To clean a crock pot with burnt-on food, unplug it and let it cool, then fill the stoneware with water just above the burnt line, add white vinegar and baking soda, cover, and run it on LOW for 1 hour. Let it cool, then wipe with a soft sponge and wash with warm soapy water. Never scrub with scouring pads, and never put the heating base in water.
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Slow cookers are a holiday workhorse: chili, mashed potatoes, stuffing, hot cider and meatballs all live in one. They’re also famous for the burnt ring around the inside, the stuck-on cheese at the bottom, and the sticky film on the base. This guide shows how to clean a crock pot with burnt-on food using the method Crock-Pot itself publishes, plus backups for stubborn stains, how to clean the lid and heating base safely, and how to keep the next batch from sticking.
What You Need
- Distilled white vinegar
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- A soft sponge, nylon scrubber or silicone spatula
- A plastic scraper or old gift card
- A toothbrush for the rim and lid gasket
- Microfiber cloths and a dish towel
- Optional: slow cooker liners for next time
Skip: scouring pads, steel wool and abrasive cleaners. Crock-Pot’s own slow cooker cleaning tips say not to use them on stoneware, and to use sponges, cloths or a rubber spatula to lift stubborn spots.
Know the Parts of Your Slow Cooker
| Part | What it is | How to clean it |
|---|---|---|
| Stoneware insert (crock) | Removable ceramic pot | Soak, baking soda and vinegar method; hand wash or dishwasher if the manual allows |
| Glass lid | Removable lid with a rim or gasket | Hot soapy water; toothbrush for the rim |
| Heating base | The electric housing the crock sits in | Wipe only with a damp cloth; never submerge |
| Metal insert (some models) | Aluminum or stainless pot, common on multicookers | Soak in warm soapy water; baking soda paste; check manual |
How to Clean a Crock Pot With Burnt-On Food
This is the deep-clean method from Crock-Pot’s own slow cooker cleaning tips (the brand recommends it for a thorough clean), adapted here for burnt-on food:
Step 1: Unplug and cool
Turn the slow cooker off, unplug it and let it cool before cleaning. Crock-Pot also notes you shouldn’t wash hot stoneware with cold water, because sudden temperature changes can damage ceramic.
Step 2: Fill with water, vinegar and baking soda
- Fill the stoneware with water until it’s just above the burnt food line.
- Add 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar for a 3-quart slow cooker, or 1 cup for a 6-quart.
- Slowly add 1/2 cup baking soda for a 3-quart, or 1 cup for a 6-quart. It will bubble, so pour slowly and let the bubbles die down before adding a little more.
Step 3: Cover and run on LOW for 1 hour
Put the lid on, put the stoneware back in the base, plug it in and set it to LOW for one hour. The warm solution loosens the burnt layer without any scrubbing.
Step 4: Cool, then wipe with a soft sponge
Unplug and wait until it is safe to handle. Pour out the water and use a soft sponge or rubber spatula to wipe away the loosened residue. Stubborn spots can get a little baking soda paste and a nylon scrubber, used gently.
Step 5: Wash and dry
Wash the insert and lid in warm soapy water, rinse, and let them dry completely on the counter before storing so no musty smell forms.
When the Burn Is Really Bad: 4 Extra Methods
1. Overnight soak
Fill the stoneware with warm water and a squirt of dish soap and leave it overnight. The next morning, most sticky sauces and cheese lift off with a spatula.
2. Baking soda paste on stains
Mix 3 tablespoons baking soda with 1 tablespoon water, spread on the stain, wait 20 minutes, and rub gently with a nylon pad. It lifts brown rings without scratching glaze.
3. Vinegar for white mineral rings
A white ring above the water line is hard water, not burnt food. Crock-Pot recommends vinegar for stains and spots. Fill to just above the ring with a half-and-half mix of vinegar and water, soak 30 minutes and wipe.
4. Simmer-on-LOW water soak
For a dried-on bean or sugar ring, fill with water, cover and run on LOW for 2 to 3 hours with a tablespoon of baking soda. Cool completely, then wipe.
How to Clean the Lid and Heating Base
- Lid: wash in hot soapy water, and use a toothbrush around the rim. Glass lids and removable stoneware can usually go in the dishwasher, per Crock-Pot, but check your model manual.
- Heating base: unplug and cool it, then wipe the outside and the inside well with a damp, soapy cloth. Crock-Pot is clear that you should never immerse the heating base in water or other liquid.
- Sticky spills inside the base: dab with a damp cloth and a drop of dish soap, then wipe with a clean damp cloth and dry. Don’t pour water into the base.
- Control knob and cord: wipe with a barely damp cloth; keep water away from the plug.
Food that bubbles over into the base can be a safety issue as well as a mess, so wipe the base after every few uses.
How to Stop Food From Burning On
- Use a slow cooker liner for cheesy, sugary and tomato-based dishes; you toss the liner and wipe the crock.
- Spray the stoneware with cooking spray before adding food.
- Don’t overfill. Fill about half to two-thirds full so food doesn’t scorch at the edges or boil over.
- Add enough liquid for dishes like beans, rice, oatmeal and pasta, and stir once if the recipe allows.
- Stop at the right time. Keep dishes on WARM only as long as the recipe says; long WARM holds can cook the edge.
- Soak right after serving. Fill with warm water and a drop of soap while you eat.
Hosting a holiday crowd? Our Thanksgiving prep checklist and holiday baking kitchen prep plan the kitchen, and our burnt casserole dish guide handles the baking dishes.
Where to Store a Slow Cooker
Dry every part completely. Store the stoneware in the base with the lid propped slightly open or placed upside down on top, and a paper towel between lid and pot to avoid chipping. Keep it on a low shelf, since a full crock is heavy. For cabinet ideas, see our small kitchen organization ideas and pantry organization ideas.
Sources and Safety Notes
The deep-clean ratios, the warnings about scouring pads, cold water on hot stoneware and immersing the base, and the LOW-for-an-hour method come from Crock-Pot’s own slow cooker cleaning tips. Your model’s manual comes first for dishwasher use and metal inserts.
Keep going: for the rest of the kitchen, try our natural cleaning recipes made from vinegar, baking soda and lemon.
Related guides
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Save to PinterestGood to know: A slow cooker liner costs pennies per use and turns cheesy dips and sticky sauces into a 30-second cleanup. Keep a box next to the cooker.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean a crock pot with burnt-on food?
Fill the stoneware with water just above the burn, add white vinegar and baking soda (1/2 cup each for a 3-quart, 1 cup each for a 6-quart), cover and run on LOW for 1 hour. Cool, wipe with a soft sponge and wash.
Can you put a crock pot insert in the dishwasher?
Crock-Pot says removable stoneware and glass lids can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand, but check your model’s manual. Never put the heating base in the dishwasher or in water.
How do you clean the heating base of a slow cooker?
Unplug it, let it cool, and wipe it with a damp, soapy cloth, then a clean damp cloth. Never immerse the heating base in water or any liquid.
Why shouldn’t you use scouring pads on a crock pot?
Scouring pads and abrasive cleaners can scratch the stoneware glaze. Use a sponge, cloth, rubber spatula or baking soda paste with a nylon scrubber instead.
How do you get the white ring out of a crock pot?
A white ring is usually hard-water minerals. Wipe or soak it with white vinegar, then rinse and dry. Crock-Pot recommends vinegar for stains and spots.
For a burnt crock pot, let it cool, fill it with water above the burn, add vinegar and baking soda, run it on LOW for an hour, and wipe. Keep the base dry and skip the scouring pads.