When was the last time you cleaned your slow cooker?
Your slow cooker is your saviour in the colder months. Nothing is worse than when your favourite cooking appliance is looking a little worse for wear.
If you’ve pulled out your slow cooker and its base is full of dust, grime and food from the last time you made beef stew, it’s time to give it a good scrub.
And the mums from the Facebook group Mum’s Who Clean have all the best solutions.
How to clean a slow cooker
There are, of course, two main components of your slow cooker: the metal base or outside and the inner ‘pot’ where food is placed.
While you may often clean the pot of your slow cooker, the metal base, both inside and outside, is often forgotten about and simply placed back in the pantry after use. Because of this, a buildup of grime and leftover food is quite common.
When cleaning the inside pot of your slow cooker, the best method is to remove it from the base and wash it as you would a normal pot or pan.
Turning on the slow cooker with 1:2 parts baking soda and vinegar should do the trick for more stubborn marks and food spots.
How to clean the metal part of a slow cooker
The ‘metal part of the slow cooker’ or the slow cooker’s base is, according to the mums of Facebook, quite easy to clean. There are several different ways to clean this component, but the most effective are as follows:
Using oven cleaner
This method is highly recommended because it is “gentle, yet it works well.” The mums suggest applying it with a disposable glove and leaving it to soak in overnight.
Many advise to “Do it outside.” This is to avoid any fumes or harsh chemicals being spread inside your home.
Baking soda and vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar seem to make a miracle cleaning concoction. According to Mums Who Clean members, the best option for cleaning the metal part of your slow cooker that has residue or food burnt into the sides is to create a paste mixture.
“Make a thick paste of bicarb soda and water, apply, and leave it to soak for at least 30 minutes. Wipe off,” as one mum clearly describes.
Overall, most mums recommend using lots of elbow grease and cleaning more regularly to avoid build-up in the future.
Of course, the top recommendation was to stick it back in the cupboard; “Out of sight, out of mind.”
How often should you clean your slow cooker?
Your slow cooker’s interior should always be cleaned after use. The base, however, can be less regular and should be cleaned once residue or grime starts to build up.
Sometimes, spills are bound to occur after cooking longer than usual, indicating your slow cooker base will need a bit of a spiff up. A good rule of thumb is to give your slow cooker a good scrub every month or so.
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