Quick Answer
There are a few tips to prevent burning BBQ sauce in a crockpot:
- Use a thicker, low sugar BBQ sauce – Thin, high sugar sauces are more prone to burning.
- Stir occasionally – Give the sauce a stir every 30-60 minutes to prevent sticking and burning on the bottom.
- Cook on low – Cooking on low rather than high helps prevent burning.
- Add sauce later in cooking – Add BBQ sauce in the last 1-2 hours so it doesn’t cook down as much.
- Use a liner – A crockpot liner prevents sticking and easy clean up.
The key is to stir often, use lower heat, and add the sauce later in the cooking process. Thinner, high sugar sauces burn quicker than thick sauces. A crockpot liner also helps tremendously. Follow those tips and you can avoid burnt, stuck on BBQ sauce in the slow cooker.
What causes BBQ sauce to burn in a crockpot?
There are a few reasons why BBQ sauce can burn easily in a crockpot:
- High sugar content – Most BBQ sauces have a high amount of sugar in them. The sugars caramelize when cooked for long periods, causing the sauce to stick and burn.
- Thin consistency – Thin liquidy sauces have more surface area exposed to heat, causing them to cook down faster and burn.
- Long cook times – Crockpots cook for hours at lower heats. This extended cooking promotes burning and sticking.
- Direct contact with heating element – The sauce touching the crock insert walls and bottom causes direct burning.
- Lack of stirring – Not stirring allows sauce to sit and cook onto the bottom, burning and sticking.
So in summary, the high sugar content, thin consistency, extended cook times, direct contact with heat, and lack of stirring are the main culprits for burning BBQ sauce in the crockpot.
Tips to prevent burning BBQ sauce in a crockpot
Here are some helpful tips to keep BBQ sauce from burning when cooked in a slow cooker:
1. Use a thick, low sugar BBQ sauce
Opt for a thicker, tomato or vinegar-based BBQ sauce with less sugar. Thick sauces don’t spread out and burn as quickly. Low sugar helps prevent caramelization and sticking.
2. Stir the sauce periodically
Give the sauce a good stir every 30-60 minutes while cooking. This prevents the sauce from sitting on the bottom for too long and burning.
3. Cook on low rather than high
The lower temperature of the low setting makes burning less likely. High can cause more rapid reducing and sticking.
4. Add BBQ sauce later in the cooking time
Only add sauce during the last 1-2 hours. This prevents it from reducing down too much as it cooks.
5. Use a crockpot liner
A liner prevents sticking to the bottom crock walls. It also makes clean up super easy.
6. Add liquid
Adding some water, broth, juice or other liquid helps thin out thicker sauces. Use just enough to adjust consistency.
7. Cook meat separately first
Browning meat in a pan or broiler before slow cooking avoids having to cook down BBQ sauce for long periods.
8. Use the oven or stove instead
Finishing ribs or pulled meat in the oven or on the stovetop lets you bubble and reduce BBQ sauce for a short time without burning.
Choosing the right BBQ sauce consistency
Thinner, commercial BBQ sauces tend to burn more easily. Opt for a thicker sauce or make your own to avoid burning in the crockpot:
Thick Sauces
- Tomato-based sauces
- Mustard sauces
- Vinegar-based Carolina style
- Homemade sauces
Thin Sauces
- KC Masterpiece
- Sweet Baby Ray’s
- Famous Dave’s
Check the consistency before using any new bottled sauce. Thick sauces tend to cling to food better without burning. You can also reduce thinner sauces on the stovetop first before adding to the crockpot.
Crockpot liner benefits
Using a plastic crockpot liner provides excellent protection against stuck on, burnt sauce:
- Non-stick surface prevents burning on bottom or walls
- Disposable and easy clean up after use
- Allows stirring and mixing food without scraping insert
- Safe at high temperatures and freezer safe
- Can lift food out easily by grabbing liner tabs
The main drawback is that liners can be prone to tearing, especially when stirring chunky foods. But they are inexpensive and provide great insurance against burnt on sauces. Definitely recommended when cooking with BBQ sauce in the slow cooker!
How to use a crockpot liner
Using a liner in your slow cooker is simple:
- Select a liner sized for your stoneware insert from small to large.
- Open liner and place inside empty crockpot insert.
- Form liner to bottom and sides of insert.
- Add prepared food to liner, being careful not to tear plastic.
- Cook on low per recipe instructions.
- Once cooked, use liner tabs to lift food out easily.
- Discard liner and any burnt on food residue.
- Wipe insert clean as needed before next use.
The key things to remember are to match the liner size, gently form it to the insert, avoid tearing it when adding food, and use the tabs to lift out food after cooking. Then simply discard the liner and give the insert a quick wipe down.
BBQ sauce burning troubleshooting
If your BBQ sauce is burning in the slow cooker, review these common issues and solutions:
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Sauce is too thin | Use thicker sauce or reduce sauce on stovetop first |
| Cooking on HIGH | Switch to LOW setting |
| Sauce added at beginning | Add sauce only during last 1-2 hours |
| Not stirring periodically | Stir sauce every 30-60 minutes |
| No liner in insert | Use a crockpot liner |
| Sugar burning on bottom | Try lower sugar sauce variety |
How to salvage burnt barbecue sauce
If your BBQ sauce does burn in the slow cooker, there are some tricks to still try and save it:
- Mix in tomato sauce or broth to thin it out
- Strain out any blackened bits or chunks
- Transfer to stovetop and simmer to blend flavors
- Add spices and sweeteners to adjust taste
- Use immersion blender to make smooth
- Add reserved meat juices for more moisture
The problem with burnt sauce is the caramelized sugars will result in an unpleasant bitter taste. Doing a “remix” by adding more liquid and spices can help cut the bitterness and produce a smoother, more palatable BBQ sauce even after burning.
How long can you keep leftover BBQ sauce?
| BBQ Sauce Storage | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Unopened bottle (store-bought) | 6-12 months | 1 year |
| Opened bottle | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 months |
| Homemade | 5-7 days | 2-3 months |
The high sugar, acid and moisture content allows BBQ sauce to last 1-2 weeks in the fridge once opened. For longer storage, freeze unused portions. Homemade sauce has less preservatives so won’t last as long. Discard BBQ sauce if mold appears.
Conclusion
Burnt, stuck on BBQ sauce is an annoying problem when cooking in the crockpot. The keys to preventing burning are using a thick, low sugar sauce, stirring often, adding sauce later in cooking, and using a liner. Adjusting the sauce consistency, cooking method, temperature, and other troubleshooting tips can also help avoid ruining the sauce. With some trial and error, you’ll be on your way to perfect, burn-free BBQ sauce cooked in the slow cooker every time.