Today I wanted to share how to make a natural, homemade Simmer Pot. Something my daughter and I have been making together for years. The aroma is fantastic, and it’s a nice alternative to lighting candles.
Besides talking about how to make a simmer pot, the question might be why should you make a simmer pot?? For me, I find a purpose for certain refrigerated and/or counter things vs throwing them away, plus when a simmer pot is on the stove it adds moisture to your home which I love especially during winter and of course, they smell delicious!
Samantha and I first started making simmer pots about 8 years ago. I honestly can not remember why we made the first one however all I know is ever since she takes the lead and makes them in the fall and winter.
This is a GREAT idea for involving kids of any age in the kitchen!
What Is A Stove Top Simmer Pot?
A stove-top simmer pot is a pot filled with water, fruits, spices and or herbs that gently simmers creating a wonderful smell. Typically a pot can simmer for a few hours. It’s a nice alternative to lighting a scented candle.
How Do I Make A Homemade Simmer Pot?
It’s easy! Start by filling a pot 3/4 of the way with water. I typically use a 3.5 or a 4-quart pot. Add in your aromatics, bring the pot to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Allow it to simmer for 2-3 hours, adding additional water if necessary.
Tip: Set your oven timer or Alexa timer for 60 minutes. That way you can never forget you have something on the stove. After the timer goes off, check your pot and add additional water if necessary.
Add cinnamon sticks, oranges, fresh cranberries, and pine tree clippings or Rosemary for a delicious smelling stove-top simmer pot!
What Can I Put In A Stovetop Simmer Pot?
My favorite combination is the photos you see in this post. Fresh cranberries (which I always seem to have on-hand in the fall & winter), cinnamon sticks, rosemary OR often we clip pieces of our Christmas tree or outdoor pine trees and wither a cut apple or orange. However, you can come up with your favorite combination.
Ideas include: Apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg (if you don’t have cinnamon sticks, you can sprinkle in some cinnamon), you can save peels from apples, pears or clementines or cut them up as they start to get old and use those in the pot along with things like cloves, star anise 0r cardamom pods. I love adding Rosemary when I have leftovers to pots, sometimes sage too. Otherwise, I may have thrown them out.
I have used lavender by itself in a pot from a large lavender bush we have out back and it smelled nice. You can add quarters or slices of lemons, pieces of pine trees, apple cores, bay leaves…whatever scent combos you want to try out.
I also make a lot of Apple Pie Moonshine (so good and easy to make, get the recipe here) in the Fall & Winter. I save those cinnamon sticks after the jars are finished and pop them in a baggie in the freezer until my next pot. They smell delicious!
Can I make A Simmer Pot In A Crock-Pot?
Yes, you can do the same thing you would on your stove in your crock-pot!
I hope you have fun trying out various flavor combinations! Let me know what you come up with! Samantha and I would love to try something new!
Love the 3.5-quart pot in the photos as much as I do?? Here’s the link to check it out. I actually seriously love the whole line of these Anolon Pans. They are the Anolon Nouvelle Hard Copper Bottom Anodized Nonstick Pots and Pans. I use them every day! I really like how heavy the bottom is and how well they cook. Dishwasher safe (although I wash them by hand) and oven safe to 500 degrees. I saw they are on sale at the moment via Amazon or check them and other pieces of that line out on Anolon (not sponsored…Just love their stuff!)
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!
xoxo
How To Make A Simmer Pot
Ingredients
- Water
- 3/4 cup fresh cranberries
- 1/2 an orange or clementine cut into quarters
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2-3 sprigs Rosemary or snipped pine tree pieces
Instructions
- Fill a 4-quart pot with water.
- Add in your aromatics as suggested above or try various add-ins like, bay leaves, lemon, nutmeg, cardamom, lavender, apples, star anise, cloves or whatever combination you dream up!
- Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and allow it to simmer for 2-3 hours.
- Set a time to check on it every 30-60 minutes, adding water if necessary.
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