Slow cookers are back and gaining popularity in many homes. Who wouldn’t love a time-saving cooking appliance that delivers delicious meals? But, even with all the rave and craze, there is a growing concern over what is in the slow cooker. Lead.
Do slow cookers have lead in them?
Lead levels in mass-produced slow cookers such as the Crockpot or Instant Pot shouldn’t exceed the government’s guidelines. Other generic brands should be tested for lead (even though most have switched to lead-free glazes). This is done with a lead check kit, which can be found on Amazon. To fully avoid lead, the best option would be the completely-lead free Instant Pot.
Before you throw out your slow cooker or decide not to use it ever again, let’s see how lead finds its way into slow cookers, the effects of lead, and if there are safe slow cookers out there.
Do Ceramic Slow Cookers Contain Lead?
Lead is used in glazes to give finished ceramic cookware an attractive shine. It’s also used to produce bright colors (red and yellow) used to decorate ceramic cookware. Slow cookers are glazed then placed in a kiln to bake.
Ideally, the ceramic should be baked for a long period at hot enough temperatures to make it ‘safe’ for use. Where the ‘baking conditions’ aren’t appropriate, the glaze may end up not being properly fired, which means that the lead will leach into food.
Ceramic slow cookers and inserts are preferable because of their capacity to withstand extended periods of slow cooking and low heated temperatures necessary for optimal cooking.
However, when ceramics are heated to 80-degrees, they release almost 10 times the amount of lead that they normally would at room temperature. Keep in mind that slow cookers can heat up to 250-degrees or more.
In his 2004 investigation, Gephardt found that 20 percent of the cookers tested leached measurable amounts of lead. Is the government doing something about this?
Well, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) can’t place a total ban on lead since it’s a naturally occurring element that’s found in our environment. However, they have set out some guidelines intended to keep the levels low.
According to FDA leach levels of 1 mcg/mL are acceptable for large vessels like slow cookers. Today, several slow cooker manufacturers use non-lead glazes during production to ensure their products remain safe for use. Others ensure that their slow cooking appliances don’t exceed the set guidelines.
To spread awareness and help keep the American consumer safe, the agency has provided a list of products and their manufacturers that contain excessive lead and/or cadmium residues.
It’s most likely, your favorite slow cooker didn’t make the list for good reason. A quick look at websites belonging to well-known brands reveals that they take the time to test their slow cookers for safety and compliance. You may not need to dump your slow cooker after all.
Bought new, most crock pots will not leach measurable lead but over time, the appliances will wear down and tear. A dent here or crack there will make it easy for the lead to leak into your meals.
On their website, the agency also cautions consumers against purchasing handcrafted or antique ceramic cookware. This is because they may have been baked in old kilns contaminated with lead residue.
Buyers should also be careful when purchasing slow cookers from flea markets as it may not be easy to determine whether the appliance comes from a reliable manufacturer.
No amount of washing or boiling can rid cookware of lead, so if you happen to have an antique in your house, let be for display only.
Do Stainless Steel Slow Cookers Contain Lead?
Stainless steel slow cookers seem like a safer bet as they don’t pose any known risk of lead exposure. However, some quarters express concern over the presence of nickel in stainless steel, which is a known carcinogen.
Plus, acidic foods such as tomatoes may increase the amount of nickel that leaches from a stainless steel cooker.
Which Crock Pots Have Lead?
Crock Pots meet the FDA safety standards, which translates to “there is an acceptable amount of lead”. In reality, there should be no acceptable amount of lead but because there’s lead in our environment and our surroundings, an acceptable limit has been set. The acceptable amount of lead that any appliance can leach is 1mcg/ml.
Do All Crock Pots Have Lead In Them?
No, they don’t. I can’t tell you exactly which ones have lead in them as it may differ from batch to batch. The glaze is what bears the lead and the models I’ve tested have come back with either very low levels of lead or none.
I can’t tell you that no Crock Pot has lead in it for sure but many of the models that have been tested have come back with no lead. The best thing you can do is to test the appliance at home for yourself.
Why Do We Want To Stay Away From Lead?
