One of my most disastrous kitchen mishaps happened when I placed a hot lid upside down on my brand-new glass-top stove. Hearing the glass crack was horrifying, and the realization that this could have been avoided taught me the importance of kitchen safety. Since then, I’ve been extra cautious, but even with all the precautions, unexpected accidents happen.

A recent story in a kitchen group on Facebook left me stunned. A homeowner shared a photo of chili spilled all over her stovetop, explaining that her crockpot’s ceramic insert had cracked after she placed it on the stovetop to keep the food warm. This highlights an essential safety rule: never place a crockpot on a stovetop burner.

Crockpots, designed for slow and steady heat, have ceramic inserts that are not meant to handle direct, high heat. When exposed to stovetop burners, the ceramic can crack, shatter, or develop micro-cracks, leading to a mess or potential burns. The high, concentrated heat of a burner is drastically different from the gentle, even heating provided by a slow cooker.

If you need to transfer food from a crockpot to a stovetop, always use cookware designed for that purpose, such as stainless steel or cast iron pots. Ceramic dishes, unless explicitly labeled for stovetop use (like flameware), should generally be avoided. Using improper cookware can result in damage not only to the item but also to your stovetop.

From my experience and the stories of others, these accidents remind us to prioritize kitchen safety. By understanding the proper use of appliances and following manufacturer guidelines, we can prevent avoidable mishaps. Keep the crockpot on the counter where it belongs—it’s safer for your kitchen and your peace of mind.