Slow cooker - is it safe to leave it on?

[Ironfloor269]

Is it safe to turn the slow cooker on when you leave home in the morning and leave it in till you come back in the evening? Is it not a fire hazard?

I leave my ancient one on all day when I’m out. They are designed to be left on all day

Logically.... how else will the food cook if you don't?

I put mine on a mat as the underneath does get warm.

I thought that was the whole point of slow cookers? They cook the dinner while you're out at work.

Assuming it’s a legitimate, kitemarked product, yet it’s safe - indeed it is the whole point!

i have left a slow cooker on all day when we have been at work with absolutely no issues.

it goes into keep warm mode when the ingredient's have cooked as it’s the whole point of a slow cooker.

That's what they're designed for OP.

Yeah

I know it's counter intuitive

I leave mine on a cork mat, but yes leave it on all day.

20yrs ago, DH and I commuted to Canary Wharf. We left the house at 6.15am and got back at 8pm most nights. I would leave the slow cooker on all day and come home to a delicious stew ready to eat.

Of course it is, this is the whole point of them.

Yes it's fine. The outside can get hot,so make sure it's touching anything flammable.

I started using a ceramic slow cooker over 40 years ago, it was safe then and my metal one I still use now. I do brown the meat before I put it on, that really helps, but a bit of a pain frying meat at 7.30am.

Thank you, all. That’s good to know. I usually keep it on while I’m at home but a bit hesitant to do so while out.

They use very little electricity/heat so are safe. I have an Instant Pot, which has other settings so would only leave it on slow cooker unattended.

Just don't do what a friend of mine did, once.
She was getting the slow cooker ready with all of her ingredients whilst getting ready for her day shift.
Came home, late afternoon, anticipating a nice warm welcoming smell of a meal nearly ready....
She had turned on the slow cooker, but had forgotten to plug it in.

I have done that many times

It's the whole point of them to be happily left unattended for hours.

I always put a tablemat under mine, just to be on the safe side.

It only uses about as much electricity as a lightbulb - you wouldn't worry about a fire hazard leaving a light on, would you? Obviously examine it every so often for any damage and if there's anything not working properly, don't leave it unattended but generally they are safe to use.