Are Slow Cooker Dishes Ovenproof?

Are Slow Cooker Dishes Ovenproof?

The usefulness of a slow cooker goes beyond cooking your meal slowly with no hassle while absent from the house.

They have come as the ultimate answer to the ever-increasing demands in our times that threaten to overwhelm us.

These great kitchen appliances are what the busy modern homes need since the technology used is “set it and forget.”

Busy households will find that this resonates well with their needs. But before you use your slow cooker dish in the oven, you might want to know, are slow cooker dishes ovenproof?

Yes! Ceramic slow cooker dishes can be classified as ovenproof. They can withstand heat up to 400 degrees. Stainless steel will be safe at any temperature that your oven can ever attain. But, aluminum type cannot be said to be as versatile as ceramic and hence not ovenproof.

While some slow cooker dishes will be used in an oven without any problem, it will not be appropriate to use others in the oven.

As plug-in electronic appliances, slow cooker dishes use very gentle heat for a minimum of about four hours to cook.This type of cookers is best suited for cooking liquid-based dishes.

Consequently, you can leave your meal in the slow cooker during the day and find it cooked when you return from work.

Essentially, it changes your way of cooking due to its nice insulation that allows moisture and pressure to cook your meal perfectly.

A very wide range of delicious stews, soups, casseroles, and curries can be cooked using slow cooker dishes.

Interestingly, they are also popular in cooking grains, yogurt, puddings, and dhal.

Regarding the price of the cookers, there is a great variation due to the different models available in the market today.

The diversity of the features in specific models dictates the pricing for that particular model.

Are There Instances You Might Want To Put A Slow-Cooker Dish In Your Oven?

Yes. Many instances arise that require you to put a slow cooker dish in the oven. For instance, some recipes require you to finish the roast in an oven.

With this type of recipe, you will find that the slow cooker dish will be handy in saving time that you would otherwise spend at the sink after dinner.

With regard to the ease of using the slow cooker dishes, they are scarcely comparable to any other. Additionally, you will find them easy to clean after each use.

As the oven heats up, the food is insulated with pressure as the insulated walls build heat. This helps the foods in the release as well as the production of antioxidant-rich minerals.

Tasting food that has been cooked in the enclosed and insulated environment, you will appreciate its unique and better taste.

Vegetable and meat technically give up their juices and consequently lets everything in the slow cooker soak, resulting in a great taste in the final product.

Can Slow Cooker Dishes Be Used In Ovens?

Although slow cooker dishes can be used in the oven, this definition does not fit all slow cooker dishes. Particular materials can allow your slow cooker dish to be used in the oven.

Therefore, the material that makes the slow cooker dish has everything to with whether a slow cooker dish can be used in the oven or not.

One of the common materials that make slow cooker dishes is ceramic. When it comes to braving high heat, ceramic does well.

It has been said by the Crock-Pot customer service website that ceramic can withstand heat up to 400 degrees.

Consequently, ceramic slow cooker dishes(Amazon Link) can be asserted as being ovenproof.

The meaning of this is that it’s possible to use your slow cooker dish in the oven at almost any reasonable temperature of your preference.  

Aluminum is another common material used in making slow cooker dishes.

As aluminum cannot be said to be as versatile as ceramic,most manufacturers of slow cooker dishes in this category discourage using their dishes in the oven.

This means that they are not ovenproof.

On the other hand, stainless steel has been used in the manufacture of slow cooker dishes.

Although dishes in this category are rare, you will still find them in the market if you search well.

Well, if you are lucky enough to find one, you have nothing to fear when using it in the oven.

Stainless steel slow cooker dish(Amazon Link) will be safe at any temperature that your oven can ever attain.

All in all, it’s advisable to always refer to the owner’s manual before deciding to use your slow cooker dish in the oven.

Some slow cooker dishes will look like they can withstand high temperatures, but you can never tell until you refer to the user manual.

How Do I Use My Slow Cooker Dish In The Oven?

The convenience that comes with slow cookers is incredible. However, the appliances must be used correctly.

It’s essential to practice proper and correct techniques that will enable you to enjoy this convenience.

Although some slow cooker dishes have been classified as being ovenproof, they still can be damaged if used improperly in the oven.

Cases abound of slow cooker dishes that have been damaged in the oven despite being ovenproof.

To use your slow cooker dish in your oven safely, you need to take several precautions.

If you plan to use your ovenproof slow cooker dish in the oven, never use it for storing food in the refrigerator.

When ceramic materials are subjected to extremely cold temperatures, the material is weakened.

When this happens, your dish will crack, and you will not want to use a cracked dish for cooking your food.

As long as a slow cooker dish has cracks, high-temperature heating will make them vulnerable to breaking.

When it comes to the surface on which you need to use your slow cooker dish, it needs to be a countertop or a flat, safe surface.

