The sheer thought of knowing that the pizza has been out overnight can be a bit nasty and for good reason. A lot of food tends to spoil if it’s left at room temperature overnight, as bacterial growth starts to take place within a few hours. Visually inspecting the food isn’t enough when it’s been out for a couple of hours. It will take a long time before you can see the effects with your bare eye. So, how cautious should one be when it comes to pizza?

According to the US Department of Agriculture, you shouldn’t eat a pizza that’s been left out overnight. The risk of leaving perishable food out overnight is that it can be contaminated with food-borne illnesses. While the department’s guidelines recommend not eating any food that’s been left out for more than 2 hours, it should be noted that there’s usually little threat of food-borne illness in a pizza that’s been left out overnight but it should still be avoided to minimize the risk of food poisoning.

However, I do recommend refrigerating your leftover pizza slices at all times. If you still decide to eat a pizza that’s been left out overnight then that’s your decision. I have done it a couple of times too, and I have never felt sick. While the aim is to store all of your food in an environment that keeps them in the best possible condition, I don’t think you need to feel panic if you’re reading this because you just ate a pizza slice that you forgot to store. I just think you should do everything in your power to remember to place your leftovers in the fridge to avoid food poisoning in the future.

I’ve had food poisoning and there’s nothing good about it. It’s a horrible experience, or at least it can be and I don’t wish for anyone else to experience it.

But, as always, it’s good to be cautious and keep note of how you’re feeling. The ingredients on the pizza will determine the impact. Cheese, tomato sauce, yeast-based bread, and veggies can usually handle a night at room temperature without spoiling. Tomato sauce is too acidic to promote any bacterial growth of that kind, cheese has undergone lactic acid fermentation and has low pH, and the bread isn’t large or thick enough to retain the warmth and moist needed to grow bacillus.

Ham and other ingredients can be trickier though. Meat in general should probably be avoided if it’s been left out overnight.

What Can Happen If You Eat Pizza That Was Left Out?

The USDA state that perishable foods stored at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit are at risk of carrying bacteria. The amount of time the food has been exposed to said temperatures drastically increases the risk of bacteria. Leaving your pizza out for a short period of time is generally okay, and you shouldn’t have to worry about eating it. However, longer periods of time can pose a certain risk.

Eating a pizza that’s been left out overnight can lead to nausea, being gaseous, stomach aches, and most other symptoms associated with food poisoning. You can experience some of the more severe symptoms or just the mildest ones and there’s a bunch of different things that determine that. The type of ingredients used, the temperature, your body’s reaction to certain ingredients, etc.

There’s no way for me to tell you how you will react, therefore, I will recommend that you avoid eating the pizza.

Does Reheating Pizza Kill Bacteria?

Most of us are familiar with the fact that cold and warm temperatures fend off bacteria. But what about a pizza that’s been left out overnight? Can you remove accumulated bacteria by reheating the pizza, making it safe to eat once again? Let’s check it out.

By reheating the pizza to temperatures above 165 degrees Fahrenheit you will kill the bacteria. This is, however, not enough. Why? Because some bacteria tend to leave spores and toxins and these aren’t killed by the temperature. So once your food has started to grow mold or bacteria, there’s very little you can do about it. The best choice is going to be to discard the food.

The risk just isn’t worth it. Yes, it’s a horrible experience to watch a pizza end up in the trash but it’s better than feeling like garbage yourself. There will be other pizzas, trust me.

The principles above also tell us why food shouldn’t be taken out of the freezer, thawed, and then put back in the freezer. While you can prevent the growth of bacteria, you can’t really reverse it.

How Long Does Pizza Last In the Box?

So, keeping a pizza out in the open for more than 2 hours doesn’t seem like the way to go. But what about a pizza that’s been refrigerated?

From the point that you pick up the pizza, eat it, and store the leftovers in the refrigerator you can expect the pizza to last for about 4 days on average before eating it becomes questionable. You can put the entire box in the fridge but there are better ways to store a pizza. My preferred method is to take the slices and place them in a Tupperware container – either stacked on top of each other as is or with a piece of baking paper between each slice.

How Can You Tell If a Pizza Has Gone Bad?

