How a slow cooker can be a college kid's go-to appliance

Forget the hot plate, microwave, George Foreman grill, and even pots and pans. The humble slow cooker is all college students need to pack this fall to stay well-fed.

"Think about the slow cooker as an all-in-one cooking center," writes Bruce Weinstein. He is coauthor with Mark Scarbrough of 2014's The Great American Slow Cooker Book.

"It's a perfect item for simply heating up canned stuff too," Weinstein added. "But the great thing about the slow cooker is that they can set it all up, even if it's canned soup or canned chili, in the morning, and it's ready when they get back from class anytime."

And college kids are not the only ones who need help preparing meals in the hectic back-to-school season. Plenty of families can take note.

Though this may be excessive, Anupy Singla toted slow cookers in three sizes so she could cook all the food she loved in college and grad school. Singla, author of 2010's The Indian Slow Cooker among other books, underscores the advantage that the appliance doesn't require "a lot of hands-on time."

Still, though Weinstein notes a slow cooker can double as an ice bucket in a pinch or an air freshener if you cook some cinnamon sticks on high, it has its limitations. Don't expect browning or much precooking, Weinstein wrote, noting recipes should include ingredients "that are ready to go." The freezer and the salad bar are going to be the best place to shop, he added.

You might not need three slow cookers, but even one can be remarkably versatile, whether you use it in your room (check the dorm rules first) or in a kitchen.

Here are a few ideas on how to use your slow cooker from Singla, Weinstein, Scarbrough - and me. Check out one of their cookbooks, or surf the web for how-to info.

Oatmeal. Get breakfast going the night before, using one part steel-cut oats to four parts water. Cook six hours on low. Use honey (or packets from the dining hall) to sweeten.

Soup. Throw 11/2 cups dried legumes (lentils, beans, etc.), 1/2 cup rice and/or grains or seeds (like quinoa), 2 cups chopped vegetables (onions, carrots, celery, tomato), 6 to 7 cups water, and salt and pepper to taste in a slow cooker. Cook on high for about five hours.

Pulled pork. Cook a boneless pork loin with a bottle of barbecue sauce for eight hours on low. Have friends bring the buns and beer.

Cheesy grits. An alternative to the usual macaroni and cheese that can be topped with some store-bought, precooked cocktail shrimp. Use four parts water to one part grits. Cook six hours, and stir in cheese equal in volume to the raw grits before serving.

Bibimbap. Cook 2 cups brown rice in 31/2 cups hot water for two hours on high (or six hours on low). Stir in as much chili sauce as you like; kimchi if you have it; greens and veggies (snagged from the dining hall salad bar); leftover cooked chicken, beef, or pork, if you eat meat; and an optional raw egg (use a pasteurized egg if there are health concerns). Toss it all until well mixed.

Coffee or tea. Machines kept at a low temperature setting of around 200 degrees can be used to heat water for both beverages.

Chili with franks. Heat three cans of chili in the slow cooker with three to four sliced hot dogs at two hours on high or six on low. Top with grated cheese.

Spiced kidney beans. Put 3 cups dried kidney beans (rinsed) in a slow cooker. Add 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped tomatoes, minced ginger if you have it, 4 minced cloves garlic, and 2 to 4 chopped chilies. Season with 4 whole cloves, 2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, and 2 teaspoons each garam masala and turmeric powder. Cook on high for 12 hours, adding 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro about 5 minutes before the end of cooking.

Hard-cooked eggs. Fill cooker halfway with water, and set on high before going to bed. In the morning, water should be steaming hot. Add eggs, and cook 18 minutes.

Chocolate fondue. Melt chocolate squares in slow cooker on low, up to a few hours. Stir in enough milk or some other liquid (bottled Brass Monkey, the cocktail, worked for me once in a pinch) to loosen the texture for dipping. Pair with cubed pound cake and chopped fruit.