is it okay to leave the slow cooker on all day?

Have you recently bought a slow cooker?

Wondering how long can you keep the slow cooker switched on for ?

In this article we shall understand the amount of time that a slow cooker can be left on for, whether is it safe to leave your slow cooker on for longer durations and the guidelines that you need to follow in order to keep unnecessary kitchen fires at bay and take care of your appliances.

Technically it is okay to leave your slow cooker on all day. Slow cookers are built for use for extended periods. You will have to ensure that there are no power fluctuations that might interrupt your slow cooker and ruin your meal.

How long can you leave a slow cooker on?

Slow cooker can be safely left on for around 12 – 15 hours or more. There are programmable slow cookers which shut off automatically after 24 hours. However, almost all slow cookers shut off after 20 hours,which is a more than enough time to cook anything.

Most meat recipes are recommended to be cooked for 8 hours on low. Even if you go beyond this time will be perfectly alright. Also, you can safely keep your slow cooker on a warm setting for about 2-3 hours.

Can I leave a slow cooker on all day?

Slow cookers can be left on all day as they are devised in a way that can emit heat for longer durations of time. They are meant to be used in cooking recipes that call for cooking beef for 8 – 10 hours on low. However, it is best to read the manufacturer’s instructions if your slow cooker can do so.

While you are keeping your slow cooker on all day you need to be mindful of the surface where you are placing the cooker. It is best to place your slow cooker on a platform or a hard and balanced surface. Surfaces like wood can not be used to place your slow cooker for longer durations as they tend to heat up. Also, choosing the right recipe is the key.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are keeping your slow cooker on all day:

1. Check your manufacturer’s guidelines if your slow cooker can be left on all day.
2. Keep it on a smooth, hard surface which can not heat up easily.
3. Ensure that the cooker is tucked away from the edges lest there is a possibility of knocking it down.
4. Also, most electrical appliances should be kept at least 6-8 inches away from the wall. Thus, ensure that there is enough space between the wall and the slow cooker for the heat to escape.
5. Ensure that there are no liquids or bottles or water kept near your appliance as there is a risk of spillage and damaging your cooker.
6. Choose the right recipe. A recipe that can be cooked for that long.
7. A logical thing to do if you are keeping your slow cooker on all day would be to keep it on low heat and not high. As there might be a risk of burning the dish.
8. Ensure that the exterior of the slow cooker is not close to any of the flammable materials as slow cookers may generate enough heat.

Can a slow cooker be left on for 12 hours or overnight?

A slow cooker can be left switched on 12 to 15 hours at once. In fact, most slow cookers shut off after 20 hours. Thus, a slow cooker can be left on a LOW setting up to 20 – 24 hours.

It depends on what you are cooking. You can even start your slow cooker at night for a meal to be ready by next morning. It would be a great idea to help you carry home cooked meals to work. Slow cookers are beneficial as they would help in increasing your savings by skimping on eating outside as well as they do not consume as much energy as other kitchen appliances.

Suggested Reading: Why is slow cooking better? [All You Need To Know!]

can I leave the slow cooker on high all day?

It is safe to leave your slow cooker on high all day as the basic difference is only the time taken to reach the desired temperature.

After the meal is done it will keep the food warm at that temperature. the only thing you might need to ensure is that the food does not get burned in the process. You can prevent this by checking there is enough liquid in your cooker. Slow cookers should be filled upto half or three fourths with the liquids. Not more than that.

Mostly, slow cookers will normally shut down automatically after 20 hours.

is it safe to leave a slow cooker on while at work?

Most slow cookers can be kept on for 20-24 hours, after that they automatically shut off. Thus, it is safe to leave your slow cooker on while at work.

Many cookers like Crock Pot Portable 7 quart Slow Cooker have inbuilt settings for the function that would like to perform and have a preset function for the dish that you would like to make. It also has timer settings and an estimated time that the dish will be ready at. You can even schedule meals in it.

Such advanced slow cookers work really well and remove the hassles of setting and monitoring the time required.

Can i leave the Slow cooker unattended?

Slow cookers are safe to be left unattended and to be used for longer durations, at LOW settings. You will have to ensure that the slow cooker is kept on a proper surface as well as kept away from the wall. Assuming that your cooker is in top shape also ensure that there are no liquids near the cooker, this will keep your cooker from having an electrical breakdown due to spillage.

With programmable slow cookers the hassle of leaving them unattended is completely taken away as they have scheduled meals that can be cooked with precise timer settings as well as better temperature control settings. Also, they keep your food warm after it has been cooked.

Can a slow cooker catch fire?

Statistics have shown that slow cookers can catch fire in rare situations, as they are electrical appliance that generate heat. According to statistics on an estimated 25 kitchen fires are started in the US due to slow cookers. However, they arent fatal.

To prevent kitchen fires due to slow cooked you will to ensure that your slow cooker is in top condition and that follow the manufacturers guidelines well.

slow cooker fire statistics:

According to consumerreports.org Slow cookers have started less fire compared to other counter top appliances, such as microwaves, electric ovens, toasters, and coffee makers.

They state that the data on appliance fires from the Federal Emergency Management Agency from 2012-2015 – 103 fires caused by slow cookers, resulting in two injuries, no fatalities, and almost $1.6 million in property damage.

The slow cooker stats are pretty pale compared to the other causes of kitchen fires such as cooking ranges. Cooking range caused 63,784 fires, which resulted in 3,834 injuries and claimed 199 lives. The property damage came to nearly $404 million.

Other kitchen appliance fires are as follows:

1. Microwaves: 3,084
2. Toasters and toaster ovens: 1,416
3. Coffee makers: 256

However, there are a few basic guidelines that you can follow while using your slow cookers.

slow cooker fire safety:

Fire safety should always be followed while using any electrical appliance. Ensuring the following guidelines will help in preventing kitchen appliance fires.

1. Check the wirings of the house. All old wires that do not work well should be replaced.
2. Check the plugs. They should not have any wear and tear and the cord and plugs should work well.
3. Keep flammable materials away.
4. Do not overload the electrical output.
5. Do not have fluctuating electrical inputs.
6. Monitor your kitchen appliances regularlyfor any irregularities and malfunctions.
7. Switch off and unplug any electrical kitchen appliances after use.
8. Instal smoke detectors. Ideally the batteries of the smoke detector should be changed twice ina year.
9. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.