Crock-Pot was invented to solve a religious cooking problem.
In 1940 Irving Naxon patented the slow cooker he would sell as the “Naxon Beanery,” made for cholent, a Jewish Sabbath stew, since Jewish law forbids cooking on the Sabbath. It let food be set before sundown Friday and ready by Saturday with no tending. The Rival company rebranded it Crock-Pot. Sales went from $2 million in 1971 to $93 million by 1975.
Crock-Pot on Brandseum