Crock Pot while you aren't home

[Anonymous]

I know that the point of the crock pot is to set it and be able to leave the house but it still makes me nervous. Anyone else have this issue or have any issues with crockpots and fires in the past or should I just get over it and start using mine more when I'm not actually in the house.

[Anonymous]

Just get over it. I've been using mine for 10+ years on a regular basis with no issues.

[Anonymous]

Yep, that's what they are meant for. I always make sure mine is plugged in and on the kitchen counter, away from anything that could melt or possibly start a fire like - tupperware container, dish towel, paper towel, paper cereal box. I love using mine, more so in the winter.

[Anonymous]

I have heard it basically like keeping a light bulb on

[Anonymous]

I leave ours on while someone is around in case something should happen. Not exactly how they were meant to be used but it allows us to do other things while it cooks. We don't have an automatic shut off feature so I worry that we might not get back in time to turn it off or the liquids will evaporate and the food will start to burn and then cause a fire.

[Anonymous]

I would be at home and cook overnight. My crock pot caught on fire while I was in the kitchen. I changed my habits afterwards.

[Anonymous]

They're designed to cook while you're out. Some people have bad luck, others bad habits: if you're in these categories then adjust. I've used a crock pot since the 80's and always left them on when no one is home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be at home and cook overnight. My crock pot caught on fire while I was in the kitchen. I changed my habits afterwards.

How did it catch on fire???

[Anonymous]

I use mine when I'm not home and haven't had any trouble. Get a good one and not the cheapest money can buy. They have new ones with timers, so you can make sure it doesn't stay on too long (switches to warm when the timer goes off).

[Anonymous]

Ok leaving mine on today. It's an all clad one and has a timer so hopefully if I'm not home it'll shut off like it's supposed to. We'll see how this pulled pork turns out.

[Anonymous]

Two words: thermal cooker.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_cooking

[Anonymous]

I'll admit it make me nervous at first. I did a test run while at home - as I wasnt' sure if the dog would try to get to it (she didn't). I do plug it in on the kitchen counter, away from other things. Not sure if that really makes it safer, but it makes me feel better.

[Anonymous]

I like to set it on top of the range just to feel safer. Never had any problems regardless.

[Anonymous]

we place it so that it is not under the cupboards so that the steam won't warp them. We also put an old cutting board under it as I think our old one got so hot that it cracked the granite (although the crack may have been there before and we hadn't noticed). And I'm careful not to have DC's crayons and other stuff close enough to melt. Having a timer that switches it to warm is a god send. We've found that the newer crockpots (slowcookers) are hotter than the old ones to comply with USDA cooking guidelines. That means that most dishes are done cooking after 6 hours, long before we are home from work.

And always check the cord for breaks in the insulation before using it, as that is the real safety hazard.