How to clean a slow cooker: the crock, the lid and the burnt-on ring

Step by step: how to clean a slow cooker

Safety first. Unplug the slow cooker and let it cool before cleaning. Never put the base or cord in water. Do not put a hot crock or lid into cold water or onto a wet counter: sudden temperature changes can crack stoneware and glass.

1. 1

   Unplug and let the crock cool

   Turn the slow cooker off, unplug it and leave the crock in the base until it is warm rather than hot, about 30 to 60 minutes. Move leftovers into shallow covered containers and refrigerate them within two hours instead of letting them cool in the crock.

2. 2

   Lift out the crock with oven mitts

   Use oven mitts to lift the crock out. Set it on a dry towel or trivet, not a wet counter or cold sink, because a sudden temperature change can crack it. Hamilton Beach also notes the bottom of the crock is rough enough to scratch a countertop.

3. 3

   Soak and wash the crock and lid

   Fill the crock with hot, soapy water and let it soak for 15 to 30 minutes, then wash it and the lid with a non-scratch sponge. Rinse and dry. Most stoneware crocks and glass lids are dishwasher safe; check your manual and skip the sanitize cycle.

4. 4

   Lift a burnt-on ring with baking soda

   For a dark ring at the food line, put the crock back in the base and fill it with water to just above the ring. Add a squirt of dish soap and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda, cover, and heat on low for 1 to 2 hours. Let it cool, then scrub; the ring should wipe off with little effort.

5. 5

   Remove white residue with vinegar

   A chalky white film is calcium from your wash water. Pour in equal parts white vinegar and water, wipe all the cloudy areas with a soft pad, then empty, rinse and dry the crock.

6. 6

   Clean the lid seals

   Some lids have removable rubber seals or a gasket. KitchenAid recommends taking its three lid seals off before putting the lid in the dishwasher and washing the seals by hand. Let them dry before refitting so food does not trap moisture.

7. 7

   Wipe the base and cord

   With the base unplugged and cool, wipe the inside and outside with a damp cloth, then dry it. Use a little dish soap on the cloth for drips that have baked onto the heating well. Never put the base in water or under the tap.

What should you not use on a slow cooker?

Skip abrasive cleansers, metal scouring pads and anything that shocks the crock with cold. Stoneware is tough but brittle, and a chip or crack means the crock needs replacing.

• Abrasives: both KitchenAid and the Hamilton Beach manual say not to use abrasive cleansers or metal scouring pads on the crock.
• Cold water on a hot crock or lid: Hamilton Beach warns against sudden, extreme temperature changes, such as putting a hot crock into cold water or onto a wet surface.
• Hard knocks: avoid hitting the crock or lid against the faucet or other hard surfaces while you wash it.
• A damaged crock: do not keep using a crock or lid that is chipped, cracked or severely scratched.
• Water on the base: wipe it only. The base holds the heating element and wiring.

Stoneware vs nonstick inserts: how cleaning differs

Classic slow cookers have a glazed stoneware crock; multi-cookers and some newer models have a metal insert with a nonstick coating. Clean each a little differently.

Never heat an empty crock; Hamilton Beach says preheating is not needed and the crock should not be heated empty. That is why the baking soda soak uses a full crock of water.

How to make slow cooker cleanup easier

Prevent the ring before it forms. A few habits save most of the scrubbing:

• For thick mixtures such as polenta or desserts, KitchenAid suggests lightly coating the crock with nonstick cooking spray before cooking.
• Use a disposable slow cooker liner for sticky or sugary recipes.
• Fill the crock between half and two-thirds full, or as your manual says, so food does not bake onto the rim. Clemson Cooperative Extension gives the same half to two-thirds range and says to refrigerate leftovers in shallow covered containers within two hours rather than reheating them in the slow cooker.
• Soak the crock as soon as it is cool enough, rather than leaving it overnight with food dried on.

The same baking soda trick works on other stuck-on cookware; see how to clean stainless steel pans.

Mistakes to avoid

• Rinsing a hot crock under cold water, which can crack it.
• Submerging the base in the sink to clean the heating well.
• Scrubbing the glaze or a nonstick insert with steel wool.
• Leaving leftovers to cool in the crock for hours before refrigerating them.
• Running the crock through the dishwasher sanitize cycle when the manual says not to.
• Heating an empty crock to burn off residue.