If you were to handle a pizza that’s on the edge, wouldn’t it be wise to know what to look for and what to avoid? I think so. Pizza, just like most other foods, will show obvious signs if it’s gone bad. The longer it has been sitting, the more obvious the signs will be. For instance, a pizza that’s been left in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks will probably have large mold spots, while a fresher pizza will show very little signs of spoilage.

Generally, using your nose and your fingers is a good way to identify a pizza that’s going bad. The pizza will start to dry up and the texture will change substantially as time goes. Merely changing texture isn’t enough to deem the pizza bad, as this process starts as soon as the pizza starts to cool down. It’s still considered safe to eat the pizza if it’s just the texture that’s changed.

What you’ll want to keep a nose out for is the smell. When you smell a rancid odor coming from your pizza you know that it’s been too long. It’s time to let the pizza go.

Remember, there are health risks associated with eating spoiled food so keep an eye open and if you have doubts, always go for the safest option.

There’s a lot of things to take into consideration when baking, aside from the procedure of baking itself. Let’s say you’ve finished baking a cake or a batch of your favorite cookies but you still have a ton of unused frosting left.

What can you do with it? How long can royal icing really be kept?

Egg-based royal icing can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week while meringue-based royal icing can be kept at room temperature for a month. Both can be stored for months in the fridge but must be thawed before use. The longer you keep your royal icing, the more the mixture will separate, this makes it harder to use the icing. Placing it in a mixer will cause it to regain its texture.

Frosting can definitely be one of those things that you make in abundance only to realize that you’ve made way too much frosting for the amount of cookie dough or cake you’ve got. I may be speaking out of experience but that’s what I’ve experienced.

While we’ve made it clear that you can keep royal icing for a couple of days in the refrigerator – I prefer using as much of it as possible within the first couple of days.

But if you were to keep it for a couple of days, or even months in the fridge, I would take a few things into consideration. The better circumstances you provide for the royal icing, the better the results will be.

What Is Royal Icing?

Royal icing has been around for a long time. We’ve found references dating back to the 1600s, where this mixture of egg whites and icing sugar is used. The term “Royal Icing” wasn’t coined until the 1800s when the icing was used to coat Queen Victoria’s wedding cake. The name has, since then, stuck.

Royal icing is a mixture containing egg whites and icing sugar as a base, and sometimes lemon or lime juice too. When mixed together, these ingredients create a paste that’s perfect for decorating cookies, cakes, and other pastries.

Does Royal Icing Go Bad?

Royal icing doesn’t go bad that easily, which I think is quite beneficial as some holidays, such as Christmas, can include several days of baking for some (Yes, we’re a big family).

The reason why royal icing doesn’t go bad very easily has to do with the ratio of sugar to egg.

Bacteria don’t like sugar and there’s a good amount of it in royal icing, this prevents the growth of bacteria, or at least slows it down to a certain degree. Bacteria are the reason why eggs go bad, so without them, the eggs in the royal icing last longer.

Bacteria don’t like salt and highly acidic foods either.

While both egg-based and meringue-based royal icing will go bad eventually, the reason why you don’t want to keep royal icing stored for too long is the loss of efficiency that occurs when royal icing is stored. You should be able to use egg-based royal icing a week after it was made without issue.

Meringue-based royal icing doesn’t contain eggs so it lasts even longer, up to a month at room temperature. Regardless of which icing you’re using, make sure to either mix it or beat it in a bowl or mixer before using to ensure the icing is up to standards.

Can I Make Royal Icing Ahead of Time?

This can be extra useful for periods where you expect to bake a lot but you don’t want to spend time making the royal icing all over again every single time. Instead, you can make a huge batch the first time and keep it for the entire period. You can also make smaller batches and use them within the upcoming week or so – it all depends on how you store it and make it.

Yes, you can absolutely make royal icing ahead of time but depending on when you plan to use it you may have to adjust your method of storage.

• If you plan on using the royal icing within the next week: Make an egg-based or meringue-based royal icing and keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator (egg) or at room temperature (meringue) for the week. I suggest mixing the icing prior to using it.
• If you plan on using the royal icing within a month: Make a meringue-based royal icing and keep it at room temperature. Alternatively, make egg-based royal icing and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
• If you plan on using the royal icing within the next couple of months: Make either an egg or meringue-based royal icing and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Thaw and mix before use.

How Do You Thaw Frozen Royal Icing?

