Slow cookers are the perfect solution for so many busy households across the country and are popular for their convenience in producing a hearty meal with minimal effort.
The handy gadgets can be popped on in the morning and left to cook your evening meal all day while you’re out at work, meaning you can come home to dinner already done. And it was recently revealed that they can cost just 5p an hour to run making them a cost-effective way to feed the family too.
But users have been issued a warning that they should never lock the lid of the slow cooker while it’s being used to make food. According to Crockpot, a brand that makes the modern kitchen favourites, the locks which are found on the glass lid are simply for transporting the contents to avoid spills.
On its website the company said: “If you have a locking lid feature on your glass lid it’s extremely important to never lock the lid during the cooking process. Locking the lid during cooking, will keep the steam in –producing pressure –which could affect the slow cooker’s performance.”
Good Housekeeping‘s deputy editor Sarah Gregory, who heads up slow cooker testing in the Good Housekeeping Institute, said that, in some cases, it could even cause damage such as shattering or cracking in the glass lid.
She said: “Shattering is less likely, given that the lid is made of tempered glass, but it’s the worst-case scenario if the lid is not well-made”. And she urged people to check their manual before cooking. She added: “That will offer the most relevant info for your specific appliance.”
And on their TikTok account, Good Housekeeping posted a warning about the clamps with a video captioned: “One way to ruin your #mealprep for the week? Locking your #SlowCooker lid! Our food experts say it can not only mess up your meals, but can also be seriously dangerous.”
One follower was stunned at the revelation and commented: “WHAT?”, another said: “something I never knew”, while a third added: “They need to have warning stickers on them.”
One user agreed that the clamps were only for transporting food. They said: “No reason to lock it while cooking. Creating an unnecessary risk. Only lock while on the go.”
But some followers were sceptical of the safety tip. One said: “Clamp mine every time I cook… food always good.” Another agreed: “If your lid has a small hole it’s fine.”
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