Can You Put Aluminum Foil In A Slow Cooker? Here's What Happens If You Do

Slow cookers can help you easily cook meals on busy days with less prep time leading up to dinner. They also keep meats and vegetables tender and use less power overall compared with larger appliances. Depending on the dish, slow cookers can reduce the number of pots and pans you might need to make meals on a stove top or in the oven, thereby saving you time on washing dishes. At the same time, slow cookers can sometimes present their own cleaning challenges, as foods can stick to the bottom of their stone, metal, or ceramic inserts. You might have even heard of people lining their cookers with aluminum foil as a way to save some cleaning time. It turns out that you can indeed safely line the bottom of your slow cooker with aluminum foil, but there are still a few safety precautions to consider.

Aluminum foil comprises sheets containing more than 98% of aluminum metal. The rest is made up of small amounts of silicon and iron to help the sheets retain their strength and structure. While some people aren't sure which of the two sides of aluminum foil to use for cooking, you can actually use either the sheets' dull or shiny sides; neither poses a food safety issue. There are certainly other safety concerns with foil, though. For example, a fire can occur when you put tin foil in the microwave, and it can lead to overheating, fires, and damage when you line the bottom of your oven with foil. It's also not the best choice for lining cookie sheets because of the risk of over-browning the bottoms of your baked goods. But as long as you do it correctly, it's perfectly fine to use aluminum foil in a slow cooker. 

Slow cookers are easy-to-use home appliances that offer many ways to prepare food. Aluminum foil makes slow cooker use even easier and more flexible — and with less clean up. When you line your slow cooker with foil, you keep foods from sticking to the bottom, saving yourself from a good deal of scrubbing after meals. Aluminum foil may also be used as a divider inside the cooker and even as packets for separating vegetables or meats. These techniques are all considered safe. Slow cookers reach average temperatures of 170 to 280 degrees Fahrenheit, which isn't hot enough to cause aluminum to break down and cause food safety issues. 

To reap the full benefits of aluminum foil inside your slow cooker, always place the foil within the insert. Lining the exterior of the insert — causing the foil to contact the slow cooker's heating element — could damage your appliance. Inside the insert, never use a double layer of foil, as doing so could lead to poorly distributed heat. Foil might also not work best in older slow cookers because of their reputation for uneven heat distribution. 

Aside from safety concerns surrounding aluminum foil, you should make sure your slow cooker is in good shape and never placed too close to other items on your kitchen counter while in use. Always consult with your owner's manual for specific cooking and cleaning recommendations, as there are variations between manufacturers.