How Long Can you leave a slow cooker/crock pot on?

Question

I leave my house at 7am and return at 7pm. Can I leave food cooking for 12 hours without the house burning down? And will the meal be ok if the recipe says cook on LOW for 10-12 hours?

Answer 1

Yes, you can leave it on for 12 hours as long as there is enough liquid in it. If your recipe says it's for 12 hours, you should be fine. If you want to try it, do it on one of your day's off. That way you can keep an eye on it. After 12 hours, you should know, one way or another, if it will be OK unattended for 12 hours.

Answer 2

I've left the crock pot on low (only low) for almost 24 hours. The longer the better if you ask me...

Answer 3

Well, how long they SHOULD be left on and how long they CAN be left on are two different things! Sorry to make light of your question, but its true! I once put something on to cook on a Friday morning and had an emergency and had to leave town (never returning home)! It stayed on LOW till Monday afternoon when I came home. My house was still standing, thank God!

If a recipe calls for a 10-12 Low cook, you will be fine as long as you have a newer crock pot and you have good wiring. I myself would be a little more leary about that long if you have a crock pot passed down from "grandma sue" and you live in a house that was wired 40 yrs ago.

The crock pot is designed to allow you to cook when you arent there to cook. Most of the recipes I used call for 8-10-12 hr cooking time and there have only been a couple recipes that I have been disappointed in. I can't seem to make beans (kidney, white, etc.) come out as good as on the stove.

With both my fiance & I working outside the home, if I didn't use my crock pot to cook, we would rarely have a "home cooked" meal. Roast seems to be our favorite in the crock pot. In fact, I never use the oven to cook it anymore!

This is what I do:
Place roast in the pot (frozen is fine).
Add enough water to HALFWAY cover the roast.
I then add 1 pk of McCormicks BEEF STEW seasoning pack. (Stir the powder into the water, its ok if some is still on the meat)
1 onion & 1/2 bell pepper chopped
Salt, pepper, and garlic (powder or minced, which ever I have)

I turn it on at NIGHT on LOW! At about 9pm (bedtime). I let it cook until I come home at 6pm. Its SO TENDER its almost falling apart.

I like to cube some potatoes add some garlic and onion powder & s/p then toss with some cooking spray or spray butter. Put them in a pan and cover with foil. (350degrees for about 30 minutes, just depends on how many potatoes you use) Toss a green salad and we are good to go! No hard work! You can actually cube the potatoes the night before and put them in a bowl of water in the fridge so they are already cut when you get home.

I hope this helps and puts your mind at ease. Also, there are some REALLY good cook books for slow cookers, but you can find alot of recipes on the net too! GOOD LUCK & Happy Eating!

Answer 4

I have often cooked food on low for 8-10 hours I am sure it would be fine so long as it is on low. It is supposed to be the point of the slow cooker.

Answer 5

If the recipe says 10 to 12 hours, I would think it to be okay. You could buy a timer which would turn it off after 12 hours. That way you know it is off and you have a reason to go home and eat before it gets cold.

Answer 6

Yes as long as there is plenty of water in it. Make sure that the slow cooker isn't touching anything on the sides or bottom and put it on a heat proof surface just in case.

Also if you're cooking something with pasta or rice it would be better to leave it out as it will turn to mush in 12 hours.

I found that out one day cooking beef stroganoff. :)

Answer 7

if the recipe says to cook for 10-12 hours it sound be fine

I have my slow cooker on a timer (bought separately) that shuts it off when the time is up (that way if I get tied up doing something and don't make it home I don't have to worry about it)

Answer 8

As long as you keep it on low you'll be fine.

I cook roasts in my crockpot. I start them about 3 PM and let cook overnite, serve at 12 noon the next day..

Answer 9

make sure nothing is near the crock pot. The manufacturer will not recommend you leaving it on while you are gone but people do it all the time.

Answer 10

THEY say its no problem -- but like you I am paranoid about leaving it on so long while away from the house. i tested mine on the weekend when i was home just to see how it did. it did ok. someone told me once that if that thing was going to do anything it would be to short out and quit -- therefore spoiling your food -- then actually overheating and burning the house down. i was relieved to hear that theory.