Lead In Ceramic Slow Cooker

Lead contamination is a real concern when it comes to slow cookers.

Lead in ceramic slow cooker.

However when ceramics are heated to 80 degrees they release almost 10 times the amount of lead that they normally would at room temperature. A vast majority of slow cookers state that their products do not contain leaded glaze or that their slow cooker is in accordance with government guidelines for lead the fda compliance policy states that leach levels of 1 mcg ml are acceptable for large vessels such as slow cookers. A majority of crock pot bowls are made of ceramic materials which often includes a small amount of natural lead. However craft produced and older cookware and ceramics produced in unregulated countries can still carry the risk of high lead levels.

Those sold in the us have lead free glazes required as part of the fda approval. When ceramic vessels are heated to just 80 degrees fahrenheit they release ten times the amount of lead than they do at room temperature. And slow cookers heat up to more than 250 degrees fahrenheit. Because most people enjoy home cooked meals in a slow cooker but find the clean up a drag nonstick pot inserts have advantages.

His analysis found that 20 of slow cookers were leaching measurable amounts of lead into food. We have identified the best ones available for non toxic cooking. In order to completely remove this risk you need to go for a non ceramic slow cooker. Few crock pots leak lead when they are first sold and remain in perfect condition but with wear and tear they can get dented scratched nicked and cracked which makes it easy for lead to leach out.

Those regular ceramic crock pots leech lead into your food. Thank goodness for smart friends. For example crock pot the brand name that inspired a host of similar ceramic slow cookers now generically known as crockpots tells callers in an automated message that it uses no lead additive. She then proceeded to show me the lovely clay bowl inside her definitely superior slow cooker while explaining how lead leeches into food using the conventional crock pot.

However these levels do not necessarily infer safety. I was sold and a little ashamed for not knowing sooner. Ceramic inserts of slow cookers are typically 100 ceramic and non toxic.