When it comes to cooking and your kitchenware, diverse pieces are always handy, aren’t they?
That one pot that can house the perfect curry or pasta, or the roasting tray handed down through generations to provide the ideal roasted vegetables, no matter the cooking level, these items are valued in your kitchen.
Some would argue there are none as diverse as a crockpot, the brand of slow cookers that essentially do all the cooking for you! Just pour your ingredients in and let it simmer away.
Sometimes, you may want to use your crockpot for other things, such as using it in the oven to reheat or cook meat or a casserole.
You may be wondering, can I do that? Are crock pots oven safe? Well, today, we are here to answer that question for you once and for all!
What is a crockpot?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s remind ourselves of what a crockpot is. It is a brand of slow cookers that are extremely popular across the country.
A slow cooker is a kitchen appliance that is generally relatively easy to use.
Usually, the device will have a removable ceramic insert where the food is placed and cooked. The machine heats it, usually operated by a mains plug and in a metal casing.
You can control the temperature and cooking time of the slow cooker on its outside.
A slow cooker’s point is that the food cooks slowly, sometimes all day or overnight, to save you the hassle of standing over a hot stove for hours.
So, is it oven safe?
Whatever your reason for wanting to put your crockpot into the oven, safety should be your top concern.
Placing an item in the oven that is not oven safe can lead to it cracking and breaking, or in some cases exploding!
Thankfully, your crockpot is oven safe! There are some factors to consider when putting your crockpot in the oven, so be sure to keep reading to know what to look out for!
Which part can go in the oven?
When putting your crockpot in the oven, it is important to stress that the inserts are not the whole slow cooker going in the oven.
Placing the entire crockpot could lead to electrical damage to the crockpot or your oven due to the plug and electrical wiring throughout the slow cooker.
Ensure that it is just the crockery inserts being used in the oven. That means the lid is also a no go!
The oven’s heat can cause the handles on the lid to melt, which happened to me once with another branded slow cooker!
The rest of the meal was spent looking for the screw that fell out of the melted lid; not fun!
Be sure to keep your plastic or metal lids out of the oven, and only use the removable inserts in the oven.
How hot can it go?
The crock pot removable inserts can be used in an oven heated up to 400F.
Any hotter and you risk damaging the crockpot; too high a heat can cause cracks in the pot or for it to break entirely. I bet that won’t be fun to clean up!
Although the crockpot can withstand 400F of heat, I recommend keeping the oven’s temperature around the 350-375F mark to ensure that no damage comes to it.
As most recipes require heating of 350-375F, you should be able to use your crockpot in the oven for a wide range of recipes.
Your crockpot’s manual should also specify if it can be used in the oven, so be sure to check there if you have any concerns!
Many crockpot recipes require you to put the crockpot in the oven for a part of the process, so this is welcome news to the budding chefs in the room!
What about other brands?
While the brand Crock Pots is quick to say that their crock pots are oven-safe, you may be wondering about other branded slow cookers.
Some of these may also be oven safe as they will be of similar construction and materials.
It is essential to check your slow cooker’s instruction manual to check that your model can also be used in the oven.
Some slow cookers will say that they are not suitable for ovens as they have not been made to withstand such high temperatures.
Be sure to check the instruction manual or the brand’s website for further information on your specific crockpot or slow cooker.
What about microwaves?
You may also be wondering if you can use your crockpot in a microwave too. Again, the heat cannot exceed 400F in the microwave.
You can check your microwave’s maximum heat on its front, or the manual will have this information.
Like using it in the oven, remove the lid from the crockpot and only place the removable pot into the microwave.
It is worth making sure that there is plenty of room in the microwave for the pot to turn on the rotating plate with ease.
As some slow cookers can be large, it is best to check the dimensions and make sure there is ample space before putting the crockpot into the microwave.
With other brands, be sure to check the manual to ensure that they also microwave safe.
Generally, if they are oven-safe, the crockpot should also be oven-safe, but be sure to double-check before use!
Final Word
Before we leave today, let’s have a quick recap.
Crockpots are handy kitchen appliances, allowing us to enjoy delicious meals with often little preparation. The insert of a crock pot is oven safe up to 400F.
When placing the crockpot in the oven, it is essential to remember that you only use the removable insert in the oven and keep the lid and electrical components out of the oven.
Be sure to check your specific slow cooker’s instruction manual to ensure that yours is oven safe! If you no longer have the manual, most are now available online.
Simply type in the model of your crockpot and hit search!
