How to wash a slow cooker inside from grease and how to clean it outside?

A crock-pot consists of three main parts: a bowl or saucepan, where the dishes are actually prepared; lids with a steam valve through which excess water or steam escapes; housing with electric heating an element. Next, you will learn how to wash these items, as well as remove persistent odor from the rubber gasket cover.

How to wash a bowl of a multicooker?

A bowl is a removable container in any multicooker model. It is washed regularly after cooking. Unlike simple pots, it has a non-stick coating - either ceramic or teflon. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to use hard sponges, brushes and abrasive materials to clean the inside of the pan.

Before cleaning the ceramic bowl, the following recommendations should be taken into account:

• Do not wash in a dishwasher.
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• The best cleaning option is a hand wash with detergents and a soft cloth. The corrugated bottom is gently wiped with a sponge.
• A common and popular tool for cleaning pots is baking soda, however, it is not the best option for a bowl, as it will contribute to its deterioration.
• Saving on high-quality detergents does not justify itself, since the bowl is the most vulnerable part and is most likely to become unusable. So, it is worth using special tools for ceramic surfaces.

Teflon non-stick coating is very sensitive to scratches, only “mild” products are used to clean it. Keep in mind the following:

• It is allowed to use a dishwasher to wash it, but some manufacturers still recommend doing it on their own - washing it by hand.
• It is forbidden to allow sudden temperature jumps, so a hot pot cannot be washed immediately in cold water. It is necessary to cool it before washing and only then proceed to restore cleanliness.

Regardless of the type of coating, it is strictly forbidden to rub burnt residues with metal brushes or sponges, and to use abrasive substances. Manual cleaning looks like this:

1. Pour a little water into the bowl.
2. Add quality fat-soluble gel.
3. The mixture is left to soak for a while - 10-15 minutes.
4. Gently clean the bottom with a soft cloth.

Before placing the bowl in the device case, make sure that crumbs are not stuck to it or that it is not dirty with oil or grease. Otherwise, as soon as the slow cooker is turned on, food debris or oil stains will burn, spreading an unpleasant odor and leaving marks on the heating element.

After washing, dry the bowl well. They don’t put a wet container in the case, since moisture can get on the heating metal element and cause corrosion, as well as provoke the development of fungus or mold, whose vital activity leads to the appearance of musty smell.

How to wash the cooker lid?

There are models with removable and fixed covers. More convenient to care for, of course, are appliances with removable covers.

Removable Cover Care

After cooking, it is completely removed and disassembled. It is necessary to thoroughly rinse the steam valve, rubber seal, which has the habit of absorbing all odors and the actual design of the cover. The valve is washed periodically under the pressure of water. It is necessary to ensure that its holes do not clog. With a clogged valve, milk and milk porridge will constantly “run away”.

In the case when the holes are clogged, the valve is disassembled. It usually consists of a retainer and rubber seals. The elastic must not be stretched, as it may deform and the valve will stop working. All its parts are cleaned with a sponge with gel applied on it, then they are rinsed well and dried.

Do the same with the internal drive, which is previously removed from the cover.

Fixed Cover Care

Owners of multicookers with a non-removable lid, before starting to wash it, clean the case in polyethylene to avoid getting water inside. The lid remains outside. The appliance is tilted and washed.

Some multicookers are also equipped with an additional tank, where condensate collects. After each cooking, the moisture collector is freed from water.

Is it possible to wash the multicooker case under the tap?

A crock-pot is an electrical appliance, so you can’t immerse it in water or substitute it under a stream of water. After cooking, the appliance is disconnected from the network and the external surface is wiped off from grease or water droplets with a damp cloth or napkin. However, if the food “escaped”, for example, due to improperly selected temperature conditions or a loose cover, you will have to make more efforts to clean the inside of the case:

1. A pair of glasses of water is poured into the cleaned bowl, closed with a lid and the “Steaming” cooking mode is set.
2. They wait 3-4 minutes, turn off the device and remove the cover.
3. They clean the dirt with a regular sponge.
4. If the food got on the heating element, which is placed inside the case, and burned out, then it is carefully cleaned with a hard brush (non-metallic). Then, using a damp cloth, collect residues and dry well.

It is allowed to use baking soda to remove carbon deposits and fat deposits. A small amount of soda is poured onto a damp cloth and the heating element is wiped. Then wipe again with a clean, dry cloth.

How to eliminate odors in a slow cooker?

In the slow cooker they prepare different dishes - from fish soup and roast to desserts and yoghurts, the aromas from them are very well absorbed by the sealing ring made of rubber. The best option is to have several rubber seals for each group of dishes - soups, pastries, milk porridges. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to purchase additional items that are suitable specifically for your model. Therefore, in addition to washing the multicooker, it is necessary to eliminate persistent odors.

Next, consider how to eliminate pungent odors from a slow cooker:

• Fish smell. Good vinegar displays it well. 1.5 l of water are poured into a clean, dried multicooker bowl and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (9%) are dissolved. Turn on the steaming mode. After completion of the program, rinse the bowl, valve and cover under running water, then wipe dry. The smell disappears completely.
• Musty unpleasant odors and the smell of plastic in the new multicooker. Quickly cleaned with citric acid. Pour 1 liter of water into the bowl and stir 1 tablespoon of citric acid. Select a steamer mode for 30 minutes. Then everything is drained and rinsed with water. Instead of citric acid, you can use freshly squeezed lemon juice or orange zest.
• Pungent odor. Whole grain coffee beans cope with it. The fact is that coffee is an excellent adsorbent that absorbs all unpleasant odors. A few grains are ground and placed in a small container, which is placed in the multicooker bowl. Leave for the night.
• Persistent strong odor. Soda-salt solution fights with it. All ingredients - water, salt and soda - are taken in a ratio of 1: 1: 1. A cleaning solution is prepared from them. All elements of the kitchen appliance are washed in it and rinsed well with plain water.

Prevention of musty odors

In order not to encounter an unpleasant odor, it is worth remembering the following recommendations:

• After use, the multicooker is disassembled, all parts are thoroughly washed and dried well.
• Store the device in a ventilated place with a lid tightly closed.
• In a slow cooker, the steam valve is not completely closed, since the air should not stagnate inside, its circulation is necessary.
• Ready meals are not stored in the bowl; they must be transferred to a separate dish immediately after cooking.
• Remember and abide multicooker rules.
• Between cooking inside the slow cooker, you can store fresh zest of lemon or orange, which will not smell.

Together with the main parts, additional accessories are washed - a grate for steaming or a basket for deep fat, shovels and ladles.

Video: How to wash a slow cooker?

In the following form, the housewife will tell and show how she launders her kitchen assistant:

With regular care, the multicooker will serve its owners for more than one year. After each cooking, all crumbs and cribs should be cleaned, and preventive measures should be taken to prevent unpleasant odors.