You’ll never slave over the stovetop when you invest in the best slow cooker. Slow cookers are essential if you love to cook but need more time. You can whip up anything from soups to stews, casseroles, and more. The beauty is in the slow cooking, which allows the flavors of the ingredients to meld together and create a delicious, hearty meal.
Our favorite slow cookers are picked after hours of research, reading reviews, and consulting chefs. We’ve listed the only models worth your money regarding programmability, versatility, cooking modes, and the ability to produce gourmet-quality meals. Please keep reading to discover why we chose the models reviewed here.
12 Best Slow Cookers Reviewed
The Hamilton Beach Portable Slow Cooker takes the traditional approach to slow cooking, and that’s why we love it. Although it is programmable, the cooker is straightforward to use. As for the design, it has a stainless-steel finish and black accents on the handles, base, and display. You can store the included serving spoon in the top handle, which is a plus.
This slow cooker has a 6-quart capacity, large enough to feed a family of four or more. Cooking modes on this slow cooker include a simple on/off, manual, program, and probe. It has a digital display that shows the cooking time and heat setting. As such, you can easily keep track of the food as it cooks. Once the timer finishes its countdown, it automatically switches to warm mode.
We particularly like the good food quality of Hamilton Beach. It delivers consistent results from cooking a whole chicken to a tender pot roast, mac n’ cheese, and even boiling water.
The Hamilton has more features, such as a clip-tight gasket lid that seals in the flavor and moisture of the food. The gasket lid also serves as a steam release valve. Additionally, there are clips to secure the lid for safe transport. To this end, if you’re in the market for a programmable slow cooker with traditional settings such as high and low, Hamilton Beach is the best offer.
Cuisinart MSC-800 is your do-it-all slow cooker that makes dinners hearty without spending hours in a hot kitchen. The 4-in-1 design includes a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, and steamer. With these presets, you can roast, slow cook, brown, and steam food in one pot. It can reach temperatures of 500°F, which is incredible and ideal for searing meat.
Program this baby ahead to cook meals when you want. Not to mean that dinner will get cold because it switches to warm mode once it’s finished. With a 7-quart capacity, you can prepare meals for a large family or friends.
The Cuisinart MSC-800 is made of stainless steel with an aluminum pot and a nonstick cooking surface. It is not only durable but also easy to clean. Moreover, the material is non-reactive, so food retains its original flavors. Everything about this slow cooker is well thought out. From the 24-hour timer to a reversible roasting rack, and the ability to roast for six hours, you made dinnertime hassle-free.
All-Clad Deluxe Slow Cooker steps it up with an aluminum insert that you can use to brown ingredients on the stove before transferring them to the slow cooker. The insert has handles that allow swift carrying to and from the cooker.
This model has four cooking modes. The low mode is ideal for cooking tough cuts of meat that need time to become tender. Low mode is also ideal for dishes that need to be cooked for a long time to develop deeper flavors. The high mode is best for cooking stir-fries or pasta dishes. On the other hand, you can use the warm mode for serving stews or casseroles while the simmer mode cooks delicate dishes, such as sauces or soups.
This slow cooker has another set of easy-to-grip handles. It makes it easy to lift and carry, even when full of food. Its stainless-steel lid traps heat and moisture to keep the food moist, flavorful, and hot every time.
All-Clad Deluxe can cook meals for up to 26 hours. It can serve a very tender roast and delicious beef stews, and its 7-quart capacity can accommodate large cuts of meat. The only thing you’ll not want to do is put the insert in the dishwasher since it can discolor.
GreenPan is a searing slow cooker with a high-quality nonstick surface. Most people agree that it can cook chef-quality dishes thanks to its many cooking modes. Choose from the slow cook, simmer, brown/saute, and steam options. The product is in the high-end range with a price tag of around $250.
The cooking presets with time, and temperature selections are what you need to set and forget. You can make a complete meal with little input. The diamond-infused, ceramic nonstick coating is free of PFOA, PFAS, and lead. It makes for quick browning directly in the pot without fear of breaking down the nonstick coating.
The slow cook mode has a low, high, and warm setting. You’ll like the simmer setting since you can serve hot buffets. There’s also a unique reheat mode to reheat leftovers from the pot. And did we tell you that it can keep food warm for 8 hours after it finishes cooking?
