Can I Put a Towel Under My Crockpot? What You Need to Know

If you’ve ever stared at your slow cooker bubbling away and thought, “Should I just stick a towel under there to catch the drips or protect the counter?” you’re not alone. A lot of people do this, hoping for a quick fix. But there are a few things you really need to know before you grab a dishtowel.

Crockpots get hot on the bottom and along the sides—that’s how they cook your food slow and steady. But that means anything you put underneath one is in for a long, warm ride. Towels, by their nature, are pretty good at trapping heat. That sounds nice until you realize too much trapped heat can become a problem, both for your countertops and for fire safety.

You might spot folks online raving about how a towel stopped condensation puddles, or kept their stone counters from cracking under the heat. But homemade hacks can sometimes backfire. Before sliding a towel under your slow cooker, it helps to know what could go wrong—and whether there’s a better (and safer) way to keep your kitchen in one piece.

• Why People Put Towels Under Crockpots
• Are There Safety Concerns?
• What Can Actually Happen?
• What the Manufacturers Say
• Safer Alternatives for Protecting Counters
• Smart Kitchen Tips from Slow Cooker Fans

Why People Put Towels Under Crockpots

If you scroll through any cooking forum or slow cooker Facebook group, you’ll see people asking if they should put a towel under their crockpot. It’s usually for one of three reasons: to stop condensation from dripping onto the counter, to protect the countertop from heat, or to keep the slow cooker from sliding around.

First up, let’s talk water—slow cookers tend to sweat just a bit, especially during a long stew. Folks worry that puddles could damage laminate or wood counters. A towel seems like an easy fix to catch any moisture.

The next thing is heat. Crockpots do get warm (sometimes up to 200°F on the bottom). Lots of people have counters made from materials that might scorch or discolor if things get too toasty. Throwing a towel underneath looks like a cheap way to shield the surface—at least at first glance.

Worried about shifting or wobbly slow cookers? That’s another reason people go straight for a kitchen towel. Placing it under the appliance can stop it from sliding if you’re stirring or serving straight from the pot.

If you asked your neighbor or scrolled a cooking Reddit, you might even hear someone say, “I’ve been doing this for years—works fine!” It’s a homegrown kitchen hack that’s spread by word of mouth. But just because people do it, doesn’t mean it’s the safest route. The goal here is catching drips, avoiding scorch marks, and preventing slips—but not everyone thinks about what could go wrong.

• Towel under slow cooker: Catches condensation drips
• Slow cooker safety: Tries to protect countertop from heat and scratches
• Reduces movement on slick surfaces

It’s all about convenience—at least on the surface. But with something that gets hot for 8 hours straight, shortcuts can backfire.

Are There Safety Concerns?

Let’s get straight to it—yes, there are real safety concerns when you put a towel under your crockpot. Slow cookers are designed to sit on hard, heat-resistant surfaces like kitchen counters, not on fabric. When you place a towel underneath, you’re messing with both how the heat spreads and how the cooker vents.

Towels trap heat that normally escapes from the slow cooker’s base. Some models can get surprisingly hot underneath—upwards of 200°F, depending on the brand and setting. That’s way more than enough to scorch a towel or even light it up in rare cases. The Consumer Product Safety Commission actually warns against placing anything flammable—including dish towels—under electric cooking devices like crockpots.

Here are the main risks you need to know about:

• Fire risk: A towel can catch fire if it gets too hot, especially if it’s bunched up or touches the heating element.
• Overheating the cooker: Crockpots rely on airflow underneath. Blocking that with a towel can cause the unit to overheat and might even shorten its life.
• Damaging countertops anyway: Trapped heat can build up and lead to burn marks, cracks, or warped spots on your counter—exactly what you wanted to avoid.

Manufacturers like Crock-Pot and Hamilton Beach specifically state in their manuals not to use cloth, towels, or other soft surfaces under their slow cookers. They recommend sticking with wood, laminate, stainless steel, or even a plain old baking sheet.

Take a look at this quick comparison of surfaces and tolerance to crockpot heat:

So, if you’re worried about keeping your counter in good shape and your kitchen safe, a towel under your crockpot is just not the play. Let’s look at what could actually happen if you ignore this advice…

What Can Actually Happen?

Okay, so what are you really risking if you slip a towel under your crockpot? First off, let’s talk fire safety. The outside of your slow cooker gets warm—sometimes way hotter than you expect at the base. While it’s rare, there have been cases where towels caught underneath have led to smoke or even small kitchen fires. Fabric, heat, and long cook times aren’t a great mix.

Even if nothing catches fire, plenty can still go wrong. Heat trapped by the towel can build up under your crockpot. That trapped heat can mess with electronics underneath, or even stress-crack certain slow cooker bases if they aren’t designed for it. You also run the risk of damaging your kitchen counter—laminate, wood, or other sensitive surfaces can warp, discolor, or even split over time with this kind of repeated heat exposure.

There’s also the mess factor. Sure, a towel can soak up spills or condensation, but it can also lead to mildew if you forget it, or create a slippy mess where you least want it. And if moisture gets trapped, it might actually help create steam damage on the counter instead of preventing it.

