Winter is the perfect time to break out the slow cooker and put it to good use. From the types of meals you can use, to the ease, and even the great smell—making more time for crockpot meals in winter is always a winner. There are so many reasons why using your slow cooker is incredible in winter, and we’ve compiled a list of our top five favorites. Let’s take a look!

1. You Can Make Warm, Comforting Meals (Without Spending a Lot of Time in the Kitchen)

When it’s cold outside, the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking a complicated meal—you want to cozy up instead. With a slow cooker, you can prepare a warm, hearty meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Just throw all of your ingredients into the pot in the morning, set it to low, and come home to a delicious meal that’s ready to eat.

2. Slow Cookers Use Less Energy than Traditional Ovens

If you’re looking for ways to save money on your energy bill this winter, using a slow cooker is a great option. Slow cookers use less energy than traditional ovens, so you can prepare your meals without worrying about driving up your energy costs.

3. You Can Make Healthy Meals in a Slow Cooker

If you’re trying to eat healthy, a slow cooker can be a great tool to help you prepare nutritious meals. You can easily control the amount of fat and salt that goes into your food when you cook it in a slow cooker, and there are endless healthy recipes available online or in cookbooks specifically for slow cookers.

4. Slow Cookers are Incredibly Versatile

One of the best things about slow cookers is that they’re incredibly versatile — you can make almost anything in them! From soups and stews to casseroles and even creamy tortellini soup, there’s no limit to what you can create with a slow cooker. And because they’re so easy to use, even novice cooks can create complex-tasting dishes with ease.

5. Slow Cookers Keep Your Kitchen Cooler in the Summertime

But that’s not all—they’re also great in the summer too. During the summertime, the last thing you want is to heat up your kitchen with a traditional oven. A slow cooker generates less heat than an oven, so you can prepare your meals without making your kitchen uncomfortably warm. This is especially beneficial if you don’t have air conditioning in your home.

There are so many reasons why using your slow cooker is incredible — these are just five of our favorites! If you don’t have a slow cooker yet, now is the perfect time to invest in one. And if you already have one gathering dust in your kitchen cabinet, pull it out and put it to good use this winter! Your taste buds (and your wallet) will thank you.