How to Clean a Slow Cooker

Cooking in a slow cooker saves time and is so easy. It’s my favorite kitchen appliance but there is one thing about cooking in my slowcooker that drives me crazy! And that’s cleaning it. Especially if your recipe includes barbecue sauce or a cream or cheese based sauce. They seem to cling to the inside with a vengeance and then you scrub and scrub to no avail. Consider your days of scrubbing over because I have found a solution.

After experimenting with many different methods this is now the only way I will clean my slow cooker.

Tips on How to Clean a Slow Cooker

When your recipe is done cooking and it is not too hot to handle, transfer the food to another pot or serving dish. Rinse the removable part of the slow cooker with hot water. Now put the slowcooker back in the base with the temperature setting on low. Pour in one cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of white vinegar. Then add hot water to the level that the food reached. Let the slow cooker heat the mixture for an hour, turn it off, remove the lid and let it cool for another hour. Empty the water from the slow cooker and then proceed to wash it the way you would normally would wash dishes. The sticky, burned residue will lift off easily and your slow cooker will look good as new.

Be sure to never submerge the heating element of your slow cooker in liquid. When it gets dirty from an accidental spill you can use a rag with some vinegar and water to wipe it clean. If the spill is really baked on you may need something stronger. Spray the heating element with fume free oven cleaner and leave it on for 5 minutes. Then wipe clean with a rag or sponge. This is the best method I have found so far for cleaning the heating element.

If just the thought of cleaning your slow cooker frustrates you, try our method. I have heard lots of people mention that they use the disposable liners to cut down on the cleaning part, but they aren’t very frugal. Our method of how to clean a slow cooker is inexpensive and easy so there’s no longer the need to buy slow cooker liners. Once you see how easy this makes cleaning your slow cooker, you will want to use it everyday.

Have you downloaded our FREE Menu Plan for this month consisting of all slow cooker meals with recipe links yet?

Also check out these tips:

• 4 Simple Steps to a Clean and Organized Kitchen!
• How to Shred Chicken the EASY Way!
• The TOP 9 Reasons You Need a Slow Cooker!

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