This needs to be far from any loose paper, random kitchen towels, and away from the sink. You also need to use the slow cooker dish away from an open window.

It’s also recommended that you ensure that the cord is not stuck under the pot or crimped.

The vent hole needs to face the center of your kitchen, deliberately avoiding the wall.

Since your slow cooker may not be well calibrated from the factory, it’s advisable to avoid using it for the first time when you are not at home.

This happens to be a good way to ensure that your cooker heats evenly. Additionally, you will find a programmable slow cooker to be more useful than a non-programmable one.

This is especially useful when using it for extended periods during which you are not in the house.

Investing in a programmable slow cooker is worth it if you are normally out of the house for long hours and want to use it for cooking your recipes.

Programmable slow cooker dishes can cook at high or low temperatures according to your settings.

From the settings, you are allowed to choose the duration you want the recipe to be cooked. 

After the set time elapses, your cooker will keep your food hot but at a safe temperature.

It would be meaningless for your slow cooker to switch off after cooking, only to get home and find your food cooked but already cold.

Programmable slow cookers have overcome this challenge and will keep your meal hot until you come.

Can I Cook Frozen Foods In My Slow Cooker Dish?

Yes. You can cook frozen foods in a slow cooker dish, but with some precaution. Frozen foods like frozen chuck roast should first be defrosted.

Additionally, all other ingredients that you wish to throw in the pot should be at room temperature.

This applies to all foods, including broth,canned tomatoes, among others.You may also warm the food first before putting it in the slow cooker dish.

This is a precautionary measure that manufacturers recommend so that the food arrives to correct cooking temperature.

In the instance that you are using some bagged “freezer meal” in the slow cooker, it needs to be thawed in the microwave before you place it into the pot.

This is because slow cookers will struggle to bring ice to a boil.

If you try to put food in solid block form due to freezing, too much time will be spent in the danger zone and will not be safe to eat.

You may need to have your rule of thumb that all food must reach 140°F within two hours of operation.

To achieve this, the food should never be frozen as you turn on your slow cooker dish.

However,with newer models of slow cookers, you can still cook frozen foods as they have heating elements at the bottom and the top,making them heat foods faster.

This makes them more reliable in cooking frozen foods. All the same, before you think of cooking your frozen foods in the slow cooker dish,read your user manual as all information will be found there.

Do I Need To First Test Vintage Slow Cookers?

It might be very tempting to buy slow cooker dishes at secondhand dealer stores. In most instances, they will appear so cool with pocket-friendly pricing.

However,before you use the appliance in the house to prepare your dinner, it is best first to test it. Areas to check will include the heating element and the calibration.

You can use tepid tap water to fill the slow cooker to about 3/4 and then chose the low setting. Use a food thermometer to check after eight hours.

The minimum temperature that should be seen in the thermometer should be 185°F.

How Do I Store And Reheat Leftovers?

All foods stored in your freezer or refrigerator should be cooled to room temperature before putting them in the freezer or refrigerator.

This applies to the leftovers you get from your slow cooker dish. The first two hours after you finish cooking is the opportune time to cool the food.

If you want to reheat the food, avoid reheating it in the slow cooker, as this will take the cooker longer to bring the food to a safe temperature.

It is advised that you first reheat the food using a stove until steaming. At this point, it will be safe to place your food in the slow cooker dish to ensure it stays warm for up to two hours.

Do Slow Cooker Dishes Have Ovenproof Lids?

Most of the lids that come with slow cooker dishes are not ovenproof. Ideally, they will always have some plastic or rubber near the vent hole.

The handle is also generally made of non-ovenproof material. As a consequence, you will not want to place those rubber or plastic pieces in the oven.

Regardless of the ovenproof dish, you will not want to have the lid with plastic and rubber materials in the oven.

Before you insert such lids in the oven, ensure that the material they are made of can handle the high temperatures in the oven.

Using such lids in the oven with your ovenproof slow cooker dish will cause the rubber or plastic to melt under high temperatures.

When this happens, you might not find the recipe very inviting due to the smell of these materials.

To ensure that your food stays covered, make use of some aluminum foil to cover your food in the oven as your temporary slow cooker dish lid.

This will ensure that your food stays insulated as it cooks in the slow cooker dish.

Conclusion

Slow cooker dishes have brought revolutionary changes in the kitchen.

Many busy homesteads are shifting to these wonderful kitchen appliances due to the benefits they come loaded with.

In addition to foods cooked in a slow cooker dish tasting uniquely different, they are handy in saving you valuable time. You can leave your food cooking and go to work.

Since not all slow cooker dishes are oven-proof, it’s important to ensure that you read your user manual to ensure that you stick to the manufacturer’s recommended usage.

Additionally, some slow cookers may have lids that are not ovenproof despite them being ovenproof. Using aluminum foils to cover your food as it cooks will work well in such cases.