When you take your royal icing out of the freezer it won’t be usable as it’s most likely frozen to a big chunk of icing. You shouldn’t expose the frozen icing to high heat, instead let the icing thaw in room temperature or in the refrigerator.

This can take several hours but it’s the best way to do it. If you’re running low on time, you could put the airtight container or bag in a bath of lukewarm water. This should thaw your icing slightly quicker.

For How Long Can You Freeze Cookies With Royal Icing?

We’ve talked about royal icing by itself but what if it’s applied to a cookie, which it is, most of the time. Does that change the time it can be stored?

Not really no.

You can store frozen cookies with royal icing for months then thaw them at room temperature or in the refrigerator while they’re still in the airtight container you stored them in. In a few hours, your cookies should have thawed completely and they can now be enjoyed.

How Long Does Royal Icing Last in the Fridge?

Storing royal icing in the fridge is advantageous if you’ve made way too much, or if you’ve made a huge batch ahead of time. It can, of course, also be useful for smaller batches. The lifetime of royal icing will extend substantially when you store it in the fridge, compared to the refrigerator, or at room temperature.

As long as it’s kept within an airtight container you can store royal icing in the fridge for up to 6 months without problems.

Can You Put Royal Icing in The Fridge To Set?

Just as you finish mixing your icing, you may notice that it’s way too soft or runny to be applied to cookies, this isn’t rare at all. The icing must harden before it’s applied, and this can be achieved by placing the icing in the fridge right after it’s made.

Within 30 minutes your icing should’ve hardened enough. The hardened icing will help to create a thicker layer of icing on the pastry.

Can You Store Royal Icing in a Squeeze Bottle?

You may be asking yourself “What’s a squeeze bottle?”

I’m sure you’ve seen one. It’s one of those plastic bottles that you often see chefs using for oil, dressings, sauces etc. They’re very cheap and great for homemade sauces, marinade, frosting, and much more.

Squeeze bottles are great for royal icing, they can be used for piping and flooding the royal icing. Some bottles come with interchangeable tips, this can be great when you’re trying to decorate using royal icing.

Royal icing should, preferably, be stored in an airtight container. Very few squeeze bottles are completely airtight, which makes them a less attractive option when storing royal icing long-term. You can, however, store royal icing in squeeze bottles for a couple of days as long as they’re placed in the refrigerator.

She told me to never put cast iron in the dishwasher because the finish is not abraded (it’s rough to the touch), so it requires seasoning and oils to build up a nonstick surface. When a cast iron skillet is placed into the dishwasher, the detergents strip away the oils that keep it from being susceptible to rust.

Why Are You Not Supposed To Wash a Cast Iron Skillet?

A common misconception that comes up a lot is that you aren’t supposed to wash a cast iron skillet at all. This is simply untrue. You can wash your cast iron skillet, but not in the traditional way as you would your regular pots and pans. This is because a cast iron skillet’s chemical composition is 2.5-4.0% carbon, 1-3% silicon, and 93%-96.5% pure iron [1].

Due to the high concentration of iron, it is nearly indestructible, however, it does have one downside to it. It is highly susceptible to oxidation, the process in which a compound experiences a loss of electrons due to direct exposure to oxygen [2].

In the case of metals, such as Iron (Fe), the metal mixes with oxygen and becomes rust (Fe₂O₃).

This means that if you strip away the protective layer of oils with dishwashing detergents or regular household soaps, and your cast iron skillet comes into contact with water, it can rust, making it completely unusable. 

How to Clean Your Cast Iron Skillet After Use?

If you want to clean out your cast iron skillet, you will need to be prepared to get your hands a little dirty. You will also need to jump on it right away after cooking in it, if you want to get the best results.

1. Use an old cloth, paper towel, a sponge, or stiff brush as your cleaning apparatus. Do not use steel wool or dish soap.
   
2. Do not let your pan soak. Extended exposure to water can harm the cast iron skillet and cause rust to form if there is a break in your seasoning. Instead, use a little bit of hot water immediately after use and wipe it out. If you wait for your cast iron skillet to cool down before washing, it could warp.

• If there are unwanted food particles that are stuck, use a kosher salt paste or vinegar to help break it apart for removal.

• Dry the skillet with a cloth or towel or place it on the stove on low heat.
  
• Apply a thin layer of vegetable oil or any other neutral oil on the inside of the skillet. Make sure to cover every square inch of the skillet. Buff any excess oil off with a cloth or paper towel.
  
