Slow cookers definitely make life easier-Put everything in, set the temperature, and walk away-Many have digital features that can be set to start or stop the timer when needed, keeping your food at the perfect time.
However, cleaning big, heavy pots and pans isn’t always easy-It’s awkward and definitely not non-stick-Don’t let the fear of cleaning your slow cooker keep it tucked away in the back of your cupboard-These great cookware tips and hints will show you how easy it is to clean and maintain your favorite kitchen utensils.
1-Clean your slow cooker without scrubbing
If you see mold in your slow cooker, don’t reach for the brush-It’s easy to set and forget, and it’s easy to clean-Simply fill the pot with water to cover the food residue-Add the vinegar, then slowly add the baking soda-Cover and cook on low heat for 4 hours-Once cooled, the pot can be easily cleaned.
2-Make your own scrub for the slow cooker (h/t eHow)
If you don’t have time to soak the pot for a few hours, you can use this handy scrub to gently clean the exterior and interior of your slow cooker-Make a paste with baking soda, Castile soap, and a few drops of essential oil-Using a sponge or cleaning cloth, gently scrub the pot with stains or hand dirt, then simply wipe it clean.
3-Remove brown stains from the inside
Your slow cooker may look clean, but when you open the lid, you may find a brown stain inside-While you know not to submerge this area in water, simply wiping it down won’t work-Try this creative trick to clean the inside of a pot-Place household ammonia in a small glass bowl-Place in the slow cooker and cover-Let it sit overnight-In the morning, discard the ammonia and gently scrub the inside of the pot with a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide-Wipe with a clean, damp cloth.
4-Use a non-stick cooking spray
The best way to avoid cleaning up afterwards is to avoid cleaning up in the first place-Just a quick application of non-stick cooking spray will prevent food from sticking to the ceramic surface of the slow cooker liner.
5-Keep it clean with a disposable liner
With disposable liners, there’s no need to clean the pot-These handy bags are similar to baking bags, but designed to fit your crock pot-Perfect for parties and family gatherings, simply remove from the bag and throw away-Your slow cooker stays nice and clean.
6-Grab and bake in foil
Anything baked in aluminum foil can be baked in the slow cooker with aluminum foil-Cakes, breads and baked potatoes can all be lined with aluminum foil-The foil can be easily removed and does not need to be scrubbed when returning the slow cooker to the pantry.
7-Avoid temperature fluctuations
Sudden changes from hot to cold or cold to hot can damage the inside of a ceramic slow cooker-Extreme temperature changes can cause inserts to crack or chip-For best results, the pot should be brought to room temperature before cleaning.
