Quite a number of people are curious to know if it is possible to leave your leftover soup in a crockpot overnight for several reasons. Some people prefer to eat their soup the following day, others may be too tired to store the soup in the fridge or freezer. Whatever your reason may be, be sure to know that you are not the only one with this query.
According to FDA, soup left out for more than 2 hours should be discarded because there is a high chance that the meal has been contaminated with bacteria, and merely reheating is not enough to guarantee that the soup doesn’t contain some toxins.
And in this regard, this is another leading reason why people consider leaving their soup in the crockpot, as no one wants to throw away a delicious pot of soup they spent hours preparing. However, there are some uncertainties about leaving soup in a crockpot overnight, so is it a good idea?
Quick answer: Yes, you can leave your soup in a crockpot overnight and be sure to come back to it in good shape (or taste). That being said, you have to ensure the crockpot is on low heat to prevent the soup from getting contaminated, and also be sure to take all the necessary safety precautions.
Slow-cooking meals tend to bring out all the flavors the delicacy has to offer and a lot of people have adopted this method of cooking as it gives them more time to go about other business instead of squarely focusing on the meal that is cooking.
Crockpot provides ease in cooking but there’s a lot to know about the possible threats of leaving your soup in a crockpot as well as how to ensure that it is safely done. This article provides all the answers you, so stick around.
Is It Safe To Leave Soup On Heat In A Crockpot Overnight?
Soups are very versatile delicacies that can be enjoyed at any time of the day, most people prepare soup to satisfy a craving and also to provide warmth and comfort when it gets icy. Soup is a very hearty meal, and it can be heartbreaking to wake up the next morning to notice that it got worse overnight.
There is no doubt that a crockpot can help keep the soup preserved, however, you must ensure that the heat is properly set. It is best to also be aware that, there is a risk of the crock pot overcooking the soup which will in return slightly change the flavor and texture of the soup.
Another point to have in mind is that the soup might end up not being as hot as you’d prefer when you are ready to enjoy it.
How Long Can You Leave Soup In A Crockpot?
A crockpot can only preserve or keep soup fresh overnight as long as the heat is on. Soup can be left in a crockpot for 2 hours if the heat is off. That being said, how long soup can be left in a crockpot depends on how long your crockpot can be programmed to stay on and if the soup recipe is good to go for long hours in the crockpot.
Most crockpots are capable of slow heating or cooking food for 24 hours and we automatically go off once the time has elapsed, however, we advise that soup shouldn’t be left in a crock pot for more than 6-8 hours especially if the soup is already cooked and ready.
Leaving the soup for extended hours in a crockpot will definitely affect the consistency of the soup and the taste as it is overcooking.
Can You Keep Soup Warm In A Crockpot?
Yes, you can. Your crockpot allows you to set the heat on warm for hours which means you can conveniently go grocery shopping and still come back to your soup still intact and ready to be devoured.
Another exciting fact is that your soup can be left overnight to warm, when you are ready to call it a night, you can cook the food on high heat till it is quite hot then switch the setting to warm. The crockpot will help retain the temperature of the food all night long.
It is also important to make certain that there is enough liquid in the soup to prevent the soup from drying out at the bottom. With all of this done, you can be sure that your soup is not going to overcook or have a different taste come morning.
Safety Tips For Using A Crockpot Overnight
Many people are worried about leaving a crockpot on all through the night, and it is quite understandable to be bothered about how safe it is. Crockpots are essentially designed to slow-cook a meal for long hours and as long as you take the following precautions you have nothing to worry about;
1. Place The Crockpot On An Appropriate Surface
The crockpot should be placed on an appropriate surface to avoid the possibility of starting a fire. Wooden and plastic surfaces are definitely a no-no as wood has poor thermal conductivity and is highly flammable.
Using tiled or granite surfaces will definitely ensure safety while leaving your crockpot to slow-cook a meal for long hours or overnight.
2. Do Not Keep Crockpot Close To The Wall
The crockpot must be at least 6-7 inches away from the wall. This can help reduce any fire hazards, especially for kitchen walls with wallpapers. This also applies to all kitchen appliances for safety reasons.
3. Make Sure The Recipe Is Right
When it comes to leaving food to slow cook overnight, you have to ensure that the right recipe is being cooked. For instance, a thick soup recipe may not be an ideal recipe to leave on heat overnight as this can affect the consistency of the soup. It is always best to try this with a simpler and lighter soup recipe.
4. Crockpot Must Be On Low Heat
You definitely should leave your crockpot or slow cooker on high heat overnight, as this will not only overcook the meal but can also cause it to dry up or worse cause the meal to burn. The best way to ensure your safety is to make sure you set the crockpot on low heat.
Wrapping Up
You don’t have to worry about leaving your soup in a crockpot overnight as it is completely safe. A crockpot can help preserve the soup by keeping it in a favorable temperature condition that would prevent bacteria contamination.
However, if you wish to keep the soup fresh for a couple more days you should consider storing it in the fridge or freezer.
If you decide to leave your soup in the crockpot overnight, this article recommends that you put the crockpot on very low heat, place the crockpot on heat-resistant surfaces, and place the crockpot 6-7 inches away from the wall to ensure that the process is done safely.