• Store in a dry place either in a cabinet or above your stovetop.

How & Where Does This Protective Layer of Oils Come From?

In most cases, when you purchase a cast iron skillet, it will either have an enamel or porcelain coating to it or it won’t come with any coating at all. Due to the porous nature of cast iron skillets, Teflon coatings are rendered useless, as they cannot lay flat across the surface of the cast iron.

If you choose a cast iron skillet that has an enamel or porcelain coating, it will be protected from coming into contact with oxygen while providing a smooth surface across the pan.

This negates the need for “seasoning” the pan with oils, but because of how brittle enamel and porcelain are, they can be chipped away over time, exposing your cast iron skillet to the open air and the potential for rust. 

This is where the uncoated cast iron skillet shines, as a well-done seasoning will fill up the peaks and valleys within your pan’s surface, keeping your food from sticking and your skillet from rusting simultaneously.

How to Season Your Cast Iron Skillet?

Properly seasoning your cast iron skillet for the first time is essential to preserving it for a lifetime of use. This will be the only time that you will be required to wash it with soap.

• Preheat the oven to 350-450°F.

• Wash the skillet. Grab a sponge or stiff brush with some warm, soapy water (regular dish soap) and wash the entire surface of the skillet thoroughly. This includes the inside of the skillet, the outside, and the handle.

• Rinse and dry. Rinse off all soap, and then dry the entirety of the skillet as much as possible. You want it to be “bone” dry.

• Add oil. The most commonly recommended are unsaturated cooking oils like vegetable oil or melted shortening. You should use a neutral fat but leave out flaxseed oil as the option, as it tends to flake.

• Spread the oil around. Coat the entire skillet using a clean cloth or paper towel. You want the oil to cover every square inch of the skillet, including the exterior (bottom, sides, handle). If you miss any portions of the skillet, you are opening it up to rust which can spread quickly across the entire pan.

• Bake the skillet. Place the skillet upside down on your oven’s center rack with a sheet of aluminum foil beneath it to catch any oil drips. Bake for 1 hour.

• Let it cool down before storing it. Take it out of the oven and allow it to cool right down. At this point, you can choose to give it one last wipe with a thin layer of oil or to just store it away in a cabinet or above your stovetop.

What To Do If You Put a Cast Iron Skillet in the Dishwasher?

If you (like me) went against your mother’s instructions and put your cast iron skillet in the dishwasher, you may be able to save it but it will require a lot of work on your part.

Unfortunately, if your cast iron skillet is a family heirloom or a hand-me-down, it may never recover the protective coating it once previously had, nor will it regain the associated flavor that goes along with a well-used cast iron skillet. This is because a good coating takes years to build up.

The first thing to take into account is that rust can start to form quickly, so you will need to scrub the skillet hard to remove it all. This step is the most lengthy of the process but is arguably the most important, as the entire skillet needs to be rust free. You will need a lot of elbow grease to get this step done and some hot water.

Next, follow the steps above for seasoning your skillet from first to last, straight away, as any time left in between is time for more rust to form. Take extra care in making sure that the entire skillet is covered in oil, as even a lightly used skillet will have scratches and scars that will likely result in an uneven coating.

Once this is done, there’s nothing more you can do aside from continuing to use the skillet, as you would normally. You will need to rebuild the protective layers that have been stripped away.

Please note:  while it is possible to save your cast iron skillet after being placed in the dishwasher, it is not a guarantee. The combination of the hot water, the dishwasher detergent, and the scrubbing action is going to completely remove any seasoning your pan had, reverting it to a raw, unprocessed state.

This is going to make it extremely hard to recover a semblance of its original functionality. Bear this in mind as it is likely that you will need to purchase a new cast iron skillet.

Is It Ok To Use Soap on a Cast Iron Skillet?

You should never use soap or detergents on your cast iron skillet, unless it has never been seasoned before or used. When detergents or soaps are used on a seasoned skillet, they will break down the oils that you have carefully cooked into the iron over its years of use.

The nifty thing with cast iron skillets is that the seasoning gets better over time and with frequency of use, so using any soap on it will destroy the hard-won treatment you’ve built up.

