Disposable slow cooker liners are typically made of a heat-resistant plastic material, such as a nylon blend. Various sizes of liners are available to accommodate different slow cookers, ranging from one to three quarts, three to eight quarts, and even six to 10 quarts. They fit round or oval slow cookers that measure between 3 to 6.5 qt. Should you use slow cooker liners? No, there is no reason to use slow cooker bags. Everyone should avoid plastics when possible (The New York Times) and most slow cooker recipes allow for easy cleanup, but if needed: The inner pot needs to be at room temperature before you start cooking. If you've kept a slow cooker dish in the fridge, you must wait for it to warm up before turning it on.

Cons: Using aluminum foil may increase the risk of metal leaching into food, especially when cooking acidic foods, and it is not an environmentally friendly option.

Save Time. Save Money. Eat Healthy.

This section covers everything you need to know about the potential downsides of using a slow cooker liner, including: You will still have to clean the slow cooker when the meal is done, but it will definitely help ease that process. Related Question Can I Use Pre-Bagged Slow Cooker Meals in Place of a Liner?

Verywell (a Dotdash Meredith brand) also reminds you to reduce your use of single-use plastic items because of the environmental impact. Using disposable liners can save time and effort, as they eliminate the need to scrub the slow cooker pot after cooking. To use a disposable liner, simply place it inside the pot before adding ingredients, and then dispose of the liner once you have finished cooking. Slow cooker liners came to our attention when making a list of slow cooker accessories. The cooking bags were easy to dismiss as absurd because: (1) the bags are a solution to a problem that does not exist, (2) nearly everyone is aware of the decades-old health advice to avoid plastic in the kitchen, and (3) environmental issues like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch are real.Aluminum foil is good to use as a substitute for slow cooker liners. It provides an easy clean-up and even cooking, but there are concerns about the aluminum foil being exposed to high heat and acidity. Simply soak your removable slow cooker insert a bit before washing — just like you would with any other pot or pan. But, I don’t think I would try using parchment paper for something with a higher water content. For example, I wouldn’t try using parchment paper for stew, chili, pot roast, etc. Some people may notice a subtle difference in flavor when using slow cooker liners, possibly due to the presence of plastic. While this is quite subjective and dependent on individual tastes, it may be worth considering if you are particularly sensitive to changes in flavor or have specific dietary preferences. Yet, a 2011 study detected quantities of other chemicals similar to natural estrogen leaching from even the BPA-free ones. The risk of this with the liners is unknown.

Slow cooker pots usually require to be soaked and scrubbed after use, but when using a slow cooker liner, you will simply just need to give the base of your slow cooker pot a single wipe. By using two or more liners side by side, you can cook more than one item in the same pot. This is great news for someone within the family who requires a special diet or prefered foods.

🍪 Privacy & Transparency

Heat retention: how the cooker holds heat for safety on the worktop and whether the food catches or burns While slow cooker liners are designed to withstand high heat, some people may be concerned about the potential for chemicals from the plastic to leach into their food. It is important to ensure that the liners you use are specifically made for slow cookers and are BPA-free to minimize such risks. If the liner has burned onto the surface of the pot, soak the affected area in dishwashing water for a length of time and it should come off. Finished results: the tenderness of the meat and vegetables, the consistency of the cooked sauce and the heat of the food when serving Personally, I don’t use slow cooker liners. I have a slow cooker with a ceramic bowl, which I find easy enough to clean using this method…