How to Use Slow Cooker Liners
Are slow cooker liners necessary? Find out below!
If you are a frequent user or even a new user of slow cookers, you will want the assistance of slow cooker liners. What is a liner you ask? A liner is a plastic sheet used to line the inside of your slow cooker. Most liners are made of nylon resin or Mylar, the same materials used in plastic oven bags. You want your liners to be BPA-free and be able to take the heat of the slow cooker. The liner protects the inside of your slow cooker from getting dirty. It also protects the inside of your slow cooker from gathering bacteria if you missed a spot while cleaning it.
Once the cooking process has concluded, you can dispose of the liner, which again helps minimize the clean up process. Some say that spraying the inside of the slow cooker serves the same purpose as the liner, but there is a difference. The liner fully protects the inside and makes the need for the soaking or scrubbing of your slow cooker unlikely. However, the need may arise to clean the lid and also to wash down the sides of your slow cooker. But the heavy scrubbing usually becomes unnecessary.
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How To Use Your Slow Cooker Liner
Make sure the liner is the correct size for your slow cooker. If it is too big it may hinder the outcome of your dish and make a bigger mess. Many liners are made for 4 to 6-quart slow cookers.
Install the liner appropriately inside the pot of your slow cooker. Pat it down on the bottom of the slow cooker and around the sides of the cooker, so it stays in place and keeps your ingredients heating correctly. Once the liner is placed inside the pot, make sure it is folded over the outside of the rim of the pot. If it is not folded over it could fall down inside the pot and mess with your dish you are cooking.
If you use a liner for your slow cooker, no need to spray the inside of your pot in the slow cooker. The liner essentially does the same job. You can put your raw ingredients into your slow cooker with a liner in it and refrigerate overnight before the cooking process begins. Do not refrigerate your cooked dish inside the liner in the slow cooker. The food could form some bacteria. This is not a safe practice.
Cleaning Up With Slow Cooker Liners
One of the most amazing things about slow cooker liners is they virtually eliminate the large clean up process involved after using your slow cooker. The liner prevents food from getting into all of the parts of your slow cooker and makes cleanup a breeze. Plus the liners are disposable. Once you are finished with a liner you can throw it away.
Since they keep food from sticking to the bottom and the sides of the pot, you won't have to wash the pot. You may need to wash out the lid and possibly the outer sides of your slow cooker though. The liner does not protect these areas.
Liners are inexpensive. It is fairly cheap to buy a box of them. Liners actually help you save money in the end. Your water expenses will be cheaper, as without the liner you would need to use much more water to scrub out your slow cooker pot several times to keep it sanitary.
Have you ever used a slow cooker liner? Tell us about your experiences in the comments below!
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