When it comes to new kitchen counter appliances, a common issue that gets cited a lot is that on the first or second use, they smell horrible. This tends to turn a lot of people off as many do not want that type of smell coming out of a machine that they are trying to cook delicious meals in, and rightly so.
While some individuals chalk it up to first-time use, it is important to keep an eye on the smell, because if it doesn’t fade, there could be something wrong with your slow cooker appliance.
So, why does my slow cooker smell like burning plastic? Your slow cooker may smell like burnt plastic because the protective layer covering the components has not burned away completely yet. However, if the bowl, power cords, control panel, and inside vessel are damaged in any way, this could also be the source of the smell.
Let’s look at the reasons why your components could be the source of the burning plastic smell, how to get rid of it, and how often you should clean your slow cooker out.
How Your Components Could be the Smelly Culprit & Solutions to Rid the Burnt Plastic Smell!
In most cases, the manufacturer is going to tell you that the burning plastic smell is just because your slow cooker is new and needs to be “worn in”, and that the smell will fade as you use the slow cooker.
If you are finding that this is not the case and the burning smell persists after a few uses, it could be due to issues with your slow cooker components.
This is when it is advised that you check out each of the components below for any of the following issues.
#1 Check Out the Glass Lid
If you find that every single time you use your slow cooker, there is a burning plastic or electrical smell, make sure that your lid is not damaged. If there are any cracks or chips in the lid, liquids could easily spill out and burn on the outside of the lid.
This is also true if you have a sealing gasket that has been flattened out or is bent out of shape – it causes liquid spillage. Now, liquid spills do not necessarily mean that you will smell burning plastic specifically, but you will smell burning of some kind.
Getting a new lid can resolve this and negate the burning smell you are used too.
#2 Unplug and Run Your Hand Along Those Power Cords
Please check your power cords to make sure that there is no damage done to them. Look for fraying, look for the plastic covering coming off, and look for what appears to be “burnt out” areas on the ends.
If you notice any of these signs, it could be your power cords that are causing the smell.
#3 Look for Remnants of Food in the Bowl
While we all do our best to make sure our kitchen appliances are clean, a bowl that is not cleaned thoroughly or that is not cleaned consistently, can have remnants of food particles left inside.
Over time, these can build up and burn, causing that unsavory smell. This can also happen if your bowl is cracked at all.
#4 Look for Permanent Damage to the Outside Vessel
If there are any food particles on the outside of the slow cooker bowl, this can also produce a burning or electrical smell.
This is especially true if the food particles are on the outside control panel where the controls are.
Always make sure to wipe down the vessel thoroughly after use, both internally and externally.
#5 Does Your Slow Cooker Have a Standalone Probe?
Some slow cookers come with a standalone probe that detects the temperature of the food you are cooking. For those who do a lot of cooking with meat, you may be used to using these quite a bit.
When your food is cooked at very high temperatures with a probe that is malfunctioning, this can cause a burning or electrical smell. Since the probe is a standalone piece, you can simply have it repaired or replaced to fix the issue.
If any of the above solutions do not work and your slow cooker still smells like burning plastic or has an electrical smell to it, the culprit may be the control panel itself.
The control panel affects how the heat is transferred and directly controls the heating element. If it is broken this can produce a burning plastic smell.
Watch out for signs of the control panel not accepting your commands or reading the commands you input in, incorrectly.
If you believe that it is your control panel, you will need to either send it in for repair under warranty or have the control panel completely replaced.
How Often Should I Clean My Slow Cooker?
One of the downfalls for some with slow cookers is how messy they can be to clean up. This is mainly because food is prone to getting stuck within the cooking vessel due to being exposed to long periods of heat.
Scrubbing away stuck-on food is time-consuming and you risk scratching the slow cooker’s surface.
With this said, you really should be cleaning out your slow cooker every time you use it with soap and water. This means that if you use your slow cooker twice a week, you should be cleaning it twice a week.
It is also recommended that you give your slow cooker a deep clean every month or few months depending on how often you use it.
Simple Tips for Getting Your Slow Cooker Easily Cleaned
- Use plastic liners to keep food from getting stuck all around the bottom of the slow cooker bowl/vessel.
- Fill the slow cooker with water and soap and turn it on the low setting for an hour. This loosens up any food that is stuck and makes cleaning it out easier.
- Use baking soda to get at food spots that have been baked on.
- If you need to do a deep clean, fill it with water and add in some vinegar and baking soda (slowly) until it is relatively full. Turn it on for an hour on low and allow it to simmer. If you have a 3-quart slow cooker, ½ cup distilled white vinegar works or 1 cup for a 6-quart. For the baking soda, it is ½ cup for a 3-quart and 1 cup for a 6-quart.
- If the base of your slow cooker is gross, wipe it with a warp, soapy, washcloth and let it sit on the counter to air dry. Never submerge the base of your crockpot in water.
Do Slow Cookers Ever Catch on Fire?
The chance of your slow cooker catching fire is incredibly small, especially if it is a modern design with safety features. If you have an old slow cooker that has a power cord with fabric surrounding it, you will want to toss it and buy a new one.
This is because if there is an electrical short within the power cord, the fabric on the outside could catch fire, but this is only a risk on older slow cookers.
With this said, it is more than safe to leave your slow cooker on the countertop, cooking for extended periods of time on low heat or warm settings. You can leave the food cooking while you are out of the house or overnight.
If you are still uneasy, the best thing you can do is to unplug it when you are not cooking with it, store it on a flat and stable surface, and always inspect the cord before you use the slow cooker for frayed or exposed wiring.
Newer models will have safety features like auto shutoff and the ability to switch to the warming mode after the timer has elapsed.
It is highly recommended that you make sure that your smoke detector in your home is working, whether you are using a slow cooker or not.