In a busy schedule, a crock pot or slow cooker is handy to add the perfect balance between preparing meals on time and making them tasty and healthy with little or no effort. But washing a crock pot is completely different; most people throw them inside the dishwasher without wondering if crock pots can go in the dishwasher. Crock pots cannot go in the dishwasher due to several cords (electrical elements) attached at their bottom.
Instead of putting the entire crock pot in the dishwasher, you can safely put its non-electrical parts like a lid, removable bowl, or ceramic basin.
In this article, we elaborated on whether crock pots can go in the dishwasher and shared some tips to make things easier.
Can You Put Crock Pots In The Dishwasher?
No, you should never put your crock pot for cleaning in the dishwasher because it is completely unsafe. The electrical elements are present on the entire unit, and putting them in the dishwasher will only cause trouble.
However, the answer can be yes, considering the non-electrical parts of the crock pot. A crock pot typically has two parts, its electrical component, and a pot. For the electrical component, it is obvious that you shouldn’t let it go in the dishwasher. But the pot is safe to wash in the dishwasher.
In some older and small-sized crock pots, there is no removable stoneware bowl, so you can not wash them in a dishwasher. Instead, washing them by hand is a better idea. In order to wash crock pots, you must ensure by some research or reading the manual that their components are dishwasher safe.
What Parts of Crock Pots Are Dishwasher Safe?
The parts without electrical components can safely submerge in the water without damage. You can remove such parts and put them separately in the dishwasher.
Here are some parts and ways to separate them for washing in the dishwasher.
Lids
The covers or lids of crock pots can safely go in the dishwasher. You can wash them without worrying about water damage.
However, you must be cautious when washing them in the dishwasher. If the lid is hot, do not put it in the dishwasher but wait to let it cool down for a few minutes.
The hot lid thrown in cold dishwasher water will cause thermal shock due to sudden temperature fluctuation.
Accessories
Some non-electrical accessories of crock pots are washable in the dishwasher. These accessories are usually steel or plastic; water doesn’t harm them in the dishwasher.
But it is ideal for washing them by hand using a soft and wet piece of cloth. Among these accessories, the thermometer can get damaged in the dishwasher.
Removable Bowls Or Stoneware Pots
Are Crock Pot Bowls Dishwasher Safe? The machine-proof removable bowls or stoneware pots are also part of crock pots that can safely go in the dishwasher. These bowls or pots are made of stainless steel or aluminum that is safe to put in the dishwasher. However, before washing them, ensure they are safe to wash in the dishwasher by checking the manual.
The stoneware pots are sometimes made of ceramic and have a non-stick coating that can’t go in the dishwasher. So, to preserve the coating of cookware from the dishwasher heat, you must wash it by hand.
What Parts of Crock Pots Should Never Go In The Dishwasher?
Neither is it safe nor recommended to put electrical components of crock pots in the dishwasher. Usually, these pots’ outer casing contains electrical components that can get damaged in a dishwasher. So, washing by hand using a wet cloth is best to prevent harm.
- Electric Base
- Thermometre
These are the two main electrical components of crock pots that are unsafe in the dishwasher. So, the outside of your crockpot should not go in the dishwasher, whether plastic or metallic.
How to Safely Clean Crock Pots In The Dishwasher?
Before washing a crock pot, you must ensure that it is dishwasher-safe by reading the manufacturer’s instructions or by seeing the dishwasher-safe label at the base of the crockpot. This is how you can clean your crock pots properly to avoid unwanted situations.
- Turn off your crockpot and unplug its switch.
- If it’s hot, leave it to cool for some time before you start cleaning.
- Putting hot parts in the dishwasher will cause damage due to temperature changes.
- Put the crock pot’s removable bowls, lids, and other washable parts in hot soapy water inside the dishwasher.
- Using abrasive wool or a scouring pad is not recommended to clean grime. Rather use a non-abrasive chemical or vinegar to get rid of sticky stains. You can scrub the tough stains with a soft cloth, rubber spatula, or sponge.
- Use warm soapy water and a soft cloth to clean the crockpot base and thermometer. Avoid immersing the base or thermometer in the water.
Which Is Better? Cleaning Crockpot In A Dishwasher or By Hand
Whether your crockpot is dishwasher safe or not, it is your choice to wash it by hand or in the dishwasher. It is better to clean the crockpot by hand for safety concerns, but some non-electrical parts can get cleaned well in the dishwasher.
If the components are soft and sensitive, you must wash them by hand using soapy water. Do anything to prevent water from touching the electrical components. Water reaching the electrical components of the crockpot will damage it permanently.
However, for effective cleaning, two factors play a major role: the pot’s size and the food stuck inside it. If sticky or dried food is in the large-sized crockpot, the dishwasher may not clean it properly. In that case, you will need to wash it by hand. A smaller crockpot will get enough space in the dishwasher to get cleaned thoroughly.
Tips For Keeping Your Crock Pots Clean
Whether you want to clean your crock pots in the dishwasher, you must maintain them for long-term usage. Here are some important tips for taking care of crock pots.
- After cooking, clean your crock pot as soon as possible or soak it in water to avoid residual food drying. Though waiting to let it cool is good, taking too long will cause more trouble in cleaning.
- If something is spilled on the crock pot’s outer rims or sides, wipe them with a soft cloth.
- If food is left in the crock pot, do not leave it there. Instead, transfer it to some other container.
- Do not keep your crock pot longer on slow heat to prevent food from burning and fire risks.
- For cleaning, avoid using harsh cleaners but prefer vinegar or baking soda.
- Spray some cooking oil to prevent food from sticking to the crock pot.
Final Thoughts
Crock Pots are undoubtedly best for making cooking easy and convenient, but their maintenance is a little bit complicated when it comes to washing them. Most parts of crock pots can go in the dishwasher, such as removable bowls and lids, but you should never put the electrical parts in the dishwasher. So, you can wash such parts by hand with great care to keep your crock pot looking new.
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