Slower Cooker Concerns

So i have a slow cooker that i have used on many occasions and I love it. However, I have never left it on while i went out or went to work. Usually when I use it I make sure to always be home. So I will only use it on days off when I am puttering around the house.

HOwever, tomorrow is St. Patrick's day and I REALLY want to make cornbeef and cabbage but Wednesdays are late days for me and i won't get home until 9 or ten (if I decide to hit the gym) I have made Corn beef by boiling it on the stove but I feel that the slow cooker makes a better tasting and more tender corn beef. Plus i don't have the time to boil it for 4 hours. I was curious is it safe to leave the slow cooker on all day? Like can i put the meat on in the morning when I make breakfast and just let it cook on low until I get home? I am paranoid about leaving applicances on since I am the daughter of a very paranoid father who is a forensics engineer. My Husband says its safe since that is hte point of them.

What do you guys think??

I do it all the time. I used to worry about the counter-surfers getting too close to the crock pot as 2 of our cats seem to surf the counters all the time. I've started to plug the crock pot in back in the computer room, since that door is always shut when we're not home.

I'm going to do my corned beef in the crock pot tomorrow because it takes so long to cook and I don't get home from work until 4:30.

On those days when you don't feel like cooking, you can come home to a great meal for very little effort!

I leave mine on for 8 hours while not home. I used to wonder if it was safe or not but my husband assured me that it is. I usually leave mine on top of the stove because that way if it gets too hot its not going to burn the counter.

I frequently use mine while I'm gone. Just make sure you put it someplace where the cats can't knock it off the counter. It's pretty heavy and not easy to knock over, but it can be done.

Quincy will not leave ours alone so I do not leave it on if we are not home

Before we had cats, I would use it on weekends but if I would do an 8 hour cycle, I would want to be home the last 2 hours because it tends to bubble and get a little spilling going on. Now that we have cats, I am too paranoid to even do that, so I only use it when we are home all day. Which stinks because I feel it defeats the purpose, but I just don't trust Batman to not want to investigate the yummy smelling noisy thing.

I have used my slow cooker many many times while I'm not home and everything has always been just fine.

When I leave, I always leave mine on the low setting and turn it up when I get home if needed. On a low setting, I don't have to worry about things bubbling up, or it reaching temperatures that could start a fire while I'm out.

Just be sure your kitties will not get into it while you are away.

I've always left the slow cooker on when I'm not home. That's kind of the whole purpose of a slow cooker!

It should kick itself off if anything goes seriously wrong with it. And yes, as an appliance there is some danger leaving it plugged in. But do you unplug your refrigerator when you're leaving home?

I would leave it on. Ive never had a problem with nosey kitties or anything. Generally mine is tucked in a corner next to the stove and since everyone knows the stove is off limits noone bothers it. Being crazy paraniod too I dont freak out too much if I have to leave with the crockpot on. Im also crazy forgetful too and have left the house (only to run to the gas station 5 min from my house) and had the stove on with stuff in it.

It sounds a little long, make sure you have enough liquid in there to last the 10 hours or so. As for safety, you can always put it in the sink to cook if you are worried about someone (ahem) investigating etc. Thats where I leave mine, as my paranoia is overcome by the knowledge that stainless steel is not flammable lol

The whole point of a slow cooker is to let it cook your meal while you are off doing something else. I may have used mine while I was home once or twice, but not deliberately. It's perfectly fine to put your meal in the pot in the morning and leave it chuckling on low all day. In fact, had life not intervened, there would have been a pot roast doing in my slow cooker today. Probably tomorrow now, and I'll turn it on around 7:30 in the morning and expect to serve dinner around 8:30 in the evening.

So, no, I wouldn't worry about it at all.

I have one, but never use it because I don't have any good recipes.

My Dad suggested this because I worry about leaving it on the counter with my cats: drop your rack to the lowest level in your oven and plug the crock pot into an extension cord and then extension cord into the outlet- close oven and voila! cats can't get to it

Originally Posted by katiemae1277

My Dad suggested this because I worry about leaving it on the counter with my cats: drop your rack to the lowest level in your oven and plug the crock pot into an extension cord and then extension cord into the outlet- close oven and voila! cats can't get to it

Click to expand...

Oh thats a great idea

Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946

I have one, but never use it because I don't have any good recipes.

Click to expand...

OK, here's a good one if you like pork.

Put a 3-4 lb boneless pork roast in the crock pot, sprinkle with salt, pepper & garlic or garlic powder. Add an onion chopped coarsely or quartered, if desired. Cover and cook on low for about 8 hrs. No need to add water.

Unless the roast has absolutely no fat (unlikely), there will be juice in the pot when it is done. Test doneness by shredding with 2 forks. If meat falls apart, it is done.

Now you can make gravy from the juices, and pour over mashed potatoes and serve with applesauce and a salad.

OR, if you like Mexican food you can add chili powder or taco seasoning to the meat while it is cooking, along with the juice of a small lime.

When cooked, shred meat with two forks and serve on warm corn tortillas with chopped onion mixed with cilantro, grated cheddar cheese and of course, SALSA! OLE' !

I made a corned beef in the crockpot just the other week. Here is what I do:

I put the corned beef with all the juices in the bottom of the crockpot, then I sprinkle the seasonings over it and then add a quart of Kitchen Basics Beef Stock and then add in the potatoes and carrots. I cook it on low all day and it sure is yummy!

I save all the broth that is left over and use it in bean soup which is super yummy!

wow! Thanks for all the advice! I am going to give it a try tomorrow since i have my heart set on cornbeef and cabbage tomorrow. I like the idea of putting it into the sink. I would do the oven but i don't have an extenion chord long enough to reach from the outlet.

I only randomly said 10 hours but how long should I put a 4lb piece of corn beef on for? I cooked it last time on high for 5 hours.

Originally Posted by vampcow

i don't have an extenion chord long enough to reach from the outlet.

Click to expand...

You really shouldn't use extension cords! So many things can happen. The cord wiring could be faulty and melt the exterior and cause a fire. It could get caught on something and be pulled down with whatever it is connected to. And so many other dangerous things.

And so far as leaving it in the sink, I wouldn't advise that at all. What happens if something happens and water gets into the sink and up to the cord level? That could lead to electrocution!

Just tuck it into the corner of one of your counters and plug it in. It will be just fine.