Slow Cooker Divider Hack
Have you ever wished you could cook and serve two tasty dips, appetizers, or meals at once in your slow cooker? Grab some aluminum foil and let us show you our game-changing hack on how to divide a slow cooker and double your delicious options!
Ingenious DIY Slow Cooker Divider
What’s better than a warm, spreadable dip for a game-day party? Two satisfyingly delicious party dips in one slow cooker. This simple slow cooker divider hack lets you keep two dips hot and ready for your party or tailgate. Imagine your guests diving into a savory Double-Layered Cheesy Jalapeño Dip or a melt-in-your-mouth Slow Cooker Hot Cheesy Chicken Dip. Talk about double deliciousness! And thanks to slow cooker liners, you’ll score an easy cleanup.
What you’ll need
- Slow cooker
- Reynolds Kitchens® Slow Cooker Liners
- Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil
- Two dips of your choice
How to make a slow cooker divider
- Using a few long sheets of foil, fold and fashion a sturdy rectangular foil divider to fit your slow cooker.
- It may take 4–6 layers of foil for the divider to be thick enough. You could also use Everyday foil, but you may need additional layers.
- Ensure the slow cooker separator is high enough to divide the pot into haves but doesn’t extend past the rim so you can still fit the lid.
- It should also be at least 2 inches wider than the inside of your pot.
- Fold about 1 inch of one edge.
- Then, fold 1 inch of the other edge in the opposite direction.
- When you place it across the width of the slow cooker, it should look like an elongated "Z." The folded edges help stabilize the divider.
- If your divider doesn’t fit across the width of your pot, adjust the edge folds until they are snug.
- Anchor one slow cooker liner on each side of the divider.
- Add your ingredients to each side and cook as directed. Once fully cooked, you can serve your dips at the warming setting.1, 2
- Get ready to party!
YOU'LL NEED...
Hearty slow cooker dips & recipes
Be the talk of the town at parties and gatherings with these simple and delicious slow cooker recipes for holidays and entertaining. You’ll also discover fantastic tips to make cooking and cleanup feel effortless.
Other brilliant ways to use a divided slow cooker
The slow cooker divider is a brilliant hack for tailgating, game days, holiday gatherings, and other celebrations. But it can be a fantastic tool for more than just dips. If you're having a soup night for the family and can’t decide which to make, make both! If you're making meatballs and want to offer two different sauces, go right ahead. A divided slow cooker makes it all possible.
The trick is all in the timing. The easiest way to cook with a divider is to use recipes that cook and finish at the same time and temperature. However, if you have two dishes with different cooking times, start with the dish with the longest cooking time. Then , add the ingredients for the second dish later so they will be finished simultaneously
How to cook two dishes with different finish times
- Prepare your slow cooker with an aluminum foil divider and line both sides with slow cooker liners.
- Since you’re only using half the slow cooker, you may need to halve your recipes. Fill one side with the ingredients for the dish with the longer cook time. Toss a few foil balls in the other side to keep the divider in place until you’re ready to add your second dish.
- Turn on your slow cooker and cook until it’s time to add the other dish. You’ll want to add 30 minutes of cook time for your first dish, because you’ll be opening the slow cooker to add the second dish.
- When it’s time to add the second dish, carefully remove the foil balls with tongs, and add your ingredients for the other recipe.
- Cook both foods until they reach the safe minimum internal temperature with a meat thermometer. For dips, soups, casseroles, and other dishes with combined ingredients, the temperature should reach 165°F.
Frequently asked questions about slow cooker dividers
Can you put aluminum foil in slow cookers?
Yes. Aluminum foil can be used in many ways in a slow cooker:
- DIY slow cooker divider: as discussed above, thickly folded aluminum foil can be fashioned into a divider “wall” to cook or warm two dishes in a slow cooker.
- Cook casseroles evenly: some slow cookers have hotter walls, usually on the side opposite the controls . Creating a foil barrier on the hot side evens out the cooking.
- Wrap foods: wrap delicate foods or foods you want to slice before serving, such as fish or meatloaf, in foil to prevent them from falling apart during cooking and when removing them from the slow cooker.
- Foil packets: Some foods might cook faster than the rest of your ingredients. To prevent overcooking, wrap them in foil packets and crimp the edges. This trick is also handy for cooking foods separately from the rest of your dish.3
Can I line my slow cooker with aluminum foil?
What can I line my slow cooker with?
We recommend lining your slow cooker with our Reynolds Kitchens® Slow Cooker Liners. These liners, designed especially for slow cookers, simplify cooking by eliminating cleanup and reducing the need for oil or spray. If using a DIY aluminum foil slow cooker divider, lining each side lets you cook two dishes simultaneously without flavor transfer. Made from FDA-compliant, BPA-free, heat-resistant nylon, they’re safe for cooking on high, low, and warm slow cooker settings.
Resources:
1. Foster, K. (2017, September 27). Tip Test: Does This DIY Slow Cooker Divider Actually Work? The Kitchn.
2. Braun Davison, B. (2016, September 16). You Can Cook Two Dips at Once with this Genius Slow Cooker Hack. Delish.
3. Core Technique Videos/Using Foil in a Slow Cooker. America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School.