Your pot roasts will also emerge perfect with flavorful and moist meat. Vegetables always get fork tender but do not overcook, and chicken thighs and breasts are tender without falling apart. The anodized insert is dishwasher safe and will not discolor from being put in the dishwasher. It’s the best premium choice for a slow cooker with desirable settings and cooking results.
The KitchenAid KSC6223SS is an affordable option from a quality brand. The precise heating control and 24-hour programmability allow you to target cooking at a specific temperature. In addition, you can slow-cook food for lengthier periods without worry, and it keeps food warm until it is time to serve. Thus, you can have a meal ready when you get home.
The digital display on the KitchenAid KSC6223SS eliminates any confusion on the settings. As such, you will always know the time you’ve set and the heating temperature. Since it turns off automatically and switches to warm mode, you don’t have to worry about burnt or overcooking food.
When it comes to the food quality, you’ll appreciate a slow cooker that can cook a variety of delicious meals. With this model, you’ll be able to make big batches of stews and soups and large chunks of meat. Its 6-quart capacity is enough to feed up to seven people in one sitting.
Thankfully, the insert has a ceramic cooking surface that is dishwasher safe. Since it’s quite heavy, letting the dishwasher do its job will save you from unwieldy handling in the sink. If you’re looking to spend money on a budget-friendly large slow cooker with easy programmability, the KitchenAid KSC6223SS is our top recommendation.
Crockpot 8-quart slow cooker boasts a sleek design in a black stainless-steel look. Its large capacity can cook meals for 10+ people. Hence, it gives you the convenience of cooking for friends without involving chefs and every other pot in your kitchen.
The digital timer is indispensable as it counts the minutes until the food is ready. It also has a keep warm feature that’s a good find in slow cookers. We like the removable, dishwasher-safe lid and stoneware pot as they are easy to clean. Even better is that the cookware material heats up quickly and maintains the set temperature.
Nevertheless, Crockpot’s lowest heat setting is 140°F. Although it cooks normal meals like pot roast and whole chicken well, you’ll need to be careful with sous vide. You may have to monitor the water and take out the meat when it reaches the high 130s.
Overall, we like that the Crockpot 8-quart model is pocket-friendly. Whether you want to tenderize inexpensive meat cuts or save money on energy bills, this model supports stress-free cooking for large meals.
BLACK+DECKER 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker is unique because it has an exterior chalkboard surface. If you want to involve kids or write a recipe, you can do it right on the cooker. The chalkboard surface is interesting, but the cooking quality makes this slow cooker tick.
There are three heat settings on this model; low, high, and warm. Stews, chili, and pot roasts will benefit from the low-temperature setting. Low heat is also suitable when you want to gradually and evenly have flavors meld together. The high is your go-to for pasta, grains, and veggies.
BLACK+DECKER 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker comes with a removable stoneware crock. You can remove it from the slow cooker and place it in the refrigerator. Furthermore, the built-in lid holder keeps the lid in place while the slow cooker is in use and during transport.
This is the slow cooker for you when you’re out for a model that produces excellent cooking for potlucks, gatherings, and large dinners. It’s relatively affordable at around $50, but it will require a generous countertop.
Cuisinart MSC-400 3-In-1 Cook Central is versatile for slow cooking, browning meat, and steaming food. You can program this cooker for 24 hours in the lowest heating setting. The glass lid with a cool-touch handle lets you watch the food while cooking. It also keeps the heat in to lock in flavors.
This slow cooker features a sizeable steaming rack that can steam veggies for up to 90 minutes. The high-heat mode can get up to 400°F, making it perfect for searing meat. It can make everything from oatmeal to chicken thighs, beef stew, pork chops, and even desserts with the help of parchment paper for cakes and bread.
Cuisinart MSC-400 3-in-1 is a convenient option when you want to make family dinners every day. The height and shape are perfect for placing in the refrigerator, and all the removable parts are dishwasher safe. It’s suitable for a family of two with a few leftovers.
The Wolf Gourmet Programmable 6-in-1 Multi Cooker 7 Quart can cook food in six different ways. It has options for manual, program, meal timer, saute/sear, rice, and sous vide. You can bring food to the desired temperature in a warm water bath. Each mode eases meal preparation while making food delicious.
This model has precise temperature control. If you like your steak medium-rare, it’s possible to achieve that doneness on this Crockpot. It is an excellent feature for achieving perfect results every time. Not to mention preventing food from overcooking or burning.
