When we got married, like many couples we registered. And like many future husbands, Alexander didn’t have many opinions on the subject. I asked him to go online and put things he wanted on our registry. When he was finished, there were only two new items: a vacuum cleaner and a crock pot. I wondered what on earth we were going to do with a crock pot. My mom had never used one to cook. Why would I need one? Did they even use crock pots on the East Coast? I thought they were just for Mountain West Mormon-type potluck dinners.
Ironically, it was one of my NY relatives who ended up being the one that purchased the crock pot for us. And shortly thereafter, I saw a segment on Martha Stewart Living where she prepared dinner in a crock pot. Apparently they do use them in the East! Only they call them slow cookers.
Despite teasing Alexander sufficiently for selecting such an item to put on our registry, I must say that our crock pot has become a well-used appliance in our kitchen. We cook all sorts of things in it and have even taken it, full of soup, to a potluck or two.
But a well used crock pot can become a haven for baked-on stains, especially of the tomato-based variety. So here’s my tip: If you have baked on residue in the white crockery part of your crock pot, simply take a little cream of tarter – the substance that inexplicably causes egg whites to morph into meringue – and apply a little elbow grease. Scouring the surface with the dry powder (using a napkin or sponge or something to scrub it around) should remove all the stains.
Disclaimer: Cream of Tarter will not remove stains from the metal part of the crock pot. I tried it and no luck. I wish I could tell you something that does!
However, this method will work on pretty much any type of whiteish stoneware, like that CorningWare French White bakeware set you know you’ve got lying around somewhere. I also tried this with Dylan’s high chair tray after a particularly nasty run-in with some spaghetti sauce. The stain was not eliminated from the plastic, but it did lessen significantly.
And now it’s your turn. Today I’m accepting stories about crock pots, recipes you cook in crock pots, or how you remove household stains. Let the commenting begin…
6 comments:
Thank you for sharing that tip! Maybe now my crock pot and white roasting pan will be white again!
That is funny. The other day I was looking in my spice cupboard and think of doing a whole post called, "Cream of Tarter? What the heck?" Thanks for explaining the heck.
Being that I am in LOVE with my crock-pot, I liked this post. Thanks for the tip, and if you need any new crock-pot meals, let me know.
Funny story that just happened. We had a company lunch today and I brought rolls. Some girl asked me "Are those your crock-pot rolls?" And I was like "Huh? Crock-pot rolls?"
And then I realized she had heard me say that I used my bread machine to make roll dough, and she must have forgotten and thought crock-pot. Anyway, that is my crock-pot story - No, you can't make rolls in a crock-pot. But thanks for the tip!
That's a good idea.
They have special bags now that you can use in the crockpot so that you don't have to clean it. I don't know if they work, but I am going to try it!
You can also use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on them. Less elbow grease- work great on the sides of Pampered Chef glazed stoneware too :-)
Post a Comment