Pickle pot troubles

[Sheen]

Happy wednesday, just about to pickle some silver when i discovered that my alum seems to be escaping my pickle pot. By evaporation i think. A problem? Some photos below. Okay just to clean out the mess and continue? The screw at the bottom's a bit rusted. I do find my pickle slightly annoying it takes 3/4 of an hour to get up to heat to have any effect on my metal

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[Dennis]

Sheena,
It looks as if you are showing a domestic slow cooker with the ceramic dish removed. The aluminium outer with its iron screw is not meant to be filled directly and is now probably an electric hazard. At best it will soon trip a contact breaker and at worst give you a nasty shock.

A new one won't cost the earth and if you can, get an oval one which can accommodate longer pieces.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Small+slow+cooker

Dennis.

[CJ57]

You definitely need to return the ceramic dish if it’s still safe but it’s looking a bit worrying. It shouldn’t take longer than about 15 mins to get to heat if it has a high heat and once it’s warm just turn it down to low to keep it ticking over. Should only take a few minutes in warm alum

[china]

I am assuming that you are using the insert, however you are still have the problem, if so I would suggest it is caused by condensation forming on the lid and running down the inside if this is the case try to form a habit of wiping the inside after it has cooled
some of the units seal better than other around the rim.
The problem with slow heating is is most likely due to element being contaminated and damaged, commercial units do not have this problem they just cost three times the price as Dennis said it is not worth trying to fix it
that is the trade off you make buy buying a crock pot, I just always buy two and when one fails for whatever reason I have a immediate replacement.( current one is 4 years old )
Tip when you source a replacement, cover the screw at the bottom with Silicone sealant this will stop moisture ruing into the space underneath and the unit will last longer.

[ps_bond]

I've had the glaze on slow cookers craze before now - once that happens, it's porous and will allow pickle through to the metal as well.

[Sheen]

Fab answers. The photos are of the ceramic insert and the metal container. My alum mixture was in the ceramic pot. I think china is right in saying that the mixture has been dripping of the lid and running down the inside into the metal section.
I have felt for some time that my alum wasn't working terribly well. I was having to heat it til it was steaming a little to get it to work. I haven't had my pot for very long and had never used one before so didn't know what to expect. I'd be delighted if i can get the blasted thing ready to clean metal in 15 mins.

[Dennis]

All this is news to me as my first one (bought from Lakeland) lasted 20 years, before the element gave out. Although the rim of the lid was very corroded, there was no sign of liquid getting inside even then. The next one is a Morphy Richards and looks as new after four or five years.

As for the pickle, I keep the solution as saturated a possible. It is well known that alum has to be too hot for fingers to work efficiently, but two minutes is all it takes for silver to turn a beautiful white colour.. Dennis.

[CJ57]

All this is news to me as my first one (bought from Lakeland) lasted 20 years, before the element gave out. Although the rim of the lid was very corroded, there was no sign of liquid getting inside even then. The next one is a Morphy Richards and looks as new after four or five years.

As for the pickle, I keep the solution as saturated a possible. It is well known that alum has to be too hot for fingers to work efficiently, but two minutes is all it takes for silver to turn a beautiful white colour.. Dennis.

Same here Dennis £20 from somewhere. The lid sits within the rim of the pot so any condensation runs back into the pot not out into the container or it wouldn’t work for food either and would constantly dry a stew out! If it doesn’t do that it’s not a workable slow cooker. I only fill mine about half full

[Sheen]

I have to admit i was surprised when i lifted the pot out of it's metal casing. Maybe there's a wee crack somewhere. Certainly while it's sitting there unheated, nothing's leaking.

[CJ57]

Can’t really help Sheena, I’ve used my cheapie for years and the only time I hear a sizzle is if I’ve been washing it out and haven’t dried it. The lid gets a bit mankie but that’s it. Mine has 3 settings low auto high and I just turn it on high until it’s hot enough and then turn it down.
Have had problems with the most recent alum from amazon, it was more like custard powder and just didn’t dissolve or clean so had to order another brand of crystal and start again

[china]

That is a good point Caroline, when you purchase always make sure the lids sits inside the rim of the insert I have seen a some that don't, some have a stainless rim on the lid the last one I bought did and I just cut it off

[enigma]

I am on my second within a year, the glass on the lid of the first all blew out one day whilst it was on, very disconcerting!
I just don't think things are generally made very well these days.

[Sheen]

Think i'm going to have to buy a new one :( i can't understand how alum as well as water ended up in the metal casing (There's a thick rim round the lid). I've got it heating up now, put more alum into the water and it's still taking longer than 15 mins to start on my metal. Caroline do you have a link to the new alum you bought. Mine works but only once it's steaming.

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[Ianfs]

Think i'm going to have to buy a new one :( i can't understand how alum as well as water ended up in the metal casing (There's a thick rim round the lid). I've got it heating up now, put more alum into the water and it's still taking longer than 15 mins to start on my metal. Caroline do you have a link to the new alum you bought. Mine works but only once it's steaming.

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I bought a 1.5L Daewoo from Robert Dyas for £12.00 and it ticks all the boxes. Ian

[CJ57]

I’ll have a look back and see if I can find the first brand I bought. I haven’t made in a while as have been a bit poorly but I thought this new stuff was really slow as well. As Dennis said it should only take a couple of minutes but that’s the problems buying all this as foodstuff on amazon!

[china]

The other point is that you only have to inadvertently spill some inside when you changing the batch and it will slowly eat away and cause damage

[Dennis]

[QUOTE=Sheen;105750 Mine works but only once it's steaming.

Yes that's right alum solution should be steaming to work well. It might evaporate during a long session and need topping up with hot water.Dennis.

[Sheen]

[QUOTE=Sheen;105750 Mine works but only once it's steaming.

Yes that's right alum solution should be steaming to work well. It might evaporate during a long session and need topping up with hot water.Dennis.

That suggests my slow cooker is heating it up too slow.

[Sheen]

I bought a 1.5L Daewoo from Robert Dyas for £12.00 and it ticks all the boxes. Ian thanks Ian. I will check it out. Hopefully better than the one I got :)

[Sheen]

In an update to this thread I discovered that the alum was coming out through the foot of the ceramic pot, so it either had a crack in it or the glaze was inadequate. My pot was just too cheaply made, my new one has been fine.

[Dennis]

Case solved. Still suitable for growing parsley on your window sill I guess. Dennis.