry: Even if you trim all visible fat from the meat, there's still more than enough liquid to keep everything tender and moist.

5. Best way to cook beans: Dried beans are a cheap and very healthy food, but many people don't like the hassle of soaking and boiling them. The slow-cooker lets all of that happen while you are doing other things.

6. Variety: Many people think of the slow cooker mainly as a way to cook a big slab of meat. While it can be excellent for that purpose, there are many excellent vegetarian slow-cooker recipes as well.

7. Leftovers: The slow cooker is large enough that there are always leftovers, and they always reheat well.

8. One-dish meals: Many slow-cooker recipes are truly one-dish meals, such as hearty soups or stews with lots of vegetables. It really makes dinner simple!

Two great slow-cooker cookbooks to check out:

• Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker, by Robin Robertson
• Southwest Slow Cooking, by Tammy Biber and Theresa Howell

What is your favorite kitchen multitasker?

Please come and visit me on the web at www.promotehealthconsulting.com. All new subscribers to my newsletter in July will be entered into a drawing for a copy of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver. (The winner will be notified by email on August 3.)