The Right Way to Clean a Slow Cooker and Remove Stains

Using a slow cooker is a great way to treat yourself to a good old-fashioned home-cooked meal without spending hours laboring over the stove. Instead, these appliances do all the heavy lifting for you by slowly cooking your meal while you’re off doing something else.

But just because they work long and hard at simmering your favorite recipes doesn’t mean that there’s nothing for you to do. Your slow cooker requires a little extra TLC after mealtime. Here’s what the pros say you need to know about how to clean a Crock-Pot or other slow cooker.  

Before You Start

Before you begin, you’ll need to take a few extra safety precautions, including waiting for it to cool down. "Cleaning while your slow cooker is hot could damage the crock,” says Lynne Just, consumer test kitchen manager at Hamilton Beach.

Additionally, Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, says you’ll need to beware of getting any water or moisture near your appliance’s wiring, which includes ensuring that you’ve unplugged the device before you begin cleaning. “Using anything wet or damp could ruin the electric components,” Mock says.

Materials You'll Need

• Dish soap
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Washcloths
• Toothbrush
• Moderately abrasive pad

Depending on how messy your cooker is, you should only need a few key cleaning items, most of which you likely already have on hand. “A dishwasher or hot water and dish soap will clean most slow cooker crocks,” Just says. “Baking soda and white vinegar can help with hard-to-remove foods.”

Mock says you’ll also need some clean washcloths or towels and a toothbrush to get the job done. 

Cleaning the Lid

To clean the top of your slow cooker, remove and turn it over before taking a damp cloth and soapy water to it. Next, Mock says you’ll need to scrub around the edges, using a toothbrush to get into the nooks and crannies on the underside of the lid.

Cleaning the Seal

To clean the rubber seal, Mock says you’ll need to scrub the ring with hot, soapy water and let it soak. If your slow cooker has a steam setting, you can use that to remove any stubborn or stuck on messes. If that doesn't work, you can put the lid into the dishwasher. 

"With your slow cooker put back together, add two cups of water and a tablespoon of lemon zest," Mock says. "You can also use white vinegar instead of water. After running the steaming setting, let all the components air dry."

Cleaning the Heating Element 

Mock says you’ll need to wait until your appliance is completely cool and unplugged before you attempt to clean the heating element. "Use a dry cloth or a moderately abrasive pad to lightly scrub while being careful not to damage the burner," she says.

Getting Rid of Stuck-On Food

If the above hasn’t worked, Just says there are a few methods for cleaning stubborn, stuck-on foods that include making a paste with baking soda mixed with dish soap and gently rubbing it until the food is released. 

"If necessary, let this paste sit on the stuck-on food for an hour," she says. "Baking soda neutralizes acids and breaks down the grease, allowing you to clean without a lot of elbow grease." 

"Another method is to add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda per quart size of the slow cooker," Just says. "Cover and set the slow cooker on low for about an hour." You can then let the appliance cool and wash the crock in the dishwasher or in hot, soapy water to ensure the mess is gone. 

If burnt/stuck food doesn't come off by hand-washing with warm, soapy water, Mock says you can try using a toothbrush to get into the nooks and crannies. 

Are Slow Cookers Dishwasher Safe?

Most crocks and lids are dishwasher safe, according to Just. Of course, that doesn't apply to their electrical components, which should never be immersed in any liquid. Additionally, she says that it's important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific slow cooker. 

To simplify things, Mock says that if your slow cooker’s inner pot is removable, it can be put into the dishwasher. So, if you have lost the instructions, but your cooker comes completely apart, it’s a pretty good sign that your set is dishwasher-safe.