A slow cooker, also known as a Crock-Pot, is a countertop electrical cooking appliance used to simmer foods at low temperatures for long periods of time. This allows for tougher, cheaper cuts of meat to become extremely tender and flavorful. Slow cookers are convenient options for cooking because you can prepare the ingredients in the morning and let them cook all day without having to monitor the progress frequently.
One essential accessory for slow cookers is a rack or trivet. The rack serves as a platform to elevate food off the bottom of the slow cooker. This allows air to circulate underneath for even cooking. Without a rack, food can burn, overcook, or cook unevenly. So what are some options to use as a makeshift rack if you’ve lost or broken the original?
Why Do You Need a Rack?
There are a few key reasons why a rack is recommended for most slow cooker recipes:
- Prevents burning: A rack raises the food off the bottom of the insert so it’s not sitting directly in the simmering juices and sauces. This prevents scorching and burning on the bottom layer.
- Allows even cooking: Elevating the food promotes airflow all around for more even exposure to heat. The food will cook more evenly when it’s not massed together.
- Makes removal easier: Food is less likely to stick without resting directly on the surface. A rack makes it easier to lift servings out cleanly.
- Accommodates layered dishes: Recipes like lasagna that have layered ingredients require the airflow a rack provides. The layers need exposure to heat from all sides.
- Keeps food above water line: Some recipes call for adding a bit of water to the slow cooker. A rack keeps the food above the water level to prevent sogginess.
While not always essential, a rack can optimize cooking and prevent common problems. Improvising one with household items can ensure your slow cooker meals turn out right!
Things to Consider When Choosing a Rack
When selecting an object to use as a slow cooker rack, there are a few important things to consider:
- Material: It should be made of a food-safe and heat-safe material that won’t leach chemicals or melt. Stainless steel, ceramic, aluminum, silicon, wood, and food-grade plastic are good options.
- Shape: The shape should fit the contours of your slow cooker insert with a bit of space in between for airflow. Circular and oval shapes usually work best.
- Height: Shorter racks around 1 inch high are ideal so food can cook directly in the simmering liquid. Avoid much taller racks that keep ingredients above the liquid line.
- Strength: It must be sturdy enough to hold the weight of ingredients without bending or collapsing into the cooker.
- Cleaning: You want something that’s easy to clean and dishwasher-safe.
Keeping these factors in mind will lead you to improvised racks that perform just as well as the original.
Household Items That Work as Slow Cooker Racks
Many typical kitchen and household items can double as DIY slow cooker racks if you’re in a pinch. Here are some of the most common options:
Metal Cookware
- Round cake cooling racks
- Metal steaming baskets or inserts
- Stainless steel mixing bowls turned upside down
- Aluminum loaf pans flipped over
- Empty tuna cans with lids removed
- Metal cake and pie pans inverted
Stainless steel, aluminum, and other metals are excellent conductors of heat. Opt for food-grade metals without coatings that could leach into food. Make sure the item sits securely and is the right height.
Oven-Safe Dishware
- Ceramic ramekins or custard cups
- Individual ceramic soufflé dishes
- Stacked oven-safe bowls
- Terracotta plant saucers
Turn these oven-safe dishes upside down in your slow cooker to elevate food. Ceramic, terracotta, and porcelain are usually safe options that won’t transfer chemicals or smells.
Silicone Kitchen Tools
- Silicone trivets
- Silicone cupcake or muffin trays
- Bendy silicone steaming racks
- Silicone mats rolled up
Heat-resistant silicone has the bonus of being flexible. Bend items to fit or roll up mats to make circular racks. Make sure the silicone is food-grade.
Wood Pieces
- Wooden cutting boards
- Chopsticks or wood dowels
- Wood slices from branches
- Unvarnished wooden craft shapes
Untreated wood works well, but avoid types with chemicals that could leach into food. Use wood pieces that create a flat, stable surface.
Heat-Safe Cookware
- Glass pie plates
- Round glass baking dishes
- Stoneware plates or platters
- Cast iron skillet bottoms
Glass, ceramic stoneware, and cast iron can all safely go from stovetop to oven to slow cooker. Flip them upside down and center in your slow cooker.
Miscellaneous Items
- Crumpled tinfoil
- Chopstick pieces
- Wadded parchment paper
- Ramekins filled with rice
- Canning jar lids
- Crinkled strips of baking sheets
Get creative with tinfoil balls, makeshift pedestals from kitchen items, and other handy household objects to construct a platform.
DIY Slow Cooker Racks
If you want a sturdier, more customized solution, it’s easy to DIY your own slow cooker rack using simple household supplies:
Tinfoil Rack
Tear off sheets of heavy duty tinfoil that are longer than the diameter of your slow cooker. Roll the sheets lengthwise into 1-2 inch tubes. Arrange the tubes in a circular pattern in the bottom of your slow cooker insert. The tinfoil tubes will create a raised rack.
Wooden Dowel Rack
Purchase wood dowels from the craft store. Cut them to a height of about 1 inch. Arrange them in a circular pattern in your slow cooker, placing each end on the bottom edges.
Aluminum Foil Rack
Ball up sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil into ping pong size balls. Place the foil balls in the bottom of your slow cooker insert in an even layer to form a raised surface.
Steel Mesh Rack
Cut sheets of steel mesh into rounds or ovals using heavy-duty kitchen shears. Bend up the edges 1 inch. Set the mesh shapes in the bottom of the insert.
Silicone Mat Rack
Roll up food grade silicone mats and secure them with toothpicks. Arrange them in a circle to create a rack. Remove toothpicks before cooking.
Tips for Using a Slow Cooker Rack
Here are some useful tips to employ when using a rack in your slow cooker:
- Allow for 1-2 inches of clearance between rack and slow cooker sides for airflow.
- Line bottom of insert with tinfoil if small gaps between rack pieces.
- For stews and chili, keep rack lower down. For roasts, go higher.
- If using metal, set rack over low heat first to prevent cracking insert when hot.
- Don’t overload rack with food. Distribute weight evenly.
- Add water/broth until just below rack line to prevent drying out.
- For larger cuts of meat, prop up one side of rack to tilt meat.
- Remove delicate vegetables from under rack near end of cook time.
Experiment with rack placement and load to get the most efficient cooking results. Racks make slow cooker success simple!
Conclusion
You don’t need to buy a special slow cooker rack to get delicious results every time. There are many household items that can substitute as improvised racks if your original is lost. Opt for materials like stainless steel, ceramic, silicone, aluminum foil, and untreated wood that are food-safe and oven-proof. You can also craft DIY racks out of supplies like tinfoil, dowels, and steel mesh.
Using a rack properly elevates your food out of simmering liquids for even heat circulation. This prevents burning on the bottom and helps food cook faster. Consider the shape, height, and thickness of your makeshift rack for the best fit in your slow cooker. With the right rack hack, you can continue crafting fork-tender roasts, fall-off-the-bone meats, rich stews, and layered casseroles with ease.