Frozen Meat In A Slow Cooker-Yea or Nay?

[+ Gar1eth]

The USDA (unless the standards have changed) doesn't advise it as the meat might not reach a safe internal temperature within the two hour safety time limit. But my new Hamilton Beech slow cooker (link below) comes with a mode to cook frozen meats. There is a temperature probe. But I'm not sure how that helps unless it causes the cooker to heat up faster. But even then, I would wonder if it's not just a limitation of crock pots that they can't heat slabs of frozen meat quickly enough to stay out of the danger zone. I think I emailed Hamilton Beech but didn't get a reply. I also sent of an email to the County Extension Office Nutritionist. But I never heard back. 
 

https://hamiltonbeach.com/set-and-forget-6-quart-defrost-slow-cooker-silver-33869

[+ Gar1eth]

Anyone with any thoughts on this? Bueller....Bueller?

[samhexum]

On 4/20/2025 at 3:57 PM, Gar1eth said:

I emailed Hamilton Beech but didn't get a reply. I also sent of an email to the County Extension Office Nutritionist. But I never heard back. 

 

14 minutes ago, Gar1eth said:

Anyone with any thoughts on this? 

yes... maybe they just don't like you.

 

Edited April 23 by samhexum
for shits and giggles

[+ friendofsheila]

On 4/22/2025 at 10:02 PM, Gar1eth said:

Anyone with any thoughts on this? Bueller....Bueller?

for me it woudl depend on how thickk the meat is.  thinner meat frozen I'dd be okay putting in slowcooker for an all-day cook.

[+ friendofsheila]

On 6/14/2025 at 3:58 PM, friendofsheila said:

for me it woudl depend on how thickk the meat is.  thinner meat frozen I'dd be okay putting in slowcooker for an all-day cook.

i forgot to say that a big thick roast I wouldn't put in frozen.

[+ Gar1eth]

I'm still miffed that I didn't get an answer on this query from either Hamilton Beach or the County Extension Nutritionist. 

[kajunboots]

Hmmm---I usually pat meat dry and then sear it in a pan before putting it in a slow cooker.  I also brown ground beef/pork before slow cooking chili or a similar dish in a slow cooker.  I wonder if sticking frozen meat in a slow cooker would increase the volume of liquid when all is said  and done.  Something else to consider as well as food safety issues.  

KB

[samhexum]

On 4/23/2025 at 1:02 AM, Gar1eth said:

Anyone with any thoughts on this? Bueller....Bueller?

#1 item in the article...  adding frozen food.

9 Mistakes You Should Never Ever Make With A Slow Cooker

APPLE.NEWS

---

Maybe we all watched a little too much This Is Us and are still mourning the loss of Jack Pearson, or maybe a kitchen mishap as a child has left us...

"If using frozen meat, allow it to completely thaw in the refrigerator before using."  Frozen foods will sit at an unsafe temperature, one that promotes bacterial growth, for far too long.

[+ Gar1eth]

6 hours ago, samhexum said:

#1 item in the article...  adding frozen food.

9 Mistakes You Should Never Ever Make With A Slow Cooker

APPLE.NEWS

---

Maybe we all watched a little too much This Is Us and are still mourning the loss of Jack Pearson, or maybe a kitchen mishap as a child has left us...

"If using frozen meat, allow it to completely thaw in the refrigerator before using."  Frozen foods will sit at an unsafe temperature, one that promotes bacterial growth, for far too long.

That's what I thought. But the slow cooker has a definite frozen meat mode with a temp probe. I don't understand why a major company would blatantly disregard a USDA advisory on that. Aside from anything else, it seems it would leave them open to possible lawsuits if someone became ill because of it. 

[Danny-Darko]

The only reason I don't like doing it is because I like to drain the blood from the meat first and season it before I put it in the pot to slow cook. That would be cubed meat for stews or chicken parts. And like others say, I wouldn't put a roast in frozen or huge chunks or even poultry for that matter.