Can You Put A Crock-Pot In The Oven – Are Slow Cooker Inserts Oven Safe?

Cooking with a Crock Pot is becoming increasingly popular as a way to create delicious meals with minimal effort. Not only is it a great way to make soups, stews, and slow-cooked dishes, but it can also be used in the oven to create even more flavorful meals.

The convenience factor makes slow cookers very popular in today’s busy lifestyle – often needing only one pot and minimal preparation prior to loading up ingredients into the cooker and setting it on low for several hours before meals are ready.

Are you wondering if you can use a CrockPot in the oven? If you are, you’re not alone. Many people are curious to know if they can safely use their slow cooker in the oven.

In this article, I’ll explore the types of slow cooker inserts and investigate what parts of the Crock-Pot are oven-safe. I’ll also look at which slow cooker brands are oven-safe, as well as address the questions of whether a slow cooker can go in the oven with its lid on and with a liner.

Crock Pot or Slow Cooker?

Crock Pot is one of the first manufacturers of slow cookers.

The brand name Crock-Pot was introduced in 1974 and soon became synonymous with the slow-cooking appliance. This means that people began to use the brand name Crock-Pot to refer to any slow cooker, regardless of the manufacturer.

In this article, I will use the terms “slow cooker” and “Crock-Pot” interchangeably as they are synonymous.

Related reading: Can You Put Crock Pot in Fridge?

Why would you want to put a Crock Pot in the oven?

A slow cooker insert can be used in the oven for two reasons.

First, an oven can be used to speed up the cooking process of a CrockPot by quickly heating up the ingredients before beginning the slow cooking process.

Slow cookers work by cooking food at a low temperature over a long period of time, which can take several hours. By putting the slow cooker insert into the oven before slow cooking, you can quickly heat up the ingredients of your dish and then finish cooking them in the slow cooker. This can save you cooking time, especially if you’re in a rush or need the food ready quickly.

Another reason to put the slow cooker insert in the oven is to reheat leftovers. If you have leftover food that has been slow-cooked, you can put the stoneware insert with a meal in the oven to reheat it rather than using the stove or microwave. By putting the insert in the oven, you can easily and quickly reheat the leftovers without using and cleaning up another dish or container.

What are the types of slow cooker pots?

When looking to purchase a new slow cooker, you’ll commonly come across two types of inserts: glazed ceramic and nonstick cast aluminum. Stainless steel inserts are not as common to find.

Ceramic

Glazed ceramic slow cooker inserts are made from clay that is heated to a very high temperature and then glazed with a protective coating. This coating helps prevent food from sticking to the pot and makes cleanup easy.

You will find ceramic pot inserts in slow cookers from KitchenAid, Hamilton Beach, Crock-Pot, Cuisinart, All-Clad, and Black+Decker.

Nonstick aluminum

Nonstick cast aluminum inserts are heavier and more durable than ceramic, but they have a nonstick coating that requires careful cleaning to prevent damage.

You will find aluminum pot inserts in slow cookers from brands like Hamilton Beach and All-Clad and others.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel inserts are the least common, but they are very durable and resistant to corrosion. I came across only a few brands offering stainless steel inserts, many of which are used in multi-cookers – Wolf, Ninja, Instant Pot, and Zojirushi.

Can a Crockpot go in the oven?

Yes, it’s safe to put most Crock Pots and other brand slow cookers in the oven. It’s important to ensure you are talking about the insert or inner pot.

The insert is part of the slow cooker that you put the food in. The insert is usually made of ceramic or aluminum and can be removed from the rest of the slow cooker.

Most of the time, the Crock-Pot and other slow cookers’ removable ceramic insert is safe to put in the oven. They can handle oven heat up to the maximum temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. They can also be put in the microwave.

Some slow cookers have inserts made of non-stick aluminum, which are also usually safe to use in the oven.

In later parts of this article, I will go over the oven safety of popular slow cooker brands so you can double-check before you use your slow cooker in the oven.

It’s important to remember that not all slow cookers are the same, so always check the instructions that come with your slow cooker before you put the ceramic insert in the oven.

What parts of Crock-Pot are oven safe?

When it comes to slow cookers, not all parts of them are safe to put in the oven.

The part that is safe to use in oven is the insert, also known as the crockery or stoneware. This is part of the slow cooker where you put the food, usually made of ceramic or aluminum. These materials can handle the oven’s heat and are safe to use in the oven.

However, a slow cooker’s outer casing (the base) and lids are unsafe to put in the oven. They are not made to handle the oven’s high temperatures and will melt or become damaged. The metal casings and the Crock-Pot lids are neither oven nor microwave-safe.