While the FDA provides acceptable levels of lead in cookware, medically, there are no safe levels where exposure to lead is concerned.
A meal or two made from a lead-leaching slow cooker may not prove fatal but continuous exposure to this heavy metal will have adverse effects on you and your family.
According to the WHO, when lead enters the human body, it’s distributed to various organs including the brain, liver, kidney, and bones. The body stores lead in bones and teeth where it continues to accumulate.
Lead can damage the nervous and immune systems, the heart, reproductive organs, intestines, kidneys, and bones. Children below the age of six are more susceptible to lead poisoning and they can suffer irreversible mental and physical development.
In a pregnant woman, the lead stored in bones may end up remobilized into her blood exposing the fetus to its effects.
Some of the general symptoms of poisoning include nausea and having a metallic taste. Medical News Today shows that the symptoms vary from one age group to another. Symptoms lead poisoning in children include:
- Anemia.
- Blue tinge around their gums
- Constipation and abdominal pain.
- Irritability.
- General fatigue.
- Hearing loss
- Loss of appetite
- Reduced IQ.
- Slowed body growth
Signs and symptoms in adults include:
- Abdominal pain.
- Anemia.
- Raised blood pressure.
- Hallucinations and difficulty sleeping.
- A decline in mental functions and memory loss.
- Miscarriage or preterm birth in women.
- Reduced sperm quality and volume.
- Joint and muscle pain.
Are There Any Precautions I Can Take?
If you’re unsure of what to do with your current slow cooker, here are some precautions you can take:
- Look up the manufacturer’s position on lead leaching. You can call them or visit their website to check for information on how their slow cookers are produced and what materials they use.
- Examine your slow cooker for any chips or cracks or other signs of imperfections. If you find any, err on the side of caution and dump it.
- Purchase a lead test kit and test your cookware.
You can also opt for lead-free alternatives we’ll be looking at next.
How To Test Your Slow Cooker For Lead
Anyone can check their gear for lead by using simple tools, such as the lead test swabs that I’ve been using. They cost no more than a couple of dollars and are available on Amazon.
It’s a simple and quick procedure. The test kit will provide instant results. Each test swab consists of a plastic tube with two inner glass vials. These swabs can be used to test anything for lead, not only your cookware.
Here’s how it’s done.
- Squeeze the plastic tube to break the glass vials
- Shake the swab to mix the liquids
- Squeeze the plastic tube gently to force the mixed liquid out the swab’s end
- Rub the swab’s end against the item that you’re testing for lead
- Now compare the color of your swab with the control samples included in the package to decide if the test came back positive for lead or not.
Testing lead-based glaze is different from testing painted wood, which these test sticks were originally designed to do.
When I test cookware or crockery I usually run two tests.
- The first test is done by simply scrubbing the swab against the pot
- The second test is done by boiling water in the cookware and then see how the swab reacts to the water
If the slow cooker leaches lead it should show in the water.
The Lead-Free Slow Cooker Alternatives That I Recommend
For anyone who loves using their slow cooker often, if not every day, knowing health risks these appliances may pose can dampen their spirits. Luckily, there are several slow cooking alternatives that you can use.
The Instant Pot DUO60 Multicooker
Our recommendations include the Instant Pot DUO60 Multicooker. This 6-quarts multi-cooker is an excellent alternative that comes with seven different functions including slow cooking, sautéing/searing, pressure cooking, and rice cooking among others without the risk of lead leaching into your meals.
It allows you to adjust heat intensity, monitor temperature, and keep time.
VitaClay Organic Multi-Cooker
You can also go for the VitaClay Organic Multi-Cooker that comes with an unglazed organic clay provides a healthier cooking alternative. Clay is porous and works as a natural insulator that’s perfect for cooking food evenly and giving them earthly flavors.
Although the VitaClay multi-cooker is more of a rice cooker, it also has slow cooking functions your roast meat, stews and even makes soups.
Conclusion
While some slow cookers leak lead, it doesn’t mean you can’t use your crockpot anymore. Manufacturers are now more aware of the need to produce cookware products that are safer for use.
With the information we have provided, you’re now better placed to make the best decision for you and your family.