Is it common for slow cookers to heat unevenly?
I have a CrockPot brand slow cooker that is less than one year old. I have recently realized that it heats rather unevenly, being considerably cooler on the side near the controls than on the opposite side. For example, when I cook a batch of chili, I can see it bubbling bubbling near the warm-side wall, but not on the opposite side. If I cook dumplings in my chili then those on the warm side are done in about the amount of time I expect, but those on the cool side are still decidedly undone at that time. For what it's worth, I usually use the "low" heat setting, but I think similar behavior occurs on "high".
Questions: Is this kind of uneven heating typical for slow cookers? Does it indicate that mine is broken? Do you have any advice about how to deal with it, beyond stirring and/or occasionally turning the crock within the heating unit?
Best Answer
It is not typical for the heating to be that uneven in a slow cooker, it sounds like it is broken. If it's less than a year old send it back and get a warranty replacement!
If it's not under warranty if it was me I'd take it apart and fix it if I could, they aren't very complicated. I'd either fix it or replace it rather than try to use it because one of the big benefits of a slow cooker is to be able to leave it unattended. You could stir things occasionally, but slow cooker temperatures are very low and you'll lose a lot of heat each time so it's not recommended.
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Do slow cookers heat from the bottom or the sides?
You will find that most slow cookers will heat from the bottom rather than on all sides as a crock-pot does. Since the heating element is on the bottom of the slow cooker, you may find some dishes that will burn or stick to the bottom if not stirred.Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low?
According to the Crock-Pot brand of slow cookers, you can pretty easily adjust a recipe to fit your schedule. The only difference between the HIGH and LOW setting on a slow cooker is the amount of time it takes to reach the simmer point, or temperature at which the contents of the appliance are being cooked at.Should a slow cooker be hot to touch?
It's normal for slow cookers to get hot on the bottom, even if you're cooking with a cool-touch slow cooker. Because of this, you need to be sure you place it on a solid foundation that can tolerate the heat.Does meat get more tender the longer it cooks in a slow cooker?
Tough cuts that did a lot of work in the animal's life will become more tender the longer it cooks until it becomes stringy and dry. Softer, leaner cuts will become tougher the longer it cooks as they don't need to tenderize first. So in general, slow cooking meat gets better with time but only up until a point.Mistakes Everyone Makes Using The Slow Cooker
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