Because there’s no one there to inform us of what’s going on with our appliances, most manufacturers have included a couple of codes for the appliance to display to the user when the device runs into problems. This makes it much easier for the user to troubleshoot the appliance and, eventually, fix the problem at hand.
Here’s a quick look at the different codes. Continue reading to learn more about the error codes and how to fix them.
| Code | Problem |
| E1 | Internal Circuits Have Been Disconnected |
| E2 | Internal Circuits Have Been Disconnected / The Unit is Overheating |
| E3 | The Lid is Not Sealed Properly |
| E4 | The Cooker is Already Pressurized When Trying To Start a New Cooking Cycle |
| E5 | The Lid and/or Release Valve are Not Being Used Properly for the Chosen Setting |
| E6 | The Unit is Overheating |
The Crock-Pot is no exception to the rule. It comes armed with error codes that will show up on the Crock-Pot’s display as soon as it senses an anomaly. These codes consist of the letter “E” and a number. In the case of the Crock-Pot, I believe there are as many as 6 different error codes.
Since understanding the issue is the first step of solving the problem, I suggest we take a look at the different codes to see what you can do about the problems you’re having.
What Does E1-6 Mean on a Crock-Pot Express?
Let’s take a look at each code and what it’s trying to tell us. Thankfully, the majority of the issues that spawn these codes are easy to solve and only require small adjustments to be made.
What Does E1 Mean On A Crock-Pot?
- Meaning: Internal circuits have been disconnected. The cooker will stop the cooking cycle.
- Solution: Get in contact with Crock-Pot customer service.
Opening the Crock-Pot to fix the problem yourself will void the warranty and is, therefore, something I don’t recommend doing. Regardless of your expertise in the area, I would definitely get in contact with customer service before I proceed to do anything on my own.
What Does E2 Mean on a Crock-Pot?
- Meaning: The cooker will stop the cooking cycle. The E2 error is somewhat like the E1 but the indication is telling us that it has to do with different parts this time. The error code may also indicate that the unit is overheating.
- Solution: Get in contact with Crock-Pot customer service.
The same thing applies to this error code. Whenever an error code implies that an electric component may be malfunctioning, the manufacturer will always suggest that you get in contact with them.
Which I think is a wise move, considering the risks and the possibility of voiding the warranty by opening the unit yourself.
What Does E3 Mean on a Crock-Pot?
- Meaning: The cooker’s lid was not closed or sealed properly. This error code will most likely be displayed when using any of the pressure cooker functions, as they require the lid to be sealed correctly to work.
- Solution: Set the release valve in the “release” position and wait for the unit to depressurize. Once depressurized, open up the lid to see if there’s something blocking it from sealing properly. Make sure the rubber ring underneath the lid is intact and locked in position. Set the release valve in the “Seal” position. When everything has been put in place, restart the device to get going.
This should fix the device but if it doesn’t just continue to rearrange the gasket (the rubber ring) and the lid until they fall into place. Cleaning the gasket can be helpful too.
What Does E4 Mean on a Crock-Pot?
- Meaning: The cooker is already pressurized. This message will be displayed when the user is trying to start a new pressurization cycle while the unit is still pressurized from before.
- Solution: Set the release valve in the “Release” position and let the unit depressurize. When the unit has released all excessive pressure, set the release valve back to “Seal” if you were using the pressure settings, otherwise set it to “Release”. Restart the device and start your cooking program again.
You won’t stumble upon this problem if you’re not using the pressure cooker functions on the express cooker as the other settings don’t build up that kind of pressure. Well, you could but it would definitely be a rare occasion. I don’t think I’ve seen it yet and I’ve been using my appliance long enough to get error code-bingo.
What Does E5 Mean on a Crock-Pot?
- Meaning: The lid or the release valve are not being used correctly for the setting you have chosen. For instance, the pressure settings require you to set the release valve in the “Seal” position in order for the appliance to be able to build up pressure.
- Solution: Make sure the lid isn’t put on the unit when using the brown or sauté settings as it may cause the unit to display this error code. Other functions, such as the yogurt or slow cook settings, should have the lid on but the release valve must be set to “Release”. These are the settings that most commonly cause the E5 code to appear. If you’re using any of them, make the needed adjustments, restart the device, and start up your program again.
The device isn’t very hard to operate, it’s just that a few of the settings actually require the lid to be either on or off and the release valve to be set to either release or seal. When you’ve used the setting you will understand how you’re supposed to do it but the first time it can be difficult to understand what you’ve done wrong. It’s fine.
With a device that offers so much, you’re bound to run into situations that will cause confusion. In my kitchen, these situations are called “lessons that cause frustration in the short term but satisfaction in the long term” and I think that describes them quite well.
What Does E6 Mean on a Crock-Pot?
- Meaning: Your unit is overheating. This can happen when you put too little liquid in the Crock-Pot and all of it has vaporized, leaving nothing for the cooker to boil. This will make it impossible to generate enough steam to run the unit properly. The message can also appear if your liquid of choice turns out to be too thick, which also results in insufficient steam.
- Solution: Make sure the release valve is set to “Seal” and that nothing is preventing the lid from locking on completely. First and foremost, depressurize the cooker then inspect the lid and the rubber ring to make sure that they’re intact and in place. Proceed to add a cup of water, broth, wine, or any other liquid of your choice to the Crock-Pot. Set the release valve to “Seal” then restart the cooker and get going.
To generate pressure, the cooker must be able to produce steam. Insufficient liquid or an open escape path for the steam will cause all of it to leave the cooker long before the dish has finished cooking, this will cause the cooker to pressure cook without liquid. Dry-cooking in a pressure cooker is not recommended.
The more you use the cooker, the better you will understand how much liquid you’re supposed to put in it to get the results you’re striving for.
How Do I Reset My Crock-Pot Express?
Resetting a Crock-Pot appliance will look different depending on which device you’re using. Regardless of which one we’re talking about, resetting them is no hard task.
For instance, resetting the Crock-Pot Express is as easy as unplugging the device for 5 seconds then plugging it back in. The device should be reset and ready to start a new cooking cycle.
Other devices, such as the Crock-Pot Slow Cooker can be reset by holding the “Select” button for 5 seconds. This resets the internal electronics.
How Long Should the Crock-Pot Express Take to Heat Up?
There’s no rock-solid answer to this question as it will depend on the number of ingredients and liquid in the Crock-Pot. The more you add to the Crock-Pot (especially liquid) the longer it will take for the pot to start boiling and building pressure. Generally, the pot should be up and running in about 10 minutes.
During this time, the display will say “Heat” to indicate that the Crock-Pot is still in a build-up phase.
If your Crock-Pot takes much longer than 10 minutes to get out of the heating-phase, there may be something wrong with the device. Make sure that the release valve is set to “Seal” to ensure that no steam or heat escapes, which would prevent it from building up rapidly.