How To Remove Mineral Stains From Your Slow Cooker

Slow cookers are the bane of tough meats and the champions of dishes that require low heat over a long period. The tenderest of roasts and the most savory of stews are born of the patient low and slow cooker, but cooking for such an extended time can have its drawbacks.

Namely, cleaning the crock pot can be more unique than cleaning processes for other kitchen appliances that don't get nearly as low or slow. After using and cleaning your crock pot with regular soap and water, you can still find a chalky white residue around the crock pot that seems stubbornly soap resistant. It might be disconcerting, but it's relatively harmless and easily removed. According to Hunker, this white stain is just mineral residue that separates from water as it evaporates. The conditions within a slow cooker cause lots of reduction, which means getting rid of the water through evaporation. This process leaves behind some of the mineral additives found in water.

Typical dish soaps are not enough to get rid of the stains. The Kitchn suggests filling your crock pot with water and one cup of vinegar and allowing it to soak for several hours. You could even let it sit overnight. After soaking, clean the crock pot again, and the white stains should be gone, or at least less visible.

Hunker also recommends applying the vinegar and water solution directly onto the stains and scrubbing. For the toughest of stains, you can pour a bit of the vinegar and water solution into the slow cooker and put the cooker on low for a few hours to try and steam the stains off, as suggested by The Kitchn. The solution and heat should be enough to get the toughest stains off the cooker. Per Hunker, you can also add baking soda, as it will have a bubbling reaction similar to a homemade science fair volcano, which is fun to see and helpful in removing the stains.