You Might Be Storing Leftover Slow Cooker Meals Wrong — Here's What To Do Instead

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Ever make a slow cooker recipe and feel tempted to place the entire slow cooker into the refrigerator to store your leftovers?  Clare Andrews, known as "the queen of gadget cookery" and author of "The Ultimate Slow Cooker Cookbook," wants you to think twice before you do that. "Slow cooker inserts (especially ceramic ones) hold heat really well. If you put the whole thing in the fridge, the food can stay warm for too long, sitting in the 'danger zone' ... where bacteria can grow," she explained.  

In addition to that, Andrews pointed out that the slow cooker can make everything a little warmer in your fridge, which can spoil the other food stored within. It can also damage the structure of your slow cooker, as she explained: "Some slow cooker bases (the electrical part) should never be exposed to fridge moisture or condensation."

Andrews revealed the proper way of storing your leftover slow cooker meals, stating that you should "transfer food into shallow containers," instead. "This helps it cool quickly and evenly. Let it cool slightly ... Around 20-30 minutes at room temp is fine, don't leave it out for hours. And refrigerate promptly, ideally within 1-2 hours of finishing cooking," she added.  

Let's say you just made a lot of food in the slow cooker and have run out of storage containers. In that case, Clare Andrews noted that it's fine to store them in the removable inner pot or ceramic insert of the slow cooker, as long as the food is fully cooled first. "Never refrigerate the heating base, only the removable inner pot (if detachable) should ever go in the fridge, never the electrical unit. Cover properly, use a lid or wrap to prevent contamination and moisture loss," she said.

Still, Andrews would much rather you invest in high-quality food storage containers than rely on storing your leftovers in your slow cooker. Once in the fridge, Andrews suggested storing the leftovers for up to three to four days. She explained, "After that, the risk of bacterial growth increases." To extend the lifespan of your leftover slow cooker meals beyond a few days, consider freezing them instead. In fact, it's a good idea to freeze leftovers as soon as possible.