Wrapping It Up

A quality cast iron skillet is an essential tool in any cook’s arsenal, but must be cared for accordingly. As long as you remember to clean it properly, keep it seasoned and away from soap and dishwashers, a cast iron skillet can last through several generations while improving with age.

Is it a good idea to put another appliance on top of it? A microwave shouldn’t cause any damage to it, right? What about a toaster oven or coffee maker?  

Can other appliances go on top of the fridge? Yes, for the most part, you can make use of the space and place appliances on top of your refrigerator.

However, there are some guidelines that you should follow.

When It’s Okay to Put Stuff on Top of Your Refrigerator

You can put appliances and other stuff on top of your refrigerator, provided that they are stable enough. Remember that you often go to the fridge several times a day, and opening and closing the door will shake the whole unit.

If you put something unstable on top, there is a chance that it will move around when you open and close your fridge. Even when it’s a microwave oven or a toaster, you should make sure that you place a rubberized mat in between the refrigerator surface and the appliance that you put on it.

This mat serves a dual purpose. One, it insulates the heat that these two appliances give off and another.  Two, it makes sure that your microwave or toaster does not move around too much.

But Wouldn’t It Trap the Heat in?

This is a gray area. Some sources advise you not to put anything on top of the fridge. They argue that doing so will trap the excess heat that is released through the top area. (source)

According to these sources, if the heat gets trapped, the motor will have to work double-time to cool up the inside of the refrigerator. And this can seriously damage your unit in the long run. Plus, you also have to pay more for your electricity bills because your refrigerator will have to work harder than necessary.

However, most refrigerators do not work that way.  Coolants get pressurized, heat up, and cool down as they go through several pipes inside your refrigerator. But it is the compressor that does the job of heating up and pressurizing the coolant, so most of the heat is concentrated in this area. (source)

For most refrigerator models, compressors are found at the back and near the bottom of your refrigerator.  As such, the heat escapes through the back of the refrigerator instead of the top. Whatever heat escapes through the top, it’s very minimal, and even if you cover it up, it will most likely not damage your fridge.

But if you’re still not convinced and want to be on the safe side, then get a rack that will stay on your refrigerator top without covering a lot of its surface. For instance, this mug and cup stand allows you to put eight mugs on your unit plus everything you need to make coffee or tea.

The stand has a hollow middle, and the bottom rung is raised, thus minimizing the parts of the stand that covers the top surface of the refrigerator. A similar rack holder that you can get is perfect for those who have lots of pans and pot lids.

And for those who want to put a microwave or two on top of the fridge, then this rack might help ensure that the top of your fridge has adequate airflow.

So Is That a Yes, I Can Put a Microwave on Top of a Refrigerator?

There is no reason that should prevent you from doing so. A microwave oven or a toaster does not get hot enough to pose a risk to your refrigerator. You only use these appliances for a few minutes at a time, for the most part. Conversely, most refrigerators available right now have the coils that dissipate heat at the back.

So if you want to save countertop space and put a microwave on top of your fridge, you can. But there are some practical considerations before you decide to hoist a microwave on your fridge.

Don’t Overload the Circuits

For one, you will need to find another power outlet for your microwave. It is probably not a good idea to have both your microwave oven and your fridge plugged in the same power outlets as they both can easily consume at least 1,000 watts.

A microwave can eat up anywhere from 850 to 1,800 watts. On average, it consumers 1,200 watts of power. Meanwhile, a refrigerator is rated to use only from 100 to 400 watts, but a compressor getting kickstarted can easily take up to 1,200 watts.

Plugging both your microwave oven and refrigerator into the same power source means that they are using the same circuits, and this can be a bad idea. Statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission show that overloaded outlets and circuits are the reason for at least 5,000 fires in American homes every year.

What’s more, it’s the heat-producing appliances that are more likely to cause an overload. In this instance, the refrigerator, microwave oven, and toaster oven can all overload the circuit and possibly cause a fire.

Is Your Refrigerator Too High?

What’s more, you should consider how tall your refrigerator is. If it’s too tall, you might risk spilling hot drinks and food onto yourself when you take it out of the microwave oven.

If you have one of those mini-fridge and freezer units that people have in their dorms, you can probably comfortably put a toaster or microwave oven on top of it and still reach the top of the fridge or look inside the oven to see if the food is getting cooked properly.

