How to Keep Your Crock-Pot Clean

Crock-Pot cookware must be kept clean for sanitation and cooking performance.

The Crock-Pot brand of slow-cooking appliances contains a stoneware bowl that is heated with an element on the base and sides of the unit. This process leads to some creative cooking, but the nature of the cooking method means some food likely will stick to the hot sides. Keeping your Crock-Pot clean is key to the performance of the cookware. It's also important to remove food debris from the inside of a Crock-Pot to maintain the sanitation of the device.

Things You'll Need

• Nonabrasive spatula or wooden spoon
• Dish soap
• Nonabrasive cloth, sponge or spatula
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Turn the Crock-Pot to the "off" position as soon as the device is done being used. Unplug the unit from the wall.

2. Remove as much food from the inside of the Crock-Pot as possible using a nonabrasive spatula or wooden spoon.

3. Place the glass lid in the dishwasher, or rinse it with soap and water until clean.

4. Allow the stoneware bowl inside the Crock-Pot to cool. Washing a warm piece of stoneware with cold water will shatter the bowl.

5. Pull out the stoneware insert and fill it with warm water and soap. Allow the bowl to soak for 30 minutes to loosen stuck-on food. Use a nonabrasive cloth, sponge or spatula to scrape the edges of the bowl clean. Rinse the bowl with warm water until the water no longer produces bubbles from residual soap. Alternatively, most stoneware can be run through an automatic dishwasher.

6. Wipe the outside of the Crock-Pot with a cloth using warm soap and water. Wipe dry with a cloth or paper towel.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use vinegar to clean especially stuck-on food inside the Crock-Pot stoneware.

• Never immerse the heating unit of a Crock-Pot in water or run it through the dishwasher.

References

• Crock-Pot: How to Clean Your Crock-Pot® Slow Cooker