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    HOME » Allergies

    Dated: January 10, 2023 Last Modified: January 10, 2023 by Laura This post may contain affiliate links.

    Winter Simmer Pot

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    A winter simmer pot is a great way to make your home smell amazing! A few simple ingredients are all you need. Plus, safe for those with breathing issues and cats.

    Perfect for the holiday season and all winter long, this winter simmer pot is filled with oranges, spices, and a touch of sweetness from cranberries. This is a natural way of adding some seasonal scents to your entire house.

    A white pot with a wood handle is on a wood tabletop. It's filled with orange slices, whole spices, and cranberries. More berries and spices and greenery surround the pot as it rests on a red and white stripe towel.

    Free from: Wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, fish, shellfish, crustaceans, mollusks, celery, corn, sesame, mustard, lupin, sulfites, and more 

    Simmer pots make the home smell amazing. Using natural ingredients, you can avoid the artificial scents that can sometimes cause issues, especially for people with asthma or those with cats!

    This simmer pot is of my favorite ways to have in the kitchen in the winter months. It's filled with some of my personal favorite things but I share a whole bunch of ideas so that you can customize it to your liking.

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love this Winter Simmer Pot 
    • What is a simmer pot? 
    • Ingredients 
    • Instructions 
    • Variations 
    • FAQs
    • Top Tips 
    • More Home Care Articles
    • Recipe

    Why You’ll Love this Winter Simmer Pot 

    • Make the whole house smell amazing
    • Easy to make
    • Great alternative to candles or essential oils 
    • Safe for people with asthma or other breathing difficulties 

    What is a simmer pot? 

    A simmer pot is basically a hot pot of water and aromatics on the stove that you gently simmer and provide a lovely smell. It’s kind of like a stovetop potpourri! 

    Simmer pots are a great alternative to candles, wax melts, air fresheners, or essential oil diffusers as they are safe to use around cats and for people with asthma. 

    As the small saucepan filled with flavorful things gently simmers on the stove top, the steam fills the home with scented vapors, making it smell so good. 

    Ingredients 

    The ingredients for this couldn’t be easier! 

    Ingredients for a winter simmer pot on dark blue plates on a wood table. Black and white labels have been added to name each ingredient.
    • Orange slices: Slice an orange into thick slices and squeeze any leftover juice into the pot. You can also use orange peels if you have some left over from cooking or baking.
    • Cinnamon sticks: You can use powdered cinnamon but I love the ability to reuse cinnamon sticks a few times. 
    • Whole cloves: Enhance the cinnamon smell.
    • Water: To boil the things in, of course! 

    Instructions 

    For the full instructions, please see the recipe card below. You can also use the “jump to recipe” button at the top of the page. 

    First, slice any fruit that you are using into thick slices. Place them in your pot.

    Next, add any spices like cinnamon and whole cloves. Add the cranberries. 

    Finally, add the water (or juice/cider) to the pot. 

    Step one of making a simmer pot. A white pot is shown with uncooked ingredients in it. It rests on a wood tabletop. A green circle with the number 1 is in the top left.
    A white pot with a wood handle is on a wood table. It's filled with a simmering simmer pot filled with ingredients. A green circle with the number 2 is in the top left corner.

    Place the pot on the stovetop and let it come to a low simmer over low heat. Let it simmer for up to 8 hours as it gently scents your home. 

    Make sure that you monitor the water level and add more fresh water as needed throughout the day.

    Variations 

    There are so many things you can add to a simmer pot to make it your favorite flavors. Here are a few ideas of things to add:

    • Apple slices or apple peels
    • Pear slices
    • Lemon slices or lemon peel
    • Vanilla extract
    • Peppermint extract 
    • Nutmeg
    • Star anise 
    • bay leaves
    • Other fresh fruits like cherries
    • Fresh ginger
    • Replace the water with apple cider

    FAQs

    What is the point of a simmer pot? 