If you have to tiptoe to be able to put inside the microwave oven or put bread into your toaster, then you might want to put these appliances on some countertop where they are more accessible.

Is Your Microwave or Toaster Oven Too Heavy?

Apart from making sure that the toaster or microwave oven you put on top of the refrigerator doesn’t move around and fall, you will also need to think about safety when it does fall off.  If the toaster oven on top of the fridge does fall on your head while you’re trying to get the bread out, you might need a trip to the emergency room.

The general rule is that if it’s too heavy for you to put on top of the refrigerator, then you might want to find some other space for your smaller appliance.

When You Shouldn’t Put Things on Top of the Fridge

There are some things that you should avoid putting on top of your refrigerator. For one, explosive or flammable items such as gas canisters. You should be storing these canisters outside of your house, in a secure area that has a lot of ventilation.

While appliances such as a microwave oven or a small TV are often stable, some items such as a tall ceramic figurine, a stack of books, and other similar items might tip over, especially if you open or close the refrigerator door often.

You should also take note of how wide your appliance is. If it takes up too much room at the top that some parts of it protrude, and you can’t open or close the refrigerator door properly, then it probably belongs somewhere else. Further, make sure that you don’t obstruct the back of the fridge where the heat dissipates when you have it on.

Additionally, don’t store food that is affected by heat on top of your refrigerator. One of the most common mistakes people make is to store wine on top of their fridge.

Not only is it dangerous because it might fall off, but according to this site, you’re also wasting a perfectly good bottle of wine. Both the heat and the vibrations will age the wine prematurely and will negatively affect its taste.

Fun to Know

While it’s okay to put other appliances on your refrigerator, you might want to know that it’s bad feng shui to do so. If you’re looking to score some karma points for your health and wealth, you might want to keep the top clear.

Can You Put a Toaster Oven on Top of a Fridge? Yes, But…

For the most part, you can put other appliances on top of the refrigerator, but you might want to be practical about it. To be safe, you should make sure that you don’t overload the circuits by plugging both the refrigerator and the smaller appliance into the same outlets.

You should also make sure that it’s not going to be inconvenient to reach up and use the appliance while keeping it steady and stable on top of the fridge. This helps prevent scenarios where it falls on your head. And it should not be too heavy to put up there.

Plus, you should take into consideration that whatever you put on top of the fridge will not stay in its original place because the ref moves every time you open or close its doors.

Should you put a toaster oven on top of your fridge? The choice is up to you, but always be mindful of your safety.

So, are slow cooker dishes ovenproof? It depends on the material that your slow cooker is made out of. Thin-walled aluminum slow cooker dishes will be ruined if used in an oven, especially over 350 degrees. Ceramic slow cooker dishes can be used in ovens safely.

In this article, we will answer all your questions about how to use a slow cooker dish in your oven from safety to methods!

Why Would You Want to Put A Slow Cooker Dish In The Oven?

There are several reasons you might want to try using your slow cooker dish in the oven. Some of the positives of using a slow cooker dish in the oven include:

• When a recipe calls for finishing off a roast in the oven, using the slow cooker dish will save you time at the sink after dinner.

• These dishes are the largest dishes for baking in my kitchen; they can even handle making loaves of bread!

• Slow cooker dishes are easy to use and usually easy to clean!
• They insulate your food and cook with some pressure as the oven heats up.

• The slow heating and insulated walls build heat in a unique way that helps foods to release and produce antioxidant-rich minerals.

• When cooking with the enclosed and insulated environment of the slow cooker dish, food just tastes better. Meat and vegetables give up their juices only to let everything else soak it in like a greasy tasty jacuzzi.

• Slow cooker dishes can double as a serving dish for a company in a pinch. Place the dish down on the table with a heat guard and put it in a serving utensil. 

• Some slow cooker dishes can be used up to 400 degrees according to the Crock-Pot customer service website, which states many other safety concerns and practical uses of slow cooker dishes beyond the original use.

• If your slow cooker stops working, you can finish off the meal in the oven, or even repurpose that slow cooker dish even after you replace the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Dishes Can be Used in Ovens

Now that you know why you might want to use a slow cooker in the oven, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Not all slow cooker dishes can be used in the oven. Here are some common materials used to make slow cooker dishes and whether or not they can go in the oven:

• Ceramic: According to the Crock-Pot customer service website, ceramic slow cooker dishes are ovenproof and can be used in temperatures up to 400 degrees. This means that you can use many slow cooker dishes in your oven at nearly any temperature you would need.

