Burnt slow cooker - need help in rescuing it!!

Lois_and_CK

I have one of those crock pot slow cookers and use it all the time. Anyway, today I was browning off some onions and sausages in the crockpot bit, left it on the hob (:o) and I came back to a horrible black burnt mess in the bottom of the pot.

I've rescued the sausages - they're now in the stupid oven (which hasn't been used since Christmas: that's how much I heart my slow cooker ), but my poor pot has this thick burnt mess of onions stuck to it. It's currently soaking in a bar keeper's friend paste and I'm confident I can get it off with some tender loving care. What I'm pretty sure of though is that I've ruined the non-stickiness of it.

Does anyone have any tips? I think I read once (for woks) that you should rub in cooking oil to non-stick things while they're not being used. Shall I do the same for my crock pot?

And finally, do I need to get a life? I'm not sure it's normal to be this upset over a slow cooker.

Buddingblonde

biological soap powder and cold water in a thick paste normally saves burnt pans quite nicely without affecting the non stick - leave it on a while though. (I have never tried it on a crock pot though so wait and see what others say too)

Patchwork_Quilt

I saved a metal pan with a scoop full of bio powder and filled up with water. I left it to soak overnight. This will definitely save a non-stick pan.

I'm not sure about rubbing with oil. After all, if it's non-stick, it shouldn't have any effect.

And yes, it's ok to be upset about the pot. It's a valuable piece of equipment. But if it's terminal, try to get another one on Freecycle. Lots of people don't use them

Good luck

Lois_and_CK

Thank you, both.

I feel a bit better this morning after a bottle of wine and a good night's sleep :rolleyes:

I left it soaking overnight in soap powder and it seems to be lifting off a bit now. Still got some burnt patches though. Lucikly I have a good freezer stock of meals so I can keep soaking it for a couple of days. I'm sure it will all come off.

I'm just bothered about losing the non-stickyness. I've had non-stick pans before where I've burnt stuff (yes, that's right, I really don't learn ) and trying to saute (sp?) in them afterwards was a nightmare - everything just kept sticking and burning on. It doesn't help that CK is all gung-ho with burnt stuff and scrubs away with scourers at them. God forbid that something gets soaked for a while. I've forbidden him from going anywhere near the crock pot.

trying-very-trying

If you boil up some rhubarb in the pot, that should really help too, and it won't damage the non stick.

Lois_and_CK

Wow, I really wouldn't have thought of rhubarb! Thanks for the tip.