Another part of the slow cooker that you should not put in the oven is the outer part of the slow cooker, which has an electrical plug, heater component, and a control panel. This part is definitely not made out of oven-safe material and should not be put in the oven.

So, when you’re considering using your slow cooker in the oven, make sure only to use the stoneware insert or inner pot, not the outer casing or lid.

Related reading: Can You Put A Crock Pot In The Microwave?

Can you put a Crock-Pot in the oven with its lid on?

No, you should never put a slow cooker in the oven with the lid on for two main reasons.

The first reason is that the lid of the Crockpot usually has a plastic handle. When exposed to the heat of the oven, the plastic will melt. That can cause a fire hazard or damage to your oven and destroy your meal.

The second reason is that the glass insert of the lid is not designed to withstand the high temperatures of an oven. It is likely that the glass will crack or shatter, which can be dangerous and make it difficult to use your slow cooker in the future.

Instead of using the lid in the oven, you can cover the slow cooker pot with aluminum foil. This will help keep the heat in and prevent the food from drying.

Related reading: How To Store Beignets?

Can a CrockPot go in the oven with a liner?

No, slow cooker liners should not be put in the oven.

Slow cooker liners are safe to use in the slow cooker pot when it is set to low, medium, and high settings up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. However, when it comes to ovens, the heat is much higher and will likely cause the plastic material of the liner to melt.

Slow cooker liners are made of plastic, which is unsafe to use in high temperatures. Putting a slow cooker liner in the oven, Instant Pot, microwave, air fryer, convection oven, toaster oven, grill, or other appliance can be dangerous. It can damage the liner and the appliance.

It is important to note that according to the manufacturer Reynolds, these liners should not be used for long-time food storage, in the oven, or more than once. They are specially formulated just for single-use slow cooking and should not be used in any other way.

How to safely use the slow cooker insert in the oven?

Here are some tips on how to safely use the Crock-Pot insert in the oven:

• Check the manufacturer’s instructions: Before you put your crockpot insert in the oven, make sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that it is safe to do so. Not every insert of the crockpot is oven safe, so it’s important to make sure yours is before using it in the oven.
• Preheat the oven: Before placing the insert in the oven, preheat the oven to the desired temperature. This will help the insert to heat up evenly and reduce the risk of cracking or breaking.
• Let the insert warm up: don’t put a cold crockpot insert straight from the fridge into the hot oven. Let the ceramic insert sit on the counter for 30-60 minutes if it is cold.
• Use oven mitts or tongs: When handling the hot crockpot insert, use oven mitts or tongs to prevent burns.
• Do not put the lid in the oven: The lid of the Crock-Pot is not safe to use in the oven. It is likely that the plastic handle of the lid will melt, and the glass insert of the lid will crack or shatter.
• Place the insert on a baking tray: To prevent the insert from cracking or breaking, place it on a baking tray before putting it in the oven. This will also make it easier to remove the insert from the oven.
• Allow to cool before cleaning: After removing the insert from the oven, allow it to cool down before cleaning it. Let it cool naturally because extreme changes in temperature can damage the pot.
• Use aluminum foil: Cover the insert with aluminum foil if you need to keep the heat in and prevent the food from drying out.

Which slow cooker brands are oven safe?

I’ve been doing some research on slow cookers and their oven-safe capabilities. I’ve checked a number of slow cookers from different brands and put my findings in a table below.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that different models from the same brand may have different specifications for their inner pots. So, before putting your slow cooker’s inner pot in the oven, make sure to double-check the user manual and manufacturer’s safety guide for oven use.

If you’re unsure about whether or not your slow cooker pot is suitable for the oven, I suggest simply transferring the ingredients safely into another oven-safe dish instead. This way, you can still enjoy your delicious, slow-cooked meal without any worries. And remember, safety first!

So can you put your Crock-Pot insert into the oven? Yes, you can, but you have to be ready to face the consequences if the manufacturer guidelines suggests against it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put the Hamilton Beach crock pot in the oven?

Yes, Hamilton Beach slow cooker ceramic and aluminum inner pots are oven safe.

Can Cuisinart crock pot go in the oven?

No, Cuisinart does not recommend oven use of a ceramic inner pot of their slow cookers.

Related reading: Can You Put Ceramic In The Fridge And Freezer?

Conclusion

Cooking with a slow cooker is not very quick but a convenient and delicious way to make soups, stews, and other slow-cooked dishes. And, if you’re looking to save time or reheat leftovers, you can also safely use your crock pot insert in the oven.

It’s important to keep in mind that not all crock-pot slow cooker inserts are oven-safe, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions before using your crock pot in the oven. It’s also important to note that the slow cooker lids and outer casings should not be put in the oven.

And if you’re unsure, transfer the ingredients to an oven-safe dish instead. Happy cooking!