Why You Should Never Put Your Crockpot on the Stovetop: A Safety Guide

Have you ever had a kitchen mishap so memorable it still haunts you? For me, it was the day I absentmindedly placed a hot lid upside down on my brand new glass top stove. The unmistakable sound of cracking glass pierced the air—a devastating realization that shattered my kitchen serenity. Unaware that such a seemingly harmless action could cause such damage, I learned a valuable lesson in kitchen safety that day.

Despite my newfound caution, kitchen disasters still find a way to surprise me. Just recently, while browsing my favorite kitchen enthusiasts’ group on Facebook, I stumbled upon a shocking post. A distraught homeowner had shared a photo of their stove completely inundated in chili. The mess was so colossal that the stove’s surface was barely visible beneath the sea of red. According to the post, the chili, initially cooked in a crockpot on high for six hours, wasn’t fully done. In a rush to finish it, the homeowner transferred the crock directly onto the stove for an additional hour. As fate would have it, the crock had cooled during this process, causing its bottom to suddenly give way, unleashing a torrent of chili chaos.

Imagining the cleanup process left me empathetically paralyzed. If faced with such a predicament, I might have shed tears for hours before summoning the courage to tackle the daunting task.

Where did things go wrong here? Many people commented on her post, and the consensus was clear: there is one thing you should never, never do, and that is to place a crockpot on the stovetop. But why is that?

Is it possible to place a crockpot on the stovetop?

No, you should never put a crockpot on the stovetop. Crockpots, also known as slow cookers, are designed to use low heat over an extended period of time, making them perfect for soups, stews, and chili. The ceramic insert of a crockpot is meant to withstand the consistent, gentle heat of a slow cooker, not the intense, direct heat of a stovetop burner. Here’s why placing a crockpot on the stove is dangerous:

Crockpots are built with ceramic inserts that can chip or break when exposed to sudden temperature changes or high heat. Introducing the ceramic insert to a stovetop exposes it to a form of heat it was never intended to handle. Stovetop burners, whether electric or gas, produce concentrated heat that can cause the ceramic to heat up rapidly. This can lead to cracks or even cause the bottom of the crockpot to break off, as we saw in the infamous Facebook post.

What could happen?

Several negative outcomes can occur if you place your crockpot on the stovetop. The most common issue is that the ceramic insert will break or chip, creating a mess on your stove. This not only leads to a significant cleanup effort but also poses a risk of burns from the hot food. Additionally, ceramic pieces can scratch your stovetop, especially if you have a glass or ceramic surface.

However, the ceramic insert might not shatter immediately and could develop micro-cracks that are difficult to detect. These cracks can weaken the crockpot, increasing the likelihood of it breaking during future use. Additionally, there is a potential risk of electrical hazards if the heating element of the crockpot is damaged in the process.

Is it safe to use a ceramic dish on the stove? Generally, the answer is no. Most ceramic dishware is not designed for use on a stovetop burner. There are, however, special types of ceramic cookware, such as flameware, that can be used on the stove, but these are exceptions rather than the norm. It’s crucial to always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when using any ceramic dish on the stove.

In summary, keep your crockpot on the counter where it belongs. It’s a slow-cooking pot, and that’s where it performs best. If you need to transfer your food to the stovetop, use cookware specifically designed for that purpose. Trust me, your kitchen (and your sanity) will thank you.