The Best Slow Cooker
There is nothing better than coming home after a long, hard day at work to a great-smelling home and a dinner that’s ready to be eaten. However, in today’s busy world, that scenario can often feel more like fantasy than reality.
The idea of a perfectly cooked meal that’s ready when you get home isn’t impossible though, at least not if you have a slow cooker. Slow cookers make it possible for your meal to basically cook itself.
All you have to do is put your ingredients inside, set the temperature, and then be on your way. Of course, it helps if you have a quality slow cooker doing the work for you.
And, to help you pick the best slow cooker, we are happy to offer some slow cooker reviews you can trust.
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Before we dive in and share our slow cooker reviews with you, you may be wondering how we arrived at our ratings.
Well, you can rest assured that we put countless hours of real thought, effort, and research into our ratings.
We didn’t just pull them out of thin air or anything like that. We also don’t have ulterior motives, like trying to sell you something or convincing you to buy a particular product.
Instead, our only goal is to provide you with all of the information that you need in order to make an informed purchasing decision for yourself.
In order to get that information, we look at all kinds of things from reviews from real-life customers to brand reputation and history. Our information is unbiased and trustworthy, and we hope that you will use it to your benefit
Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker PRO 8.5 Quart Cooking System
- 1 pot with 8 cooking functions: Stove Top, Slow Cook, Oven, Braise, Bake, Steam, and more.
- Unique heating elements let you sear, sauté, and slow cook all in one pot for easy cleanup.
- Bake in oven mode. Dry Bake for chicken and roasts, and Steam Bake for delicious, moist cakes.
This slow cooker makes our list because of the many different cooking options that it offers. You can use this slow cooker as a standard oven, a stovetop, or, of course, as a traditional slow cooker.
In addition to the great versatility of this slow cooker, we also love the fact that it features several temperature settings and options so that you can make food according to your exact specifications.
This slow cooker is easy to clean too. In fact, it’s great all around and would have ranked higher on our list if not for the steep price tag (about $ on average).
All-Clad Stainless Steel Electric Slow Cooker
Just like the above option, this slow cooker is pretty pricey too. In fact, it often costs around $. With that said, though, we think it’s well worth the price.
It features a removable insert that can work as a serving dish when you’re done cooking your meal. It also offers several temperature options for perfect cooking and precise following of recipes every time.
There is even a twenty-hour timer you can use to make your life so much easier. You can even program this slow cooker to turn on and off whenever you want.
Plus, it’s not just a slow cooker. It also works for steaming rice, so you definitely get a lot of bang for your buck. We recommend this slow cooker for what it can do, but not for its impact on your wallet.
The Kitchen Aid Slow Cooker with Glass Lid
- 6-quart removable, oval-shaped ceramic vessel
- Program the slow cooker for a specific cooking time up to 24 hours in 30-minute increments
- High, medium, and low settings for any recipe and keep warm function for up to four hours after finished cooking
There is a lot to love about this affordable slow cooker, especially its low price tag. Priced at most retailers for around $, this cooker is great at running for a long time while still maintaining a super low temperature.
We also love the fact that this cooker is insulated to prevent heat from becoming uneven during cooking.
Plus, it has an easy-to-use control panel with multiple heat settings and an alarm that lets you know when your food is done.
We do wish this slow cooker had the ability to brown, but, for the price and all its great functions, we think it’s worth it to brown in another pan.
The Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker
- Not your mom’s slow cooker: Smart technology allows you to cook a recipe to either a desired cooking time or specific...
- Patented temperature probe: Place the temperature probe into large cuts of meat to cook to a precise temperature the...
- Clip-tight gasket lid: The lid clips securely in place, perfect for taking the slow cooker to a party, potluck, or...
Hamilton Beach has offered up one of the more affordable slow cookers on our list. Priced at around $, this is a reasonably priced slow cooker. Plus, even though the price is low, it does not skimp on the special features.
With this model, you will enjoy a nice timer feature and the ability to program your cooking, allowing you to leave the cooking to the slow cooker.
We also really like that the handles stay nice and cool, so you can avoid burning yourself when lifting or moving the slow cooker.
There are some flaws with this model, however. It has a hard time maintaining consistent temperature and has been known to overcook food.
Plus, the lid is somewhat hard to get to stay in position and comes off easily. If those flaws don’t bother you too much, though, this slow cooker still isn’t a bad deal for the price.
The Black and Decker 7 Quart Slow Cooker
- Chalkboard Surface - Get creative! The exterior of the slow cooker is a chalkboard, perfect for drawing on and for...
- Chalk Included - You get two sticks of chalk with the slow cooker. Plus the surface works with any traditional chalk...
- Locking Wires - The locking system lets you take your favorite food to potlucks and tailgates. Plus, it stays out of the...
We really love this digital slow cooker. Who knew only $ could buy you a high-tech, modern slow cooker like this one?
It features a locking lid to avoid spills and ruined dinners. Plus, the handles are roomy and easy to hold, making it great for preparing a dish ahead of time and taking it to a potluck or picnic.
Some more special features would be nice, but, all in all, this is a good, basic slow cooker that you should be able to get plenty of use out of.
