Slow Cooker Safety Guide

Rachel Gordon

March 7, 2025

5 min read

Slow cookers have been household staples since their invention in the late 1940s and popularisation in the 1970s. Since then, these small but mighty countertop electric cookers have helped cooks the world over to prepare meals with minimal intervention and maximised free-time. Nevertheless, whilst slow cookers are invaluable time-saving devices, improper use can lead to safety risks. In this article we will cover how to safely use a slow cooker and touch on the different foods that can be cooked in a slow cooker.

What is a Slow Cooker Used for?

Slow cookers are electrical cooking appliances that cook food at a low temperature for a prolonged period of time. They can be used to cook a wide range of foods and they are typically used to make dishes that require lengthy cooking times such as soups, stews and casseroles, amongst many others.

Much like with slow cooking on a stovetop, slow cookers are a great way to tenderise meat and enhance flavour through low and slow cooking. They also require minimal food preparation as ingredients are often put in at the same time and then left to cook. Slow cookers are also useful when it comes to batch cooking as large quantities can be prepared at the same time, resulting in a steaming pot of delicious food which can then be portioned out and frozen for later.

As slow cookers allow users to set a desired temperature and cooking duration, they are incredibly convenient and enable people to have a more hands-off approach to cooking. Moreover, since slow cookers use electricity and negate having to keep a pot simmering away on a stove top for hours, they are much more energy efficient. In fact, according to USwitch, slow cookers use less than a tenth of the energy of some electric ovens, making them one of the most energy-efficient switches you can make in the kitchen.

How to Use a Slow Cooker

Slow cookers are relatively straightforward to use and regardless of the type or model that you have, most follow the same basic steps. However, it is important that you thoroughly read the manufacturer’s instructions that come with your specific slow cooker before use, to ensure that you are using it as intended and following all necessary safety precautions.

To use a slow cooker you should first prepare all of your necessary ingredients according to the recipe instructions. Depending on the recipe you may be able to put all of your ingredients in at once. If so, it’s important to ensure that they have been cut to a similar size so that they cook evenly or cut to a size that reflects a longer cooking time. For example, diced carrots will cook much faster than whole potatoes, so if your recipe requires both to be put in at the same time, ensure you cut the potatoes so that they cook in a similar time frame. If your recipe requires you to stagger your ingredients then it’s still worth prepping them in advance. If you are cooking a meat dish, it’s advisable to braise or brown raw meat first, as the low heat of a slow cooker is unlikely to brown the meat.

Once you have added the ingredients necessary at this stage, you will likely need to add some kind of liquid such as water, a broth or wine. Little liquid is evaporated during slow cooking, unlike cooking on a stovetop, so it is important that you don’t flood your slow cooker with too much liquid as it’s unlikely to evaporate or reduce. It’s also advisable to keep the lid on during cooking as that helps to retain the heat and steam that is cooking the food inside.

Now that all of your ingredients have been prepped and added, it’s time to set the desired cooking temperature and duration. Slow cookers can be set for hours at a time and are often used overnight. For this reason, it’s vital that it be positioned on a flat, heat-resistant surface in your kitchen and close enough to a plug socket so that there are no trailing wires.

Can you Leave a Slow Cooker Unattended?

The short answer is yes, you can leave a slow cooker unattended. However, it’s important to check the manufacturer’s instructions first as your particular slow cooker may have limitations. Most slow cookers have numerous built in safety features that ensure that they can be left unattended for hours at a time. As mentioned, they are often left on overnight so that people can wake up to a delicious smelling meal, or put on at the start of the day so that dinner is ready for when the day is done. Moreover, as you set the desired cooking duration, most slow cookers will automatically turn off once that time has been reached and the food cooked.

Always check that your slow cooker is in good working condition with no signs of wear before use and especially before you leave it unattended for an extended period. You should also ensure that your slow cooker is on a flat, heat-resistant surface as even low heat, when maintained for hours on end, can cause damage to surfaces and become a fire risk.

What can you Cook in a Slow Cooker?

