Why Do Slow Cookers Crack?
Slow cookers are great for cooking meals at home because they allow food to simmer over low heat for hours without burning or drying out.
They also save time since you don’t have to constantly check on them.
However, slow cookers aren’t perfect.
Some models crack after years of use, even though they’ve never been dropped or bumped.
Why does this happen?
There are two main reasons why slow cooker cracks occur.
The first reason is that the lid isn’t properly secured to the body of the slow cooker.
This allows moisture from inside the slow cooker to escape through the gap between the lid and the body
Why Do Slow Cookers Crack?
Slow cookers crack because of the way they operate. A slow cooker operates by using convection, which heats the air around the food. This creates a hot spot where the food sits. Over time, the metal in the cooker gets hot and eventually cracks. It’s not a problem if you’re only using it occasionally but if you use it every day, it could become a big issue.
5 Causes of Slow Cooker Cracking
If you use your slow cooker daily, it’s likely that you’ll experience cracking sooner rather than later. Here are five reasons why your slow cooker might crack. 1. Too Much Heat Your slow cooker needs to reach a certain temperature to properly cook your food. If you set it too low, your food won’t get cooked properly. If you set it higher, you run the risk of burning it. To avoid this, you should follow these steps:
· Cooking Frozen Foods Straight from the Fridge
Cooking frozen foods straight from the fridge is not recommended because the freezer packs used to freeze the food could leach moisture into the food causing it to dry out. This could result in the food being mushy instead of firm. It is better to thaw the food completely before putting it in the slow cooker. 2. Not Enough Liquid You should always add enough liquid to your slow cooker. If you don’t, your food will dry out and become tough. For instance, if you’re making soup, you should add about 1/3 cup of liquid per quart of soup.
· Putting Your Crock on The Burner Directly
If you put your crock directly on the burner, you run the risk of burning yourself. Always place your crock on a trivet or other heatproof surface. · Using Too Much Heat When using too much heat, your food won’t get cooked evenly. Instead, it’ll burn on the outside while still raw in the middle.
If your slow cooker cracks during or after the cooking process
If your slow cooker crack during or after the cooking period, it’s not safe to continue using it. This could lead to serious injury. To avoid such accidents, always follow these safety tips: 1 Never leave your slow cooker unattended.
· Putting a Cold Crock in a Hot Crock
This happens because the crock gets hot from the stove top and the cold crock doesn’t cool down fast enough. It can happen even if the crock is placed on a cooling rack. 2 Do not put a hot crock into a cold oven.
What Can You Do If Your Slow Cooker Is Cracked?
If your slow cooker is cracked, you can repair it yourself. Here’s how: 1. Remove the lid. 2. Turn off the power switch.
Is Eating from a Cracked Crock-Pot Safe?
Yes, eating from a cracked crockpot is safe. However, if you notice any leaks, you should stop using the crockpot immediately. Also, if you see any cracks in the crockpot, you should not use it until it is repaired.
Cleaning
You can clean the crockpot with warm water and soap. Make sure to rinse the crockpot thoroughly after cleaning.
Compounding damage
If you notice any cracks or chips in the exterior of the crockpot, immediately stop using it. This could lead to dangerous leaks if not repaired properly. Cleaning Answer: To clean the interior of the crockpot simply fill the bottom pan with hot tap water and let it soak overnight. Remove the crockpot from the sink and drain the water. Rinse the crockpot with cold water and dry it completely with paper towels.
Contaminates
Clean the inside of the crockpot thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Be sure to rinse well after cleaning.