Have you ever had a kitchen disaster so memorable that you still cringe every time you think about it? I sure have, and it’s one I’ll never forget. It happened when I placed a hot lid upside down on my brand-new glass stovetop. I heard a cracking sound, and my heart dropped—yep, I had cracked the surface of my beautiful, barely-used stove. I had no idea that placing a hot lid facedown could do so much damage, but that mistake quickly turned me into someone who now takes kitchen safety way more seriously.
I started paying attention to how different appliances should be used and learned not to take shortcuts, even with the simplest tasks. But as cautious as I’ve become, the internet has shown me that kitchen accidents still happen—often in ways you’d never expect. Just the other day, while browsing a Facebook group dedicated to kitchen tips and tools, I stumbled across a post that left me stunned. Someone had shared a photo of what looked like an explosion of chili all over their stove.
You couldn’t even see the surface—it was completely covered. The story behind it? The person had used their crockpot to cook chili for six hours on high, and because it wasn’t quite done, they decided to place the ceramic insert on the stovetop for an extra hour of cooking. The problem? When it cooled and they went to move it into the fridge, the bottom fell out, sending chili everywhere. Can you imagine cleaning up that kind of mess? If it had been me, I’d probably need a few hours to cry before even thinking about touching a sponge.
Naturally, this post sparked a huge conversation in the group, and everyone agreed on one critical lesson: never, under any circumstances, should you place a crockpot insert on the stovetop. But why is this such a big deal? The answer lies in how crockpots are built. Crockpots, also known as slow cookers, are designed to work with low, consistent heat over long periods of time. That ceramic insert is made specifically to withstand the gentle warmth of a slow cooker’s heating base, not the intense, direct heat of a stovetop burner.
When you place that ceramic on a gas or electric burner, you’re subjecting it to a concentrated heat source it was never designed to handle. The sudden change in temperature can cause cracks or, in more extreme cases, lead to the entire bottom breaking off—just like what happened in that Facebook post. If that’s not bad enough, the consequences can extend beyond just a ruined dinner. The hot food that spills can burn you, and ceramic shards could scratch or damage your stovetop—especially if you have a glass or ceramic surface.
Even worse, sometimes the damage isn’t immediate. The ceramic might develop small, nearly invisible cracks that compromise its structure. The next time you use it, those tiny cracks could expand, causing it to break mid-cook and creating another dangerous mess. There’s also the potential for electrical damage if the heating element of the crockpot is affected. If you’re wondering whether it’s safe to put any ceramic dish on a burner, the answer is usually no. Most ceramic dishes, including those that come with your crockpot, are not made to be used on direct heat. Yes, there are specialty products like flameware or stovetop-safe ceramic cookware, but these are specially manufactured and clearly labeled for stovetop use. Always check the manufacturer’s guidelines before attempting anything like that. So, what’s the takeaway here? Keep your crockpot where it belongs—on the countertop.
If your meal needs additional cooking time on the stove, transfer it to a pot or pan that’s meant for stovetop use. It might seem like an extra step, but it’ll save you from a potentially huge cleanup and a lot of unnecessary stress. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way that kitchen tools each have their place and purpose. Ever since my own mishap with the glass top stove, I’ve become a lot more mindful in the kitchen. I still love trying out new recipes and gadgets, but now I do so with extra caution. Every time I hear about someone else’s cooking catastrophe, I’m reminded that we’re all just one small mistake away from turning dinner into a disaster. So stay safe, and please—keep the crockpots off the stovetop.
