Ohio State nav bar

Skip to main content

The Ohio State University

  • Help
  • BuckeyeLink
  • Map
  • Find People
  • Webmail
  • Search Ohio State
  • Home
  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars
  • Authors

Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Topics:

The Ohio State University
You are here: Home / Food / Safely Using Your Slow Cooker

January 5, 2018

Safely Using Your Slow Cooker

slow cookerComing home on a cold evening to inviting smells of food from your slow cooker or “crock pot” makes us all feel so good. Slow cookers help less expensive, leaner cuts of meat become tender and shrink less, helping you have economical, healthy meals. With food cooking at lower temperatures, though, it is important to follow some food safety tips to ensure your food is safe to eat.

Using your slow cooker:
• Always start with clean hands and clean equipment and utensils.
• Always thaw meat or poultry before putting it in the slow cooker. Since the slow cooker uses lower temperatures to heat the meat or poultry, it could be in the temperature danger zone too long if frozen when put in the cooker.
• Keep perishable foods refrigerated until you are ready to put them in the slow cooker.
• Fill the slow cooker with vegetables on the bottom as they take the longest to cook. Then, add meat or poultry and liquid to the slow cooker. It is best to cut the meat into smaller pieces.
• Heat any liquids you add as this will help ensure the food is not in the temperature danger zone as long. Liquid is necessary to create steam. To ensure effective heating throughout the slow cooker, the liquid level should cover the ingredients, especially when cooking meat or poultry. Follow your manufacturer’s directions and recipes as to how much liquid should be in the slow cooker. It is typically recommended the slow cooker be half to two-thirds full.
• If possible, turn the slow cooker on High for an hour to help reduce time in the temperature danger zone.
• Keep the lid on the slow cooker during cooking. Raising the lid drops the temperature in the slow-cooker by 10 to 15 degrees and slows the cooking process by up to 30 minutes.dish
• Check the temperature of meats and poultry with a food thermometer, and eat when the temperature is correct and the recipe is ready. Correct temperatures are:
 145° to 160° F for Roasts
 165°F for soups, stews, sauces and poultry

• Store leftovers in 2-inch high containers and refrigerate within two hours.

It is not recommended to reheat leftovers in the slow cooker. Instead, use the stove or microwave to ensure the temperature reaches 165°F.

If the power goes out when you are not home and you are using the slow cooker, throw away the food even if it looks done. If you are home and can immediately cook the food in a different way such as a gas stove, you can finish cooking.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

WRITTEN BY: Pat Brinkman, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Fayette County

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County

SOURCES:

  • Driessen, S. and Peterson-Vangsness, G. (2016). Slow cookers and food safety. University of Minnesota Extension. http://www.extension.umn.edu/food/food-safety/preserving/safe-meals/slow-cooker-safety/
  • Jeffers, M.K. (2017). Cook Slow to Save Time: Four Important Slow Cooker Food Safety Tips. https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/2017/10/cook-slow-to-save-time.html
  • USDA. (2013). Slow Cookers and Food Safety. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/appliances-and-thermometers/slow-cookers-and-food-safety/

Categories: Food
Tags: crock pot, food safety, slow cooker tips, winter meals

Avatar for Pat Brinkman
Avatar for Pat Brinkman

About Pat Brinkman

Pat Brinkman is an Assistant Professor and Extension Educator in Family and Consumer Sciences. She works to educate and empower children, youth and adults to elect healthy lifestyle choices. Having grown up on a farm, she enjoys gardening, cooking and finding or adapting recipes to be low in sugar and fat. OSU Buckeyes are her favorite team. Go Bucks!

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

Diabetes Awareness month 2024 3

November Diabetes Awareness Month Webinars

2024 Food Preservation webinar series presented in Summer 2024

Kids Eat Free

Here Comes the Sun, Sun Meals, and Sun Bucks!

winter seed sowing timeline

Winter Sowing

How to Can Tomatoes in a Water Bath Canner

Food Videos

  • Freezing Green Beans
  • Ohio Days – My Plate My State Video
  • Water Bath Canning Of Salsa
  • Water Bath Canning of Sweet Pickles

Follow Us!

  • Facebook

Footer

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.
Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!

Categories

  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars

Follow us!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
The Ohio State University
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN ECOLOGY
COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

© 2025 Live Smart Ohio - Family and Consumer Sciences | The Ohio State University - College of Education and Human Ecology | Accessibility | Privacy Policy

%d