Some Peoples' Slow Cookers Are Exploding Due To One Common Mistake - Tasting Table

"Slow cookers need ventilation to work, and if the lid is clamped shut and the vent is clogged, that is a recipe for disaster. Normally, people only worry about pressure building up in actual pressure cookers. Old school pressure cookers could be dangerous if used improperly, but newer ones, like Instant Pots, usually have reliable valves and safety features. A slow cooker is meant to simply cook, not use pressure."

"Even with the lid clamped shut, the tiny steam vent should help relieve much of the pressure so that dangerous buildup does not occur. However, if the vent is clogged, pressure will build under the lid. If it is left that way for too long, the lid could explode because it is not meant to withstand that kind of pressure."

"The tiny hole in many lids is there to vent steam, so this can't happen. However, if that hole becomes clogged with food or debris or is covered during cooking, it can no longer function. This is a big slow cooker mistake."

Slow cookers offer convenient meal preparation but pose safety risks when not used properly. While slow cookers are designed for gentle cooking without pressure, some models have clamps on the lid intended only for travel, not cooking. The steam vent hole is critical for releasing pressure during operation. If this vent becomes clogged with food or debris, or if it is covered, pressure builds dangerously under the lid. Since slow cooker lids are not engineered to withstand high pressure like pressure cooker lids, the lid can explode, causing serious burns. Many people have used slow cookers unsafely for years without incident until something goes wrong.

Read at Tasting Table