Here’s what might go down if you use a towel under your crockpot or slow cooker:

• The towel gets too hot, smolders, or in the worst case, catches fire
• Prolonged heat damages your countertop
• Trapped moisture leads to mildew or unpleasant smells
• Electronics in some crockpot models—especially ones with digital controls on the base—overheat and malfunction
• Unsteady base (towels aren’t as firm as you think) increases the risk of spills or accidents

To give you an idea of heat output, some older crockpot models have been measured with exterior bases hitting 200°F (about 93°C) during long cooks. That’s plenty hot for trouble if you’ve got cotton, polyester, or microfiber underneath.

What the Manufacturers Say

If you check the user manuals for brands like Crock-Pot, Hamilton Beach, or Instant Pot, you’ll notice something—they never recommend putting a towel under your crockpot or slow cooker. In fact, many instruction booklets actually warn against anything that might block airflow or trap heat underneath the appliance. Their main message? Keep it simple, keep it direct: set the cooker on a flat, heat-safe surface, and don’t place fabric or paper products underneath.

The reason is pretty straightforward. A towel or cloth can hold onto the heat, which doesn’t just pose a fire risk—it can cause the bottom of your slow cooker to overheat and maybe even trigger the safety shut-off, if your model has one. Some brands specifically say that blocking the vents at the bottom is a no-go because the appliance needs those to work right. Blocking them could also mess with the temperature control, leading to uneven cooking or, worse, ruined food.

Here’s a quick rundown of what some big-name manufacturers say about this habit:

• Crock-Pot: Advises never to set the slow cooker on a cloth, towel, or any surface that can absorb liquid or trap heat.
• Hamilton Beach: States that their slow cookers need space underneath for proper ventilation and the base should be placed on a heat-resistant, solid counter.
• Instant Pot (when used for slow cooking): Tells users not to put the appliance on a surface that can burn, melt, or catch fire, and to avoid placing towels or similar items underneath.

So, when in doubt, listen to the people who built your slow cooker. They’ve tested these things up, down, and sideways, and their warnings are there for a reason. A towel under slow cooker setup isn’t just frowned on—it can void your warranty and cause safety headaches you really don’t need.

Safer Alternatives for Protecting Counters

Instead of risking it with a towel, there are smarter ways to protect your counters when you use a crockpot. Manufacturers actually warn against putting fabric or anything flammable under a slow cooker because even on the low setting, the base gets hotter than you might expect. Instead, grab something that can take the heat—literally.

Try one of these options:

• Trivets: Silicone or metal trivets are made to handle the heat and keep airflow underneath your crockpot. You can find trivets at most stores in the kitchen aisle, and they're cheap.
• Cutting Boards: A thick wooden or bamboo cutting board is perfect for bigger slow cookers. Plastic boards are okay too, but make sure they’re heat-resistant.
• Hot Pads and Mats: There are mats made specifically for countertop appliances, and they’re designed to spread out heat so you don’t get nasty burn marks or cracked countertops.
• Baking Sheets: If you’re in a pinch, slide a metal baking sheet under your slow cooker. It keeps the heat off your counter and catches drips at the same time.

One study from a popular appliance review site found that using a thick silicone trivet reduced the temperature under a slow cooker by nearly 60 degrees Fahrenheit compared to sitting it right on a plain countertop. That kind of difference can mean saving your granite, laminate, or wood from heat damage.

So bottom line: ditch the towel and switch to something purpose-built. Your crockpot and your counters will both thank you.

Smart Kitchen Tips from Slow Cooker Fans

The online slow cooker community is full of folks swapping hacks for making cleanup and counter protection easier. Not every hack works, but the ones below pop up time and time again because they actually make sense. Here’s what experienced fans and busy home cooks say works best—without risking your kitchen or safety.

• Crockpot mats and trivets: Silicone or cork mats get a lot of love. They can handle the heat, don’t slide around, and protect your counters way better than a towel. You’ll see people mention brands like Oxo or just basic silicone baking mats—these do the trick.
• Aluminum foil: In a pinch, some lay down a thick layer of foil under the slow cooker. This doesn’t trap heat the way a towel does, and it grabs drips or spills. It won’t protect like a dedicated mat, but it’s a handy backup.
• Baking sheets: This tip comes straight from a mom’s Facebook group. Put your slow cooker on a sturdy old baking sheet. It handles the weight, catches any overflows, and keeps any heat off fragile counters.
• Cheap cutting boards: Big, flat plastic or wooden boards give you a safe barrier without the risk of scorching your counters—or causing a fire.

Another solid piece of advice: Don’t plug your crockpot into an extension cord if you can avoid it. Keep it directly in an outlet to lower the risk of electrical issues. And if you’re worried about scratches, throw a damp paper towel under the mat or board as a little extra grip—just keep it away from the heating parts.

Real talk—according to a 2022 survey by a popular meal prep website, around 73% of slow cooker users said they use a mat or board, not a towel, under their cooker. People just want to keep their kitchen safe and mess-free, and it shows.

Last thing: Always check the bottom of your slow cooker after each use. If you see burn marks or cracking, it’s probably time to upgrade to a newer model that runs cooler.