Is my crockpot defective?

December 13, 2009 1:07 PM

Is it ok that the lid to my new crock pot does not seal tightly?

this is my first crock pot. Here is a picture of the lid[1, 2]. The lid does not fit very well, in my opinion. Is it defective, or is it supposed to be like this?

posted by rebent to Food & Drink (18 answers total)

In the photos, it looks like there's an actual gap between the lid and the pot; is that an illusion or reality?

When I had a crockpot, the lid wasn't airtight but it fit the pot correctly and sat in its designated place easily. There were no gaps around the edge, though.
posted by LOLAttorney2009 at 1:13 PM on December 13, 2009

It does look rather odd, but it's hard to tell. Can you feel steam escaping from the gaps? If so, I would say it's defective; the whole point of a crock pot is to lock in heat and moisture to cook slowly. If some of that is escaping through the lid you won't be able to leave it unattended for as long without it drying up, which defeats the purpose of having a crock pot.
posted by Nattie at 1:15 PM on December 13, 2009

It shouldn't look like that.
posted by the christopher hundreds at 1:16 PM on December 13, 2009

Response by poster: it is indeed a gap. I can't feel or see any steam escaping but that doesn't mean much, does it? I set the lid on the counter and it arches in the middle. I can't tell if the lid is bent or if the pot is misshapen. The lid sits better turned one way than the other.
posted by rebent at 1:18 PM on December 13, 2009

hm. it appears from your pics and a bit of googling that this is a west bend oblong slow cooker. it doesn't look like other crock pots i've had in that the pot inside doesn't appear to be an actual ceramic crock. am i right in believing this? the ceramic crocks of the crock pots i've had have all had a shaped lip that the lid rests inside; it doesn't SEAL the pot, but it prevents any major loss of steam--which works; i mean, it's not a pressure cooker or anything.

it may be that yours will do a good enough job of that, even with the bit of a gap. the way the lid curves should catch/condense the steam and route it back down into the pot. does it seem to be dripping condensation outside the pot? is the level of the liquid inside dropping? i would say the proof is in the pudding: if what you're cooking comes out right and there's no drippy mess all around the pot, tah-dah! it works. but if you have to keep adding liquid, it's drippy, or the lid is actively unstable and rocky, then you might want to take it back.
posted by miss patrish at 1:21 PM on December 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

That's wrong and you should probably exchange it for one without a gap. Crock pots don't need an air-tight seal, but they do need to retain as much moisture as possible so you can cook all day or overnight. A gap like that is going to be a problem.
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:23 PM on December 13, 2009 [2 favorites]

Return it.
posted by bearwife at 1:25 PM on December 13, 2009

We have a similar crock pot/slow cooker. The pot is made out of relatively thin metal, so chances are it got bent during shipping. Our lid fits pretty well. Definitely return it.
posted by electroboy at 1:41 PM on December 13, 2009

Does the lid actually sit well on the pot? stably, without rocking? It looks like it could slip off at any moment, and that definitely should not happen.
posted by HFSH at 1:44 PM on December 13, 2009

My crock pot lid doesn't close tightly, and I was too lazy to return it. I cover the crock pot with foil, then put the lid on.
posted by Linnee at 1:52 PM on December 13, 2009

I've owned a bunch of crock pots; that looks defective/damaged.
posted by desuetude at 1:55 PM on December 13, 2009

Crock pot lids don't "seal," they just rest on the rim of the crock with a lip around it to hold it. That one looks like there's actual space between the rim of the crock and the lid. I nth everyone else and say return it.
posted by ishotjr at 1:57 PM on December 13, 2009

And if you do return it, here's a great alternative which is essentially 3 crock pot/slow cookers in one.
posted by bearwife at 2:12 PM on December 13, 2009

That crockpot is indeed defective.
posted by Marla Singer at 2:19 PM on December 13, 2009

Yeah, definitely deformed. Return for a new one and enjoy deliciousness!
posted by InsanePenguin at 2:25 PM on December 13, 2009

I have a crock pot that I bought last year. It's a Crock-Pot brand slow cooker, this model. It has the ceramic insert that sits inside a metal exterior and lifts out for cleaning. There is a metal-rimmed glass lid that sits on top. It doesn't seal in any way and isn't designed to. In fact the ceramic liner has an indentation that allows steam to escape during cooking and makes pouring liquids out much easier. I don't see much steam coming out, if any. But as I said, it is designed NOT to be a tightly sealed system.

I don't know much about pressure cookers but I imagine those are meant to be tightly sealed. And I'm not sure what to advise you about yours but I am getting splendid results with mine ... which does not have a seal. I always try to peek in the little opening but can't see much.
posted by Kangaroo at 3:17 PM on December 13, 2009

It's a crock pot, not a pressure cooker, Kangaroo. It should not be sealed... mine has an air-hole in the lid specifically to relieve pressure.... but that gap is crazy.

It looks like the lid is warped, or it might even be the slightly-wrong model lid for that pot.
posted by rokusan at 9:44 PM on December 13, 2009

Response by poster: so, as a follow up, when I use it, I put tin foil around the top and it seems to work just fine! thanks for all the helpful comments, everyone :)
posted by rebent at 2:59 PM on April 6, 2010