Can I leave my crockpot on before yom tov for friday use?

I have a Hamilton Breach Crock Pot I wanna set it on low, and leave it on without the insert before yom tov, then put the insert in on friday before shabbat.
Can I do that will the crock pot go bad without anything in it?

Or should I put some water in the insert and just leave it low until I am ready to put cook in it on friday before shabbos?

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 24 2008 Posts: 6528

I did this recently. Maybe it was succos? I just left the crock pot on without any problems.

Platinum Member Joined: May 06 2007 Posts: 8518

I always just fill it with water and on YT you can use it for tea.
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Just Plain Frum!

Yes, I always do.
Don't keep the empty crockpot in the heating element. Either keep it separate, or fill with some water so it doesn't crack.
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Really Awesome Mom!

Gold Member Joined: Jun 11 2008 Posts: 1974 Location: NJ

I am not such an experienced crock pot user (I make my cholent in a pot and leave it on the blech). I do know, however, that on a "normal" Friday you would start the cholent on a "high" setting and then lower it before Shabbos. So what do you do this year, when you can't do that?

Silver Member Joined: Jan 31 2008 Posts: 692

I usually do this for Yom tov. I leave the "element" of the crock pot on, and put in the insert when I am ready to prepare the food.

This Pesach, I have two, one for cholent, and one for soup (because I am too nervous to leave the stovetop on.) Sometimes one "element" was empty, and sometimes the other was.

Executive Member Joined: Sep 06 2010 Posts: 377

I left mine on for the first days. Just be careful if you have plastic covered counter tops for Pesach. It could melt the plastic. I noticed it was just starting to melt b4 shabbos and put a few sheets of heavy duty foil under the base of the crock pot. Otherwise, it shouldn't be a problem. (I wouldn't leave it on the high setting though)

Silver Member Joined: Dec 23 2007 Posts: 732

I left mine on the whole time on warm setting. After Shabbos lunch, I removed the entire liner and just kept the crockpot on warm. For this Shabbos, I was wondering if I could switch from high to warm on YT (Friday) and just keep it warm on Shabbos. Otherwise, I have to start it in the oven, but then it just wont transfer well to the crockpot. Any ideas?

Senior Member Joined: Nov 09 2010 Posts: 126

I have left mine on all over a 2-day yom tov, without adjusting the temperature switch, but now that I have a climbing toddler, it isn't safe, so we asked a shaila.

AYLOR, of course, because not all allow you to adjust a timer, but this is what we do:
Put the crockpot on a timer to turn on and off when we need it for first day yom tov - either just before yom tov if I'm cooking overnight, or early morning if I'm starting it first thing. Have it turn off after lunch.
Our Rav said we can adjust the pins in the timer while the crockpot is OFF, and we can also adjust the temperature setting then (it's a manual model with a knob, not an electronic one with touch-pads). We were told not to touch the knob at all when the crockpot is on.
So, after the timer turns the crockpot OFF after lunch on first day yom tov, we'll adjust the pins so it will turn on before shabbos, and if I've got the temperature at HIGH, I'll turn the knob to LOW. It may be allowed to pull the ON pin out while the appliance is OFF, but I can't remember without checking. If it is, then after it turns OFF on shabbos afternoon, I'd pull the pin to stop it coming on again in the evening.
You also need to do something as a "blech" with the knob - either remove or cover with a piece of foil (again, ask).

I leave the crock insert OUT of the heating element except when I'm actually cooking. I don't want to be dealing with a pot full of hot water, and I'm not sure of the halacha of heating the water if I don't need it (I have an urn for hot drinks).

Another option is to use the manual over-ride switch to keep the crockpot ON or OFF, but each timer I've had has worked differently, so you have to test it out beforehand to know what you can do. My current timer will turn the appliance ON and it will stay ON, regardless of what the timer is set to, so I can only use the override switch to keep it ON till the end of shabbos/yom tov.

I have another timer that uses permanent "pins" that are much harder to pull out or push in without adjusting the time. So, I'd advise practicing to see if you can change the pins without moving the clock.

Hope that helps!