Slow cookers or crock pots make cooking a breeze, as they require little to no effort. However, when it comes to washing them there can be a lot of concerns.
Most people would like to put them in the dishwasher but are not sure if it’s a good idea or not. So what should you place in the dishwasher?
Crock pots should not and cannot be placed in a dishwasher, as many of them have cords attached to the bottom. However, you can place some parts of it in the dishwasher, like the lid or ceramic basin.
Also, a removable stoneware bowl or insert is frequently absent from smaller or older crockpots. In such cases, you should not place them in the dishwasher, instead, wash them by hand.
Read the guide below to know in detail what parts are dishwasher safe, how to clean them thoroughly, and a few safety precautions to make your crock pots safe from damage.
How To Know If My Crock Pot Is Dishwasher Safe?
Now you know that it’s partially safe to put your crockpot in the dishwasher.
Let’s find out how you would know whether it is safe to use in the dishwasher.
When you buy smart appliances, you should keep the instruction manual. These will instruct you on the finest way to clean your devices.
If by chance you don’t have the manual you can look for any illustrations on the bottom that may have cleaning instructions.
At the base of the crockpot, it may say “dishwasher safe.” If you’re still in doubt, it’s probably best to wash it with your hands.
Is The Crock Pot Insert Dishwasher Safe?
The majority of ceramic crock pot inserts are dishwashers because they are constructed of durable earthy materials.
You can also double-check it at the bottom of your ceramic crock to see if it has anything printed on it if you’re not sure if it will work in the dishwasher.
However, putting a crockpot in the dishwasher might go wrong if the ceramic insert has cracks. First off, the heat from the dishwasher can cause a ceramic bowl to explode, harming both your oven and your food.
Additionally, it is harmful to your health to use an insert made of broken ceramic.
Tiny flaws on ceramic cookware’s surface can become dangerous in the dishwasher because it frequently comes with non-stick and pre-coated layers.
Toxic chemicals may seep into your food when you cook in a cracked ceramic bowl, especially while cooking in the oven.
Therefore, to protect your food, make sure your ceramic insert is dishwasher-safe and has no surface cracks.
Are Crock Pot Bowls Dishwashers Safe?
Crock pot bowls are typically dishwasher-safe and made of aluminum, ceramic, or stainless steel.
If your crock pot bowl is not marked as a “hand wash only” accessory, you can clean it in the dishwasher.
However, because regular slow cooking does not end up leaving your crockpot bowl with a tough food buildup, hand washing is preferable.
When you wash your crock pot bowl with your hands, it protects your cookware from scratches and allows you to remove food particles from difficult areas such as the lid’s rim.
What Parts Of The Crockpot Are Not Dishwasher Safe?
Dishwasher-safe crock pot parts are simple to clean.
You simply put them inside the dishwasher and allow the appliance to do the rest; the tricky part begins with slow cooker parts that aren’t dishwasher safe.
A few crock pots contain plastic surfaces that have wires and electronic components, while others have metal frames.
The outer body of your crock pot, whether metallic or plastic, cannot be washed in the dishwasher.
Soaking an appliance’s sensors and wires can electrocute it, putting its safety at risk.
What Is The Generally Recommended Method To Clean Your Crock Pot?
According to the official crock pot website the following cleaning method is generally followed:
- Always turn off your slow cooker, unplug it from the wall outlet, and let it cool before cleaning
- The stoneware and lid, like any fine ceramic, would not endure sudden changes in temperature. When the stoneware is hot, do not wash it with cold water
- The dishwasher or hot, soapy water can be used to clean the lid. Remove the removable stoneware from models with removable pots and then wash it in the dishwasher with hot, soapy water
- Avoid using abrasive cleaning agents or scouring pads. Any residue can usually be removed with a cloth, sponge, or rubber spatula. Use a non-abrasive cleaning product or vinegar to reduce stains and water spots
- With a warm and soft cloth, soapy water can be used to clean the outside of the heating base. Wipe clean. Avoid using abrasive cleaners
WARNING: Do not ever try to immerse the thermal base in any liquid or water.
Which Is The Better Method Of Cleaning, Dishwasher Or Hand Wash?
Is it worthwhile to put a crock pot in the dishwasher? Or should you simply go through the extra trouble of hand washing?
Usually, the size of your crock pot and the quantity of food residue will determine the best cleaning method.
There will be many more crock pot bowls in the dishwasher than there will be space for them. As a result, you may find yourself doing more dishwashing overall.
Your dishwasher could not fully clean the crock pot if there is dried-up food adhered to it. Ultimately, you might find yourself having to wash your crock pot by hand.
However, if the bowl of your crockpot is tiny, you should have no trouble washing it in the dishwasher. Just before food dries out, you can thoroughly rinse the bowl to clean any residues.
This action will make it simpler for your dishwasher to effectively clean it.
Things To Keep In Mind When Using A Dishwasher To Clean Your Crock Pot
Here’s how to go about cleaning your crock pot in the dishwasher if you’ve made that decision.
Initially, ensure that the crock pot has cooled.
The cover, bowl, and any additional dishwasher-safe accessories should then be removed. Rinse them in the sink and after that, you may run the dishwasher as normal with the items in it.
Also, make sure you don’t place a large crock pot bowl too near to the detergent faucet if you have one.
Otherwise, this can stop the detergent from being ejected from your dishwasher.
General Tips To Keep Your Crock Pot Clean
Irrespective of whether you want to wash your crock pot in the dishwasher, here are a few basic pointers to help maintain it in great condition.
- When you’re through, try to clean your crock pot as early as you can. Or at least put it in water to soak it. It’s crucial to let it cool, but procrastinating too much will make cleanup more difficult
- Wipe anything that spills on your crock pot’s exterior right away
- Avoid leaving food in your crock pot for too long. Simply transfer leftovers to a new container as soon as you can
- You can also use baking soda or vinegar diluted in water to get rid of bad scents
- Don’t leave the slow cooker on for an extended time. In addition to being a fire risk, burned food is harder to clean off.
- You could also use single-use crock pot liners to simplify cleanup
- Before using your crock pot, spray cooking oil inside of it. This helps to prevent food from sticking in the pot
Final Words on Putting Your Crock Pot in the Dishwasher
Cleaning crock pots is a bit of a challenging task. In general, you can clean the crock pot lid and ceramic bowls in the dishwasher.
However, you should still be cautioned as crock pots get worn out over time from dishwasher use.
In other cases, using a different cleaning technique is simpler and more efficient.
