When summer rolls around, consider dusting off that crock-pot. Why? Busting out your slow cooker during warmer months comes with a bunch of advantages that can simplify life and put delicious dishes on the table. With a slow cooker, you don’t have to worry about heating up your entire kitchen. The heat your oven emits, on the other hand, generates warm masses of air that battle with your AC, creating a pretty uncomfortable environment.

Luckily, the crock-pot allows you to whip up flavorful, satisfying meals you can make ahead and store for days, without even touching that oven. The awesome appliance keeps the heat to itself and doesn’t foster a kitchen setting comparable to a sweat lodge or steam room.