    It’s just a quick, easy, and inexpensive method of making a home smell good. Plus, it’s safer for people with breathing problems to use a simmer pot than a scented candle or essential oil diffuser. 

    How long can you use a simmer pot?

    If you are using fresh fruit, I would remove the fruit and replace it with fresh fruit each day. Otherwise, you can drain the water and keep the herbs and spices in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

    Can I drink the water of a simmer pot? 

    I mean, you could, but I’m not sure you would want to. You can only drink it if you are NOT using essential oils. If you use food grade ingredients, it should be safe to drink. I just don't think it would taste good. It's made for smelling not drinking.

    Are simmer pots safe for cats? 

    It depends. Cats have a very delicate respiratory system. NEVER use essential oils in your simmer pot ingredients as those can be toxic or even deadly to cats and dogs. 
    Cats are safe around spices like cinnamon, cloves, and herbs like rosemary. However, cats find citrus scents to be very unpleasant. To make this in your home if you have a cat, I recommend making it without the citrus. 
    In place of citrus, add a tea bag like chai tea for a cat friendly option! 

    Can I make this in a slow cooker?

    Yes! The slow cooker version is exactly the same as the stovetop version. Add the ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on high heat with the lid on. When it comes to a simmer, you can remove the lid and turn the heat to the lowest setting.

    Top Tips 

    • To make this for guests, pop all the ingredients on the stove about 10 minutes before guests arrive. 
    • Don’t let the water run low. You can always add more water to the pot as it simmers away. 
    • You can make this in a small crock pot and leave the lid off. This will simmer even more gently so you don’t have to worry about it when you are entertaining. 

    More Home Care Articles

    • Coconut Free Product Guide
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    • 3 Ingredient Hypoallergenic Shampoo

    If you try these out, please leave a comment below! This provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. And if you want more delicious, dietary friendly recipes you can subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

    Recipe

    A white pot is filled with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and other fresh whole spices. A red and white stripe towel is under the pot. More cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and greenery surround the pot.

    Winter Simmer Pot

    A winter simmer pot is a great way to make your home smell amazing! A few simple ingredients Safe for those with breathing issues and cats.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Home Care
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
    Keyword: allergy friendly, easy recipe, holiday
    Allergen: Celery Free, coconut free, Corn Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Fish / Shellfish Free, Peanut Free, Sesame Free, Soy Free, Tree Nut Free, Wheat Free
    Yield: 1 simmer pot
    Author: Laura // Living Beyond Allergies

    Equipment

    • Sauce pot
    • knife
    • measuring cups

    Ingredients

    • 1 orange sliced
    • 2-3 cinnamon sticks
    • 3-5 whole cloves
    • ½ cup cranberries fresh or dried
    • 2 cups water

    Instructions

    • Prep the ingredients. Slice the oranges or other fruits. Add all ingredients to a small to medium sized pot. Pour the water over top.
    • Simmer. Over a low heat, bring the simmer pot to a simmer. Let simmer on low for up to 8 hours, making sure to add more water as needed. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Variations 
    There are so many things you can add to a simmer pot to make it your favorite flavors. Here are a few ideas of things to add:
    • Apple slices or apple peels
    • Pear slices
    • Lemon slices or lemon peel
    • Vanilla extract
    • Peppermint extract 
    • Nutmeg
    • Star anise 
    • bay leaves
    • Other fresh fruits like cherries
    • Fresh ginger
    • Replace the water with apple cider
    Can I make this in a slow cooker?
    Yes! The slow cooker version is exactly the same as the stovetop version. Add the ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on high heat with the lid on. When it comes to a simmer, you can remove the lid and turn the heat to the lowest setting.
     
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    Hi, I’m Laura! Welcome to Living Beyond Allergies, a mix of healthy + indulgent allergy free recipes, plus a sprinkle of health resources. All eaters welcome! To learn more about me, click here!

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