The Hamilton Beach 6 Quart Slow Cooker
- 6 Quart; Black Stainless look
- Stoneware Cast aluminum insert that allows you to brown or sear meat on almost any stovetop
- Programmable control with digital timer and time adjustment buttons
This slow cooker from Hamilton Beach is another good one if you want a cooker that can run for a long time and still maintain very low heat. It is also good for nice, even cooking.
However, this cooker is a little bit different from more traditional models. For one thing, it is made out of aluminum and can be used on the stovetop.
This helps it to be more lightweight. However, the fact that it is made of a nonstick material does hurt its searing ability.
Still, though, if you are not the type to sear meat very often, this is a pretty decent slow cooker to have.
The Crock-Pot Programmable Cook Slow Cooker
- 6 quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker serves 7+ people
- Digital countdown control lets you program cook times anywhere from 30 minutes up to 20 hours; shifts to Warm setting...
- Easy to use locking lid featuring lid gasket provides extra seal for less mess on the go
This slow cooker, from the very renowned Crock-Pot brand, is a wonderful option if you want a slow cooker that is both affordable and hardworking.
It has easy-to-use digital controls that allow you to manipulate both the temperature and to set the timer as desired. Plus, it can hold a ton of food- typically enough for up to seven meals.
It could do a better job at warming since the temperature seems to stay a bit high throughout the cooking process for our liking, but, all in all, it is not a bad little crock pot.
All-Clad Electrics Stainless Steel and Ceramic Slow Cooker
- 6.5-quart, oval-shaped, stainless-steel slow cooker with removable black ceramic insert, large enough to cook food for a...
- 4-20 hours cooking times with a complete cycle time of up to 26 hours for preparing home-cooked meals on any schedule
- Easy-to-read digital display and large push-button controls for intuitive use to easily find your perfect programs
There are a great many things to love about this slow cooker, including its strong stainless-steel construction.
This is a slow cooker that is built to last through just about anything. It is super strong and super durable.
We also love the fact that it easily maintains low heat for perfect, tender meats every time. Plus, it is a “smart” cooker that knows when to switch to the “warming” function to keep food from burning or getting tough.
BELLA Programmable Slow Cooker
- PROGRAMMABLE 5-QUART SLOW COOKER: Easily prepare dinner in advance with this fully programmable 5-quart slow cooker with...
- EASY TO USE: Select from High & Low-temperature settings & the slow cooker will automatically shift to warm when it’s...
- FEED THE WHOLE FAMILY: This slow cooker features cool-touch handles & a dishwasher-safe stoneware pot with tempered...
This is a very simple slow cooker. So, if you are looking for bells, whistles, and general special features, this is probably not the one for you.
With that said, though, we really love how effective this simple little cooker is. It does a great job of maintaining low heat. It also has basic, easy-to-use buttons that make it super easy to operate this slow cooker.
Basically, if you want a highly effective, highly affordable slow cooker that does exactly what it’s made for, this one is the way to go.
The Proctor Silex 33043 4 Quart Slow Cooker
- Fabric Type: Metal, Glass, Stoneware
Like the above option, this slow cooker is also fairly basic, but, for the price and its great features, we think that it more than deserves its spot at the top of our list.
For one thing, the handles are great. They are very easy to hold onto, making this slow cooker easy to lift and perfect for bringing dishes to potlucks or picnics. The handles also stay super cool, so you never have to worry about burning yourself.
This cooker makes wonderful food, is affordably priced, and is pretty much the perfect selection for any basic cook.
As you can probably tell from our list, there is a whole lot that you have to think about when it comes to choosing a slow cooker. It is not just as simple as walking into a store, picking one off the shelf, and heading home.
What you can do, though, is pick a slow cooker off our list. If you do that, we feel sure you’d be satisfied with it, based on all the thought and effort we put into finding the perfect selections.
However, if you’re a little pickier than that, don’t worry. We have a handy list of guidelines to consider as you choose a slow cooker for yourself.
Remember that Temperature Matters a Lot
First things first, keep in mind that the whole reason to use a slow cooker in the first place is to cook food for a long time and at a low heat. This almost always equals more tender, more delicious food.
Obviously, if a particular slow cooker can’t do that or can’t do it well, it’s not the one for you. Thus, look for a slow cooker that has very low-temperature settings and is known for keeping food at that temperature.
A lot of slow cookers, unfortunately, slowly get hotter and hotter until you’re just burning your food, rather than slow cooking it in the truest sense.
To avoid that, find a cooker with very low-temperature settings that is known for being good at maintaining the set temperature.
Make Sure You Choose the Right Size
Another thing to keep in mind is that slow cookers vary a lot in terms of size and capacity. As such, you want to make sure you choose the right one for your home and your family or for the type of cooking that you are most likely to do.
There are actually single-serve slow cookers, which can be great if you are watching your weight, limiting portion sizes, or just regularly cooking for one. Most people, though, will need at least a six-quart dish, which can typically hold enough food for four people.
Also, it is never a bad idea to buy a little larger of a size than you think you need. That way, if you end up having to make food for a big party or do something else unexpected, you won’t have to rush out and buy a new slow cooker.
As you can see, a lot of thought should go into choosing the right slow cooker. However, with the advice presented here, as well as our trustworthy slow cooker reviews, you should have a very easy time finding the perfect cooker to match your needs and your budget too.