• Aluminum: Most manufacturer’s of aluminum slow cooker dishes recommend not using the insert in the oven

• Stainless steel: Slow cookers with stainless steel inserts are less common, but if you find one, you will likely be able to use it in your oven.

You should always check with your slow cooker’s manual to be sure it can withstand temperatures in the oven.

Tips for Using Your Slow Cooker Dish in the Oven

Although slow cooker dishes are ovenproof, they can be cracked or broken if not used properly. When using your slow cooker dish in the oven, you should follow these simple guidelines to avoid damaging your dish:

• Don’t use your slow cooker dish to store food in the refrigerator. Cold temperatures can weaken the ceramic.
• Don’t heat up cold ceramic; heating cold stone materials can be dangerous as they may fracture or even explode when the heat change is too much.
• Don’t use ceramic slow cooker dishes that have cracks already in them. Cracks weaken the dish and make them more likely to break if cooked at higher temperatures.
• Do not use the slow cooker lid in the oven since most have rubber or plastic parts
• Check your slow cooker dish occasionally to avoid burning to the edge

Is a Slow Cooker Dish Lid Ovenproof?

The glass top of most slow cooker dishes has some sort of rubber or plastic piece near the vent hole, and as a handle, so you definitely wouldn’t want to place those plastic or rubber pieces in the oven at high temperatures, even if the dish itself can handle it.

I personally don’t even like birthday candle wax melted to my cake, so industrial plastic would be a real nightmare in my souffle!

Instead, try using some aluminum foil as a makeshift covering for the lid of your slow cooker dish. Cover the top of the dish and place it on the rack in the oven so that the food still gets the benefit of being insulated as it cooks. Insulated baking can be important for a few reasons:

• It keeps your food tender and juicy by letting the moisture remain in the dish.
• It creates a vacuum seal that can help to cook food faster
• It keeps heat in better that also aids in thoroughly cooking your food.

Can You Use a Slow Cooker Dish on a Stove Top?

If you’re looking to give your roast a nice seer before setting it to cook in your slow cooker, then you’re probably wondering if you can just put your slow cooker dish right on your burner.

Just like with using your slow cooker dish in the oven, it depends on the material of the dish and the brand you purchased. Some slow cooker dishes are made with the busy home chef in mind and can handle being put over a burner, and some cannot.

Most ceramic slow cooker dishes should not be put on the stovetop, but some high-quality aluminum slow cooker dishes can be. Be sure to check with your owner’s manual.

Can You Use Slow Cooker Liners in the Oven

Slow cooker liners are a plastic lining that you put into the slow cooker before you add ingredients. They make clean up a breeze, especially for recipes that tend to stick.

Unfortunately, you should not use one of the liners when you plan to put your dish in the oven at any point in the cooking process. They are not intended for oven use and could be unsafe and ruin your meal.

The Best Slow Cooker Dish for Oven Use

If you’re looking to buy a new slow cooker and you want the dish to be the most versatile possible, we recommend the Breville Stainless-Steel 7-Qt. Slow Cooker with EasySear Insert.

You can use the insert on this high-quality slow cooker both in your oven and on your stovetop, making it easy to seer meats or brown vegetables before cooking and browning up that cheese on the top of your macaroni and cheese in the oven after.

The Final Verdict

There are many reasons to use a slow cooker for more than just slow cooking a meal with little fuss while you are at work. Slow cooker dishes can be used in ovens if they are made of ceramic or clay and are not damaged.

It can change the way that you cook because a slow cooker dish is nicely insulated, allowing for more moisture and a form of pressure used to cook your food to perfection.

Do rice cookers cook faster? There are so many types of rice, but there are also various methods of cooking it. Depending on what you’re making, the fastest way to cook your rice may change. A rice cooker is great, but here are a couple of other ways to cook it.

*The Instant Pot requires an additional 10 minutes to naturally release the pressure for fluffy texture, or you can release the pressure manually (although this affects the texture).

So, whether you’re looking for a quick dish or anticipating the joy of cooking, there’s a method for you. Using the table above as a reference, you can make rice just the way you like it.

But, if you’re really interested in what some of these methods entail or if you want to know why it works like this, keep reading. We’re going to take a deep dive into everything, including the rice cooker.

