Using your slow cooker, whether to whip up a tasty chicken dinner or even make a cake for dessert, is so easy. For the most part, it’s a cut-and-up cooking process that results in some of the tastiest meals, snacks, and desserts you could imagine.
However, while the slow cooker makes cooking easier, cleanup can be a sticky, caked-on hassle. But not with slow cooker liners.
Are slow cooker liners safe to use? Yes, slow cooker liners are safe to use. The FDA has determined that the small amount of chemicals that may pass from the plastic to the foods is not a health risk. However, you should avoid products that contain BPA, as this is the most health-concerning issue with plastics. Also, be careful when removing the slow cooker liners as they can be incredibly hot and cause burns.
If you are thinking about introducing a slow cooker liner to your beloved crockpot, you’re not alone. They are known for making your cooking life that much easier, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for any old slow cooker liner.
We are going to discuss the potential dangers of slow cooker liners and how you can avoid them and stay safe while using them.
Are Slow Cookers Liners Safe?
Slow cooker liners are made with a type of nylon resin, which is just another form of plastic. This can be concerning to many individuals, as there is an increasing worry when it comes to plastic- not just to the environment but to our health, too.
As described in this post by Robin Reichhart, What Are the Dangers of Plastic Slow Cooker Liners? “According to the John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, chemicals in plastics can leach into food that contacts the material, especially if the plastic is heated to high temperatures.”
This is concerning, as nobody wants to eat chemicals when they consume their delicious slow-cooker made lasagna at the end of the day. And knowing that your slow cooker easily gets too high temperatures, it’s not an uncommon concern that chemicals might get transferred to your food when using a slow cooker liner.
Do Heat-Resistant Slow Cooker Liners Still Transfer Chemicals?
One thing you may notice about slow cooker liners is that they say they are ‘heat resistant.’ And this is somewhat true. While the plastic in of your crockpot liner isn’t going to melt and completely ruin your macaroni and cheese, that doesn’t mean that some chemicals might still wiggle their way into your noodles.
So do these heat-resistant slow cookers keep chemicals at bay? No, not completely. But the good news is that there is such a small amount of chemicals that are passed onto your food from the slow cooker liner, that there is ultimately no health risks involved, says the FDA.
Knowing that there are no health concerns involved with your slow cooker liner can give you major confidence when it comes to making a purchase. Of course, that doesn’t mean that just any old slow cooker liner will do. Not all slow cooker liners are created equal, and you need to be extra careful when deciding on which to use.
The Risk of BPA
As we mentioned earlier, a lot of crockpot liners are made with a type of nylon plastic that is safe to use. But not all slow cooker liners are safe. If your slow cooker liner contains BPA, then you should avoid it at all costs.
BPA, or Bisphenol A, is the main concern when it comes to chemical transfer and plastic. Consuming BPA can wreak havoc on your health, and infants and young children tend to be more sensitive than adults- although adults are still at risk at one of these horrifying impacts on health, as noted by Yvette Brazier in How does bisphenol A affect health?
- Disorders involving the reproductive system
- Heart disease
- Higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- It may impact body weight
- Disrupts fetal brain development
- Maybe a contributing factor towards breast and prostate cancer
- Increased risk of developing asthma
These are clearly health issues that you want to avoid at all costs, and the best way to do so is by double-checking to make sure your slow cooker liner does not contain BPA.
It should be clearly written somewhere on the box, so it’s important to look around and ensure that it is not noted anywhere. The good news is that most slow cooker liners that do not contain BPA will be proud to show it, and there should be a big sign showcasing ‘Contains NO BPA’ or ‘BPA-Free.’
We highly suggest using Crock-Pot or Reynolds brand slow cooker liners as they are known for containing no BPA. Aside from that, they are also known for being some of the top crockpot liners that are easy-to-use and make any cleanup a breeze.
They are also cost-effective, which means less money spent on liners and more money spent on ingredients.
Concerns About Burns
The other major concern when it comes to slow cooker liner safety is the potential of burns. But think of it this way: you wouldn’t open your crockpot, only to scoop out a bowl of steaming hot stew with your hands, right?
Well, the best way to avoid burns is to avoid touching the slow cooker liner until it has thoroughly cooled off.
It might be tempting to want to pull the slow cooker liner out as soon as possible to help clean up time go even quicker, but you are only setting yourself up for a disaster.
In fact, it’s possible to end up with third-degree burns on your fingertips if you’re not careful. Always use caution when touching the slow cooker liner.
Are Slow Cooker Liners Really Worth It?
With the issue of plastic chemicals and burns, it might come to mind whether or not slow cooker liners are really worth it. Well, many amateur chefs find them to be a dream come true when it comes to crockpot cooking and cleanup time.
But here are some other reasons why someone might consider choosing slow cooker liners, as mentioned by Kelly MsNelis of Are Slow Cooker Liners Really Worth It?
- You have some type of medical condition in which using your hands is difficult.
- You are giving a slow cooker as a gift and want to make the process that much easier for them.
- You hate scrubbing stuck-on grime and debris every time you use your crockpot.
If you really want to cut your clean up time in half (or more), then you should highly consider purchasing slow cooker liners. The FDA has cleared these handy crockpot liners of causing any health concerns, and with proper use and being cautious, you can avoid burns, too.
To put it simply, slow cooker liners are going to make your job easier. And in a day and age where everything seems to be moving at the speed of light, it’s important to keep up. Don’t spend an hour in front of your sink, trying to scrub off caked-on cheeses and opt for the simplicity of a crockpot liner.
Conclusion
Slow cooker liners are designed to make our lives easier. However, it can be concerning seeing as how they are made of plastic.
Luckily, though, as long as you avoid BPA-contaminated products, you don’t have to worry about adverse health concerns. You must also make sure to wait until the slow cooker liner is cooled off entirely before touching to avoid unwanted burns.