On a busy day, people often turn to using slow cookers, air fryer and countertop electric roaster ovens for ease of use. This article will focus on slow cookers and what we recommend to replace your round crock pots and oval slow cookers. Preparing meals in a crock pot has many benefits, the best one being the convenience of cooking all day with no supervision. However, most cooks prefer fast and easy cleanup and go for nonstick slow cookers. Alternatively, some adopt a common hack you’d find online, which is using liners or slow cooker bags. In both the cases, they often forget, or may not even know, how the slow cooker insert or related accessories can make what you eat, toxic. Keep reading to learn more.
Toxic materials used in slow cooker pots and slow cooker liners
A slow cooker, like other popular kitchen appliances, is typically made from metals like aluminum or stainless steel and chemically laden ceramics. Enough research is available to link aluminum to hepatic failure, renal failure, and dementia (Arieff et al., 1979). Stainless steel is made up of iron, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, carbon etc. Among these, nickel alone can cause kidney dysfunction, low blood pressure, muscle tremors, oral cancer, skin problems etc. Similarly ceramics is made from low quality impure clay further treated with toxic chemicals. And we all know the dangers of PTFE and PFOA in nonstick coatings. All these materials leach toxins into food while cooking, contaminating it. Then there are the dangers in using slow cooker liners…
Chemicals leaching from slow cooker liners
Similarly the materials used in a lining or slow cooker bag, used for lining crock pot, are toxic. Regular slow cooker liners are typically made from plastic, nylon resin (like Reynolds slow cooker liners) or mylar. The toxic chemicals like BPA, phthalates and POPs found in plastic liners and food storage bags leach significantly more while cooking heat acts as a catalyst. These chemicals act as endocrine disruptors and may promote diseases like obesity, diabetes and increase risk of cancer. Though crockpot liners on the market are approved by the FDA for containing a supposedly safe amount of chemicals, why would anyone want to take the chance and cook with these? Even the small slow cooker liners (used in Reynolds kitchens slow cooker) made from BPA free heat resistant materials lack enough research to back their safety claims.
These dangers call for a healthy alternative that offers the same convenience without compromising your health. Keep reading to learn more.
MEC slow cooker – a healthy alternative to slow cooker liners
Miriam’s Earthen Cookware (MEC) is a pioneering US-based brand that makes healthy and non-toxic pots using lab tested primary clay. This all-natural material is free of toxins and the makers do not use additives, glazes or chemicals. This is to keep their cookware as pure and healthy as the raw material so there is no leaching of toxins into food.
Conveniently, all MEC Cookware can be used on any heat source and in an oven, up to 450 degrees F.
Another convenience feature results in less time scrubbing after meals. After intial seasoning of the MEC pot and cooking water-based recipes 5-6 times, it becomes naturally nonstick so there are no stuck on messes! Although dishwasher safe, it is recommended to clean it using water and baking soda, to avoid toxic soaps. Soaking the pot with hot water and baking soda mixture for 5 minutes will make it a breeze to clean.
If you are wondering if you can use MEC pot as an insert in your slow cooker, then yes, it is slow cooker safe but we won’t recommend it. Keep reading to discover why.
How to slow cook in MEC
Miriam’s unglazed pure clay pots are breathable – the semi-porous walls allow for constant supply of air during cooking. Food cooks in the presence of oxygen and your healthy ingredients retain their freshness and aroma. This phenomenon works best when cooking with MEC right on the stovetop. Moreover, the cook time reduces to less than half – bone broth with beef bones takes about 3 hours in MEC, contrary to 12-15 hours in a ceramic slow cooker! Additionally, chicken bones broth only take 1 ½ hours, beans takes about 45 minutes, and grains like rice take 30 minutes or less.
This is all thanks to earthen far infrared heat radiating from MEC clay that penetrates deep into food and cooks evenly and thoroughly at low heat, retaining much of the nutrients lost when cooking on high heat.
Now that you know the healthiest and fastest way to cook your meals without the dangers of toxic slow cookers or slow cooker liners, why don’t you visit Miriams online store and order a pure clay pot today.
People Also Ask:
Why people use a slow cooker liner?
A slow cooker liner (like Reynolds slow cooker liner) prevents food from making a mess inside the pot. Just like a food storage bag, you can dispose it off after the cooked food inside is taken out. It removes the need for scrubbing, with no food stuck to the cooking surface, but the bag leaches toxins. Say “Good Bye” to crock pot liners! A healthier way to cook a hearty meal would be cooking foods in Miriams naturally nonstick pot which A slow cooker, like the instant pot and other popular kitchen appliances, is typically made from metals like aluminum or stainless steel without leaching and will save time with fast and easy cleaning. More information on the features and benefits of clay pot cooking with Miriams can be found here. Great for cooking healthy delicious soups and pot roast, memorable meals for your loved ones.
Why Choose Healthy Cookware? 