Riki Costa

Written by Riki Costa

Published: 02 Feb 2024

Camryn Rabideau

Reviewed by Camryn Rabideau

8-best-slow-cooker
Source: Seriouseats.com

Are you looking for an easy way to cook delicious meals? Look no further than the 8 Best Slow Cooker options on the market. Slow cookers are a convenient and efficient way to prepare meals, allowing you to simply add ingredients, set the timer, and let the appliance do the rest. Whether you're cooking soups, stews, or roasts, a slow cooker can help you create flavorful dishes with minimal effort. In this article, we'll explore eight of the best slow cookers available, each offering its own unique features and benefits.

Top Picks:

Overall Score: 8/10

The Cuisinart MSC-600 3-In-1 Cook Central 6-Quart Multi-Cooker is a versatile and convenient kitchen appliance. It features one-touch switches, an extra-large LCD display, and a removable 6-quart cooking pot. This multi-cooker also includes a steaming rack and comes with a limited 3-year warranty. The dishwasher-safe removable parts make for effortless cleanup, and it ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging. It is a silver 6-quart cooker that measures 12.00Lx19.00Wx9.50H. With a customer rating of 4.5/5, this product has received mainly positive reviews, highlighting its functionality and ease of use.

Key Features

  • One touch switches modes when recipe calls for combination cooking: True
  • Extra-large blue backlit LCD display with easy-to-read time and temperature settings: True
  • Removable 6-quart nonstick aluminum cooking pot: True
  • Glass lid with cool-touch handle for clear view and comfortable handling: True
  • Dishwasher-safe removable parts for effortless cleanup, Steaming rack included, Limited 3-year warranty.Steam for up to 90 minutes: True
  • Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging: True

Specifications

  • Color: Silver
  • Dimension: 12.00Lx19.00Wx9.50H
  • Size: 6-Quart

Pros

  • Versatile and convenient
  • Easy to clean
  • Extra-large LCD display
  • Limited 3-year warranty

Cons

  • Searing feature could be improved

The Cuisinart MSC-600 3-In-1 Cook Central 6-Quart Multi-Cooker offers great functionality, ease of use, and convenient cleanup. Its versatility and the inclusion of a steaming rack make it a valuable addition to any kitchen. While the searing feature could be improved, the product’s overall performance and positive customer reviews make it a recommended buy for those looking for a reliable multi-cooker.

Overall Score: 9/10

The Sunvivi Triple Slow Cooker Buffet Server allows you to cook three dishes at once, making it perfect for entertaining guests. With its high tenacity nylon blend material, overheating protection, and easy to clean, you'll be able to effortlessly create delicious meals while saving time and effort. It's perfect for game nights, Thanksgiving, reunions, and housewarming parties.

Key Features

  • Cook 3 dishes at once
  • Material safety for food stewing
  • Overheat protection with 3 settings
  • Easy to clean and serve directly
  • Perfect for entertaining guests

Specifications

  • Color: Grey
  • Dimension:: 22.20Lx11.20Wx10.00H
  • Size: 3*1.5QT

Pros

  • Perfect for sauces and dips
  • Works great for large gatherings
  • Much better than metal container warmer

Cons

  • Smell of plastic and circuitry
  • Missing a spoon
  • Small cord

The Sunvivi Triple Slow Cooker Buffet Server is an excellent addition to any kitchen. With its ability to cook three dishes at once, material safety, and easy cleaning, it’s a perfect solution for entertaining guests. However, the plastic smell and missing spoon are minor drawbacks. Overall, it’s a fantastic product worth investing in.

Overall Score: 8/10

The Chefman 6-Quart Slow Cooker is the perfect appliance for all-day electric countertop cooking. This family-sized slow cooker allows for browning and sautéing in a removable insert, and comes with an intuitive dial control for easy operation. Cleanup is a breeze with the nonstick and dishwasher-safe interior. The product is UL approved with advanced safety technology and includes a 1-year assurance from Chefman. It's the ideal solution for convenient, one-pot meals.

Key Features

  • Family size one-pot meals
  • Removable cooking insert for browning and sautéing
  • Intuitive dial control with two heat settings
  • Nonstick and dishwasher-safe insert for easy cleanup
  • UL approved with advanced safety technology

Specifications

  • Color: Stainless Steel
  • Dimension: 10.90Lx17.90Wx9.30H
  • Size: 6 Quart

Pros

  • Allows for browning and sautéing in the removable insert
  • Easy-to-use intuitive dial control
  • Nonstick and dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup
  • UL approved with advanced safety technology

Cons

  • Gets too hot on high setting
  • Locking lid may come off if not handled properly

The Chefman 6-Quart Slow Cooker is a fantastic option for convenient, family-sized meals. With its removable cooking insert, intuitive dial control, and easy cleanup, this slow cooker offers great value for its price. While it may get too hot on the high setting and the locking lid needs careful handling, overall, this appliance is a reliable and versatile addition to any kitchen.

Overall Score: 8/10

The Hamilton Beach 10 Quart Slow Cooker is perfect for large gatherings, with the capacity to cook enough food for 12 or more people. It features a lid lock to reduce spills when transporting food, 3 heat settings, and full-grip handles for easy carrying. This slow cooker is easy to clean and is dishwasher safe. It is ideal for creating flavorful meals with minimal effort. The crockpot comes in black color and has dimensions of 12.50Lx15.75Wx11.50H. It is a great choice for anyone looking for a large, portable slow cooker for cooking for groups.

Key Features

  • Perfect for a large gathering
  • Reduce spills with lid lock
  • Cook flavorful meals with minimal effort
  • Maintain ideal temperature with 3 heat settings
  • Easy to carry with full-grip handles

Specifications

  • Color: Black
  • Dimension: 12.50Lx15.75Wx11.50H
  • Size: 10-Quart

Pros

  • Perfect for large gatherings
  • Lid lock reduces spills
  • Easy to carry with full-grip handles

Cons

  • High end cooking temperatures
  • Outer shell is a bit flimsy
  • Sealing feature looks fragile

The Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker offers an excellent solution for cooking for large groups. It provides great convenience with its large capacity, portable design, and minimal effort cooking. Despite some concerns about temperature and durability, it remains a highly recommended choice for those in need of a dependable and spacious slow cooker.

Overall Score: 9/10

The Hamilton Beach Portable 6 Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker is a versatile slow cooker that offers both a desired cooking time or specific temperature settings. It features a patented temperature probe for precise cooking, clip-tight gasket lid, and easy-to-clean removable components. With a 6-quart capacity, this slow cooker is ideal for large cuts of meat and advanced features like temperature display and power interrupt protection. It comes in a sleek stainless steel color and features a dimension of 11.25Lx17.50Wx11.75H. The customer rating for this product is 4.6/5 and users have praised its cooking features, ease of use, durability, and value for money.

Key Features

  • Smart technology for precise cooking settings
  • Patented temperature probe for accurate cooking
  • Clip-tight gasket lid for secure transportation
  • Removable and dishwasher safe components
  • 6-quart capacity ideal for large cuts of meat

Specifications

  • Color: Stainless Steel
  • Dimension: 11.25Lx17.50Wx11.75H
  • Size: Temperature Probe

Pros

  • Advanced cooking features including auto warm
  • Durable and sturdy construction
  • Easy to use and program
  • Great distribution of heat for quick, even cooking
  • Value for money and sleek design

Cons

  • Beeping sound when adjusting settings
  • Flimsy locking lid feature
  • Initial manufacturing smell in lid silicon ring

The Hamilton Beach Portable 6 Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker is a highly recommended kitchen appliance for its versatility, ease of use, and durability. With excellent cooking features, sturdy construction, and a reasonable price point, it is a great addition to any kitchen. Despite a few minor drawbacks such as the beeping sound and initial manufacturing smell, the overall performance and value of this slow cooker make it a worthwhile investment.

Overall Score: 9.5/10

The Presto 06017 8-Quart Nomad Traveling Slow Cooker in blue is perfect for cooking on-the-go. Designed with a locking lid, cool-touch exterior, swing-up handle, and detachable utensil holder, it ensures spill-proof transportation. With slow cook settings for high, low, and warm, a detachable porcelain enameled cooking pot, and a condensation cup, it offers convenience and versatility. The dry erase board and marker add a fun touch. In addition, the compact, wide-profile design makes it ideal for traveling. Although a bit pricy, it is highly praised by customers for being perfect for on-the-go activities and for its large capacity. The lightweight metal insert and silicone cord add to its practicality, making it easy to clean and transport.

Key Features

  • Extra-large 8-quart slow cooker, contemporary blue
  • Locking lid seals tight for spill-proof transportation
  • Cool-touch exterior and swing-up handle
  • Rugged, wide-profile design helps prevent tip-overs when traveling
  • Silicone cord secures a utensil in transit
  • Detachable utensil holder doubles as a spoon rest
  • Removable porcelain enameled cooking pot—PFAS-free
  • Dry erase board and marker
  • Slow cook settings for high, low, and warm
  • Condensation cup collects moisture

Specifications

  • Color: Blue
  • Dimension: 13.00Lx15.75Wx8.50H
  • Size: 8 Quart

Pros

  • Perfect for on-the-go activities
  • Compact and wide-profile design
  • Large capacity (8-quart)
  • Detachable utensil holder for added convenience
  • Cool-touch exterior for safety

Cons

  • Pricy
  • Lack of auto warm feature
  • Lid seal requires extra effort to dry

The Presto 8-Quart Nomad Slow Cooker is a game-changer for those who love to cook on-the-go. Its blend of practical features, large capacity, and safety features make it worth the investment for busy individuals and families. The detachable utensil holder, sleek design, and spill-proof transportation capabilities set it apart from standard slow cookers, earning it high praise from customers. While it may be pricy, the convenience and versatility it offers more than make up for the cost.

Overall Score: 7/10

The KitchenAid KSC6223SS 6-Qt. Slow Cooker with Standard Lid in Stainless Steel is a reliable and large-capacity slow cooker that provides three cooking temperatures and a ceramic pot insert. Its safety features include an automatic thermostat and heavy gauge electric cord. However, its high setting does not reach boiling temperatures and may not cook some foods adequately. The standard lid is reasonably priced, but the optional easy serve lid comes at a steep price. Despite these drawbacks, the slow cooker is durable, spacious, and has neat cord storage.

Key Features

  • Item Package Dimension: 19.9L x 13.2W x 11.5H inches
  • Item Package Weight – 17 Pounds
  • Item Package Quantity – 1
  • Product Type – SLOW COOKER

Specifications

  • Color: Stainless Steel
  • Dimension: 10.50Lx17.50Wx10.80H
  • Size: 6-Qt.

Pros

  • Pricing
  • Easy to use
  • Ceramic pot insert
  • Good Size Pot
  • Neat cord tuck away under unit

Cons

  • Easy Serve Lid (Ridiculous price)
  • High setting doesn't reach boiling temperature
  • Standard lid has a loose fit
  • Inability to program cooking start time

The KitchenAid KSC6223SS 6-Qt. Slow Cooker with Standard Lid is a spacious and reliable appliance for slow cooking. Despite some limitations with temperature settings and lid options, it delivers on durability and usability. For those in need of a large capacity slow cooker that is reasonably priced, this model is worth considering.

Overall Score: 7/10

The HOUSNAT 10 in 1 Slow Cooker is a versatile multi-cooker that combines the functions of 10 kitchen appliances in one. With customizable cooking options and a 6-quart capacity, it offers a convenient and space-saving solution for preparing a variety of meals. The 1400W high power and triple fusion heat technology ensure faster cooking, while the safe and durable design makes it easy to use and clean. However, some users have reported uneven heating issues that may require adjustments for best results.

Key Features

  • Versatile cooking functions
  • Customizable cooking
  • 1400W High Power & Triple Fusion Heat Technology
  • Safe and durable
  • 6QT Large Capacity Perfect for Entertaining

Specifications

  • Dimension: 18.90Lx14.57Wx11.02H
  • Size: 6 quarts

Pros

  • Versatile cooking options
  • Customizable time and temperature controls
  • High power for faster cooking
  • Safe and durable design
  • Large capacity

Cons

  • Uneven heating issue reported
  • Need to adjust for best results

The HOUSNAT 10 in 1 Slow Cooker offers impressive versatility and cooking capabilities. Despite some reported issues, its customizable controls and large capacity make it a valuable addition to any kitchen.

Best Slow Cookers 2016 Buyer's GuideHere are the things you need to consider when buying a slow cooker in 2016:1. Size

  • Think about how many people you will be cooking for. If you have a big family or like to cook in batches, you might want a larger slow cooker.
  • If you're only cooking for yourself or a few people, a smaller size might be more practical.

2. Temperature Control

  • Look for a slow cooker that has different temperature settings. This will give you more control over how your food cooks.
  • Some slow cookers have a "keep warm" setting, which can be convenient if you need to leave your food in the cooker for longer periods of time.

3. Programmable Features

  • Many modern slow cookers have programmable features that allow you to set a timer for when you want your food to start cooking or when you want it to switch to a warm setting.
  • Consider whether these programmable features are important to you and how they might make your cooking experience easier.

4. Shape and Design

  • Slow cookers come in different shapes and sizes. Oval-shaped ones are good for cooking large cuts of meat or whole chickens, while round ones are more suited for soups and stews.
  • Consider the design of the slow cooker and how it fits into your kitchen and lifestyle.

5. Cleanup and Maintenance

  • Look for a slow cooker with removable, dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning.
  • Consider the material of the slow cooker and how durable it is for long-term use.

6. Price

  • Decide on your budget and look for a slow cooker that fits within it.
  • Consider the value you are getting for the price, and whether any additional features justify a higher cost.

7. Reviews and Reputation

  • Check out customer reviews and ratings for different slow cookers. This can give you insights into the experiences of real users and help you make an informed decision.
  • Consider the reputation of the brand and whether they are known for producing quality, reliable slow cookers.

8. Warranty

  • Look for a slow cooker that comes with a warranty. This can give you peace of mind in case of any manufacturing defects or malfunctions.

9. Versatility

  • Some slow cookers come with additional features such as steaming, sautéing, or cooking rice. Consider whether these extra features are important to you and if they add value to the overall functionality of the slow cooker.

10. Energy Efficiency

  • Consider the energy usage of the slow cooker, especially if you plan to use it frequently. Look for models that are energy efficient to save on electricity costs.

Remember to think about your specific needs and cooking habits when choosing the best slow cooker for you. Happy cooking!

Frequently Asked Questions about 8 Best Slow Cooker

How do slow cookers work?

Slow cookers work by using low heat over a long period of time to slowly cook food. This allows flavors to develop and ensures that the food is tender and juicy.

Can I leave my slow cooker unattended?

It is generally safe to leave a slow cooker unattended while it is cooking. However, it is always best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and never leave the appliance running for extended periods of time without checking on it.

What are the benefits of using a slow cooker?

Using a slow cooker can save time and effort in the kitchen, as you can simply set it and forget it. Slow cookers also help to bring out the flavors in dishes and result in moist, tender meals.

Can I cook anything in a slow cooker?

While there are many dishes that can be made in a slow cooker, not all recipes are suitable for this cooking method. It is best to use recipes specifically designed for slow cookers to ensure the best results.

How do I clean a slow cooker?

Slow cookers are typically easy to clean, as the removable crock and lid are often dishwasher safe. If they are not dishwasher safe, they can be cleaned with warm, soapy water. It is important to unplug the slow cooker and allow it to cool before cleaning.

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