A slow cooker is incredibly versatile and can be used to cook a wide variety of dishes. Given the fact that slow cookers cook food for a long period of time, there are few foods that can’t be cooked safely in a slow cooker. However, there are foods that may not be best suited to a slow cooker as they are likely to lose flavour, texture or taste after hours of low and slow cooking.

Below you will find general information on what you can cook in a slow cooker. However, you must always check the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular slow cooker first. Moreover, most slow cooker recipes require a liquid of some kind. The addition of a liquid won’t necessarily impact the safety of the food, but it may impact texture and taste, so consider other means of cooking if this is undesirable or if you need a specific texture.

Can you Cook Rice in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook rice in a slow cooker. Add the rice to the cooker, cover with water, add a pinch of salt and then slow cook for the desired duration, stirring every 20-30 mins to prevent sticking.

Can you Cook Pasta in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook pasta in a slow cooker. However, it is worth noting that most pasta only requires a few minutes to cook. As such, it’s often better to cook pasta in a slow cooker with other ingredients or to use a thicker pasta to avoid overcooking.

Can you Cook Chicken in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook chicken in a slow cooker. Set the desired temperature and duration and use a food thermometer or temperature probe to check that the meat has reached the desired temperature at its thickest part (above 70oC and out of the danger zone).

Can you Cook Steak in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook steak in a slow cooker. Slow cooking has long been a favoured method for cooking beef and the meat is well suited to low and slow cooking. However, it is worth noting that the cut of meat can impact the finished product, so carefully consider the intended texture for the finished dish.

Can you Cook Bacon in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook bacon in a slow cooker. However, as with most meals cooked in a slow cooker you will need to cover it with some kind of liquid first, so if your goal is crispy bacon it might be better to pan fry or air fry it instead.

Can you Cook Sausages in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook sausages in a slow cooker. As mentioned above, it’s advisable to brown some meats before putting them into a slow cooker and most recipes recommend browning sausages before cooking in a slow cooker.

Can you Cook Fish in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook fish in a slow cooker. However, some chefs argue that as fish tends to have less fat then meat, it does not benefit from low and slow cooking in the same way and may result in a dry, rubbery finished product. To avoid this, it’s advised to add fish when there are only a few minutes of cooking time left for the other ingredients.

Can you Cook Turkey in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook turkey in a slow cooker. It will cook in a similar way to chicken but may require longer depending on the size of the bird. Again, use a food thermometer or temperature probe to ensure that the thickest part of the meat has reached the desired internal temperature.

Can you Cook Jacket Potatoes in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook jacket potatoes in a slow cooker. Pierce the skin of the potato so that steam can escape during the cooking process and set the temperature and time. It’s worth noting that a jacket potato is not a specific type of potato and it gets its name from the crispy skin (the jacket). Slow cooking is unlikely to produce the same crispy skin so if that is your desired outcome a different method such as oven roasting or air frying may be better suited.

Can you Cook Eggs in a Slow Cooker?

Yes you can cook eggs in a slow cooker. Hard boiled eggs are perhaps the easiest to cook as you simply need to add them to some water in a slow cooker and leave them to cook for a few hours. However, you can also make scrambled eggs by whisking them before adding them to the slow cooker.

Can you Cook a Ham in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook a ham in a slow cooker. However, though they are often used interchangeably and refer to the same cut of meat, ham and gammon are not the same thing. Ham refers to the pre-cooked cut of meat, whilst gammon is raw. You can cook both a ham and gammon in a slow cooker but they are likely to require different cooking times to ensure the already cooked ham stays tender and flavourful.

Can you Bake Bread in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can bake bread in a slow cooker. The type of bread that you make, including its size and shape, will be determined by the size of your slow cooker. Bread dough expands so it is important that you don’t overfill your slow cooker and put in more than it can physically hold. It’s also advisable to line your slow cooker with greaseproof paper to prevent the bread from sticking and to make removal easier.

Can you Reheat Food in a Slow Cooker?

It’s not recommended to reheat food in a slow cooker. This is because it can take too long for food to reach the necessary temperature to kill bacteria, allowing it to grow and potentially contaminate other ingredients in the slow cooker. It’s also for this reason that you shouldn’t cook frozen meat in a slow cooker and instead you should defrost it safely in the fridge before putting it in the slow cooker.

Instead of using a slow cooker to reheat food, use a saucepan on the stove, the oven, a microwave or an air fryer. Once food has been safely reheated to the correct temperature it can then be put in a slow cooker to stay warm.

How to Clean a Slow Cooker

Cleaning a slow cooker is relatively easy and similar to washing any pot or pan used for cooking. However, it’s advisable to first consult the manufacturer’s instructions to check whether there is a specific cleaning method required for your model or whether there are any cleaning products/implements that you should avoid.

Most slow cookers can be cleaned in the following fashion:

Unplug the slow cooker and ensure that it has cooled completely.

Remove the inner pot and wash with hot, soapy water. Check the manufacturer’s instructions first to see if the inner pot is dishwasher safe or else you will need to wash it by hand.

For stubborn stains leave the inner pot in hot soapy water for a few minutes before scrubbing away any leftover remnants. You can add baking powder or bicarbonate of soda to help lift very stubborn stains.

Clean the exterior of the slow cooker with a damp cloth. Only ever submerge the inner pot in water and avoid getting any electrical parts wet.

Once clean, dry the inner pot and ensure that it’s thoroughly dry before putting it back into the electrical component.

Slow Cooker Safety Tips

Here are some tips to help ensure that you are using your slow cooker safely.

Carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions – Whilst most slow cookers work in a similar manner, to ensure that you are using it safely you must take the time to familiarise yourself with the instructions. This will help to prevent avoidable errors and provide you with the necessary information to protect and preserve your slow cooker for future use.

Don’t overfill it – As mentioned above, little liquid is evaporated when using a slow cooker and unlike when cooking on the stove, you can’t simply crank up the heat to help reduce liquids. Avoid overfilling your slow cooker to prevent food overflowing and spilling. If you find that you are constantly overfilling your slow cooker or you want to cook more than it can handle, either cook in multiple batches or invest in a larger slow cooker.

Don’t cook meat from frozen – Whilst it is safe to cook meat from frozen, cooking it from frozen in a slow cooker is unadvisable. As mentioned above, this is because in a slow cooker food cannot reach the necessary temperature quickly enough to kill harmful bacteria. This can lead to contamination, not just of the meat, but of any other ingredients that you add. Defrost meat thoroughly before adding it to the slow cooker.

Only use it for its intended purpose – This may seem obvious but only use your slow cooker for its intended purpose. Slow cookers work in a similar fashion to a large pot on the stove and though they have many uses, they do not have the same versatility as a pot on the stove. That is to say, whilst with a pot you may be able to get a nice brown on your beef by searing it on a high heat, you can’t do that with a slow cooker. Browning meat in a slow cooker is unlikely to work as they are not designed for that purpose and trying to get the slow cooker hot enough to do so may in fact damage the device. As such, you should only use the appliance for its intended purpose and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Consider food placement – One of the biggest appeals of a slow cooker is that you can ‘dump and go.’ That is to say you can add all ingredients at once and then leave the appliance to work its magic. Whilst this is true, it’s important to carefully consider where ingredients are placed. As mentioned above, ingredients can cook at different times and whilst in some instances cutting them to similar sizes can help, in others it will not. It’s advisable to position food that takes longer to cook such as potatoes and other root vegetables at the bottom of the pot, closest to the heat source. Ingredients that have a shorter cooking time can then be layered on top. This is an important step as otherwise you may wait 8 hours for your highly anticipated stew, only to find that the potatoes you tossed in on top are raw in the middle and the diced beef you put at the bottom, tough and inedible.

Slow cookers are convenient, energy efficient appliances that can save you time and money all while creating tasty meals. They are easy to use, easy to clean and whilst there are some bulkier options out there, can be compact enough to fit any size kitchen. Taking the time to read the manufacturer’s instructions, as well as following general kitchen safety guidance when using it, can help to prolong the life of your slow cooker and keep you cooking hearty, delicious meals for a long time.

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Food Safety