Do you leave your crockpot on while you are not home?

[EllenFrasier]

This question is brought about by the baseball/softball dinner question that I asked earlier. Thank you all for your responses so far and I will be using some of those ideas for sure. The only one that I hesitate about is the crockpot. I use a crockpot occasionally, haven't gotten into a routine of using it. I only use it when I am home though. I cannot bring myself to leave the house with an appliance plugged in and turned on - especially one that generates heat!

How do you all do it? I would be worried sick that a fire would start and I would not be home to notice the smoke! While material things can be replaced, I have pets that could not.

 

[momx2]

This question is brought about by the baseball/softball dinner question that I asked earlier. Thank you all for your responses so far and I will be using some of those ideas for sure. The only one that I hesitate about is the crockpot. I use a crockpot occasionally, haven't gotten into a routine of using it. I only use it when I am home though. I cannot bring myself to leave the house with an appliance plugged in and turned on - especially one that generates heat!

How do you all do it? I would be worried sick that a fire would start and I would not be home to notice the smoke! While material things can be replaced, I have pets that could not.

I do it all the time. I've never had a problem. That's the beauty of a crockpot, cook while you're running.

 

[walkdmc]

I do leave my crockpot on when I'm not home. I don't worry about it.

 

[angierae]

Yes. If I didn't, there'd be no point in having a crock pot, as I work all day.

 

[Halbleib1]

I have left mine on when I was not home. I am the same way in that I do not like to do it but I have done it in the past when I didn't feel that I had much choice if I wanted dinner at a decent time. Just be sure that it is well away from other things on the counter. You said you have pets- if you have cats that climb on your counters than I would not leave it on while not home either.

 

[SFWife]

all the time...its the main reason why I love it. By the time I come home, dinner is pretty much ready.

 

[Becc1]

I am a SAHM so most times when I do use my slow cooker I am home but I will leave it if I have to take my kids to practice or run to the store. I thought that was what most people do, put the food in the slowcooker, go to work and then they have dinner cooked when they get home.

 

[Lehuaann]

Yes, been doing it for years.

I know people who have put dinner in the oven (on low) while gone to Sunday morn church.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Yes, been doing it for years.

I know people who have put dinner in the oven (on low) while gone to Sunday morn church.

My uncle is a firefighter...and I was amazed to hear that they did this!!! They let their turkey cook while they were visiting a nursing home on Thanksgiving.




OP..I leave my crockpot on when I'm out, and have never had a problem.

 

[crazydaisy00]

Used to all the time...UNTIL.... we were at work (this is usually when we used crock pot / slow cooker for convenience of dinner being done when we got home) and had a family emergency during the day so when we had to leave work unexpectantly to go to hospital and with everything going on forgot we even turned it on that morning. Got home about 10:00 pm and smoke detectors are going off smoke through the house, the sausage had cooked so long there was no water on and burnt the sausage and proceeded to burn the plug up, I would have to ask DH the details its been so long ago. Thank god we got there when we did or this could have been so much worse. Im sure many people would think this couldnt happen to them but no one is ever prepared for an emergency and when it does happen the last thing on your mind is did you leave something on especially if you are in the middle of your work day. Needless to say I only use a slow cooker when Im home and bought a pressure cooker to make a quick meal after work, this is just as good!

 

[mumto3girls]

I am a SAHM now and am usually around when it is on, but in the past I worked and still used it regularly. I think it is pretty much the reason for a crock pot. I do make sure that it is not touching anything else on the counter and that there is liquid of some kind in the bottom. I've never had a problem.

 

[fakereadhed]

No, but I leave it in my room at Pop while I'm in the parks.

I am just kidding!!!!

Yes, I leave mine on and I've never had a problem. I did have one break once, but it just leaked on the counter. No fire, and I had it plugged into the outlet by the sink so it just popped the safety doo-dad on the outlet.

 

[jodifla]

yes, all the time. That's what they are for.

 

[rhiansmom]

Yes all the time but I have one that shuts off after the time set

 

[Tistal]

We wouldn't eat many nights if I didn't have a slow cooker. Often I'll toss dinner in as I walk out the door around 8, hubby gets home at around 4, and I don't usually get home until 8:30. He'd probably do something crazy like eat cold chef boyardee out of the can if I didn't leave him dinner.

There are some super fancy ones out there that you can set to turn off after a certain amount of time. Mine is cheap and does not do that.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

Yes, I do it all the time. I do make sure to not leave anything that might easily get too hot (roll of paper towels and so on) nearby.

I don't really see it as any different from leaving a computer or refrigerator running unattended all day--they all have a very remote possibility of malfunctioning, overheating and causing a fire.

 

[akayek31]

I love my crock pot just for that reason. I do have an issue with leaving the dryer running or the dishwasher running while I'm out. Usually don't do it and today I did while I ran to the store. When I was emptying it later a plastic lid was on the dryer in the dishwasher melting....so no more leaving til its done .

 

[ChisJo]

I love love love my slow cooker for that reason. I just toss a bunch of stuff in the pot and leave the house and return home and voila! Supper is ready!

We have a timer on ours, and we also have the option to turn off the cooker after the timer turns off (otherwise its just on "warm"). However, we usually just leave it on the warm setting. If there was something that came up, I could always call my neighbour to come and turn it off...she has a key for reasons like this!

 

[SandrA9810]

Many seem to have timers, and there's probably a few out there that have auto shut offs if something gets too hot. You could also install a GFCI outlet at the location you plan to use the crock pot. This way if anything happens, it can shut the power off to it.

 

[herdtoDisney]

Yes, I leave mine on. I make sure it is not near anything on the counter (like a towel or napkins). They are ceramic and do not draw lots of wattage, so I don't think one would ever burst into flame or anything like that. I agree with a PP that a GFCI outlet is a good idea-my kitchen has them and it's an extra measure of safety.