Crock Pot Safety

[momemouse]

I read in one of these threads a mention of putting frozen meat in a crock pot. If you do this, consider preheating your crockpot while you prepare any veggies, and adding boiling water/broth. This will lessen the amount of time the meat spends at temperatures that allow bacteria to grow. I also rinse chicken - the less bacteria there is to begin with...

 

[piratesmate]

Hmmm - I should probably do a search on this one. You have a good point; however, I'm following the instructions that came with the crockpot...."add at least 1 cup cold water if the roast is frozen" or something to that affect. I wonder if those are outdated instructions??

 

[hercamore]

I read that with the crockpots you should not put frozen meat into a heated pot.

To avoid the bacteria problems which scares me, I always use thawed meat and highest temp on the cp.

herc.

 

[piratesmate]

Since I haven't been working, this isn't an issue for me anymore. However, for 25+ years I never remembered to get the roast out ahead of time (& I always shop ahead, so they were always in the freezer) and put a frozen roast in the crock. It's amazing that we never got sick...but maybe that's because I always cook the daylights out of meat.

I'd be afraid of putting a frozen roast in the hot pot for fear of it breaking. I do sometimes put the leftovers back into the refrigerator while still in the crock (even though the new book says no to.) I'm always worried about doing that because of breakage, so I only do it in a "pinch."

 

[American Scrapper]

OK, I have always wanted to try a crock pot, but work full time and usually am running out in the morning with hardly a minute to spare. I am also always afraid that I will burn down my house with it running. Please provide people like me with tips on what can be prepared the night before? Also, convince me that my house will still be there when I get home

Thanks!

Kathy

 

[sha_lyn]

I would not put anything frozen into a preheated crockpot. That can cause it to crack, especially with the newer ones because they heat up quicker and get hotter than the older ones.


American Scrapper.... most meal pre can be done the night before and then put into the pot in the AM.
Main things to remember to keep it safe is to place the corckpot in a safe place..... heat proof surface, with nothing with a certain distance of it (I think recomended is 8in, I would be safe and do a ft.). Keep it away from the edge of the counter/table etc. Do not let the cord drap off the surface. Have it plugged into a grounded outlet (even safer woudl be to used a surge protected power strip). Make certain pets can not get to it.