The Ever-Important Rice to Water Ratio

The key to perfect rice is hydration. And every grain type requires a different level of moisture to achieve that toothsome bite. Most rice is a 1 to 2 ratio.

That means that for every 1 cup of dry rice, you need 2 cups of water to cook it. However, there are several variations, and after some research, we’ve found that the best rice per type requires different hydration levels.

Here’s a table for future reference:

What Texture Rice Do You Need?

As important as it is to choose the right cooking method for the rice dish you desire, it’s equally, if not more, important to know how much liquid your rice needs to absorb to achieve the expected texture. For instance:

• A dish where the rice needs integrity, like sushi, requires a lower hydration ratio of 1 cup of rice to 1 cup of water. That does not include the addition of rice vinegar that will add its signature stickiness.

• However, a classic risotto will take up to 3 cups of liquid in the form of hot broth and wine to reach the creamy consistency that connoisseurs look forward to.

Why Do Whole Grains Take Longer to Cook?

You’ll notice that not only do whole grain rice varieties, especially wild rice, require longer cooking but also more water. What’s going on there? Once you understand the physiology of a rice grain, it’ll make sense.

White rice is created by scrubbing off the bran of the natural grain. The bran is the outer shell that gives color to brown, black, and wild rice. Without this, moisture absorbs more readily into the rice. That’s why it takes less water and time to cook a white variety.

So, then, the bran coating is what requires more effort to hydrate and cook. This is because the bran contains the natural oils of the grain. As you know, oil and water don’t mix.

So, it takes more time and water to work through the oily bran layer and to soften it to a palatable texture. But it sure is worth it.

Rice Cooker vs. Instant Pot

When the Instant Pot first hit the market, everyone was talking about how it was just an overhyped rice cooker. But then we all tried it and realized there were, in fact, a good many differences between the two.

Rice Cookers are Pretty Great

A rice cooker is truly dedicated to its function. It has settings that take the guesswork out of how long to cook each type of rice. If you’re cooking white rice, you will set it to “White Rice.” Brown rice? There’s a “Brown Rice” setting.

A rice cooker is just about foolproof, as long as you follow the instructions for the water to rice ratio.

The other benefit is that it generally cooks your rice to a perfect consistency in record time. Compared to the simmer and steam method, you can save 5 minutes on cooking white rice or nearly 15 minutes cooking wild rice.

Is the Instant Pot Actually Faster, Though?

The rice cooking times for the Instant Pot are pretty amazing. You can cook white rice in 5 minutes, brown rice in 10, and wild rice in 15 minutes. It’s just so astounding; it must be too good to be true. Well, honestly, it kind of is. Yes, it can cook rice at those quick times.

However, the times they list on their cheat sheet don’t list the sealing time or the depressurizing time. In general, sealing can take about 5 minutes before cooking even starts. Then, if you allow it to depressurize naturally, it will take another 10 minutes.

While there’s not much you can do about the sealing time, you can depressurize your Instant Pot manually. However, it may lead to gummy rice instead of the fluffy kind you want. So, it might be best to just let your Instant Pot do its thing.

That means it almost always takes less time to use a rice cooker than to make your rice in an Instant Pot. There is one exception. Wild rice will take about the same amount of time, or less, in the Instant Pot.

We Should Probably Mention the Microwave Method

Can you cook rice in the microwave? Yes, but should you? Probably not. So-called “Minute” rice cooked in the microwave requires 6 minutes of cooking time plus 5 minutes of steam time. At the end of this process, you’ll have rice that is perfectly okay, albeit it potentially gummy

However, it’s definitely not a feasible cooking methodology for any other grain variety. It’ll take ages, and you’ll probably end up with starchy water all over the bottom of your microwave from it boiling over, even if you cover it properly. You’re better off with a pot on the stove or a rice cooker.

Wrapping It Up…Like Sushi

Take a look at some of the links in the methodology table for different recipes on how to cook your rice. We’re especially thrilled with the results from the Martha Stewart recipe and the revolutionary baked rice from BWB (seriously, though, give the fried rice a shot. It’s incredible!).

However, for plain rice that goes with any number of dishes, consider a rice cooker for the quickest route to the table. If you’re an Instant Pot fan, though, know that this is a great alternative to a rice cooker.