You can expect to achieve excellent meals when it comes to cooking results. Pork tenderloin cooks evenly with the desired consistency for pork tacos. You can sear sausages and cook them to the desired doneness with similar results to what you’d get on a stove. Moreover, this Crockpot achieves tender meat with plenty of flavor and moisture.
The Wolf Gourmet also has a keep-warm function. Also included is a delay start function which helps to start cooking at the desired time. When done cooking, you don’t need to leave it in the sink with hot soapy water as it cleans easily with a sponge, soap, and water. It’s the perfect pick for experimenting with endless recipes.
The Instant Electric Round Dutch Oven is as smart as slow cookers can get. You can expect gourmet results for braising, slow cooking, searing, or sautéing. All due to the precision temperature control. It is also a cooking pan and warmer. This Crockpot is ideal if you enjoy different cooking methods but want hands-off cooking.
Its heavy-duty enameled cast-iron cooking pot can prepare food quickly while keeping all the nutrients intact. It has a heating element at its base, which warms the food uniformly, resulting in deliciously tender results. The pot is dishwasher safe while its lid is oven and dishwasher-safe.
Everything about this slow cooker speaks of quality. It has a user-friendly control panel with a dial and touchscreen so adjusting the temperature and cook time is super easy. You will like that it produces even browning results and slow cooks food well in the time and temperature provided. Although the low default temperature is 203°F, it does not overcook food.
With a Dutch oven pot ready for the stovetop and oven, this electric Dutch oven is the most versatile option. You can explore different cooking styles and achieve restaurant-quality food every time.
Calphalon Slow Cooker is a high-quality model with several distinct features. Firstly, the cooking pot is safe on the stovetop, oven, and induction cooktops. Its black stainless steel looks great on the dinner table, meaning you can serve food right from it. The neat design also makes it easy to store.
This slow cooker uses a ceramic cooking surface to retain heat and moisture. In turn, it makes food more tender and flavorful. Nonetheless, it is not dishwasher-safe, and the all-metallic construction means it gets hot to the touch.
With a programmable digital timer, you have the classic high and low heat settings for set and forget. It cooks food perfectly within the time of the recipe. Its timer will turn off automatically and switch to warm mode. We like the 5.3-quart capacity since it’s ideal for daily family meals. It weighs only 7 pounds which is impressive compared to other models. You can keep home-cooked meals with the Caphalon Slow Cooker if you have a hectic schedule.
Sunvivi Triple Slow Cooker is well-made and affordable, with three 1.5-quart pots. It needs to get the attention it deserves because Sunvivi is lesser known. However, it’s as capable as other slow cookers. The buffet styling is perfect for parties and gatherings. Say you have thanksgiving dinner; you can make stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy. It’s also ideal for various appetizers or variations of the same meal.
Each pot has its temperature setting and heating element. The cooker has excellent insulation ability, which helps to keep the food hot after cooking for serving immediately. Visitors can view food without releasing heat and moisture thanks to the glass lids. All the pots are also removable for cleaning and storing leftovers.
Sunvivi Triple Slow Cooker is stable, durable, and worth every coin. If you’re looking for a slow cooker for buffet purposes, you’ll be hard-pressed to choose any other triple slow cooker on the market.
Best Slow Cooker Buyers Guide
Slow cookers, also known as crock pots, are designed to cook delicious meals while you’re free to do anything else. When it’s time to buy a new slow cooker, there are a few things to consider.
Size
Slow cookers come in various sizes. Small 3 and 4-quart models are enough for single-cooking meals and scaled-down recipes. However, most slow cookers are in the 5-quart to 10-quart size range. The average is 6 quarts which are ideal for families and doubled recipes. Nonetheless, it’s good to remember that you need a slow cooker to be at least half full for excellent results.
Shape and Design
Traditional slow cookers come round, suitable for stews and casseroles. However, you’ll now find oval-shaped and rectangular-shaped slow cookers for cooking meat on the bone, roasts, ham, and ribs, among others. Oval and rectangular slow cookers also fit easily on most countertops and cupboard spaces.
Heating Method
A good slow cooker has an insert with a heating element at the bottom and the base of the insert. This design allows even heat distribution, so you’ll not need to stir the food to prevent scorching.
Insert Construction and Cooking Method
Inserts are made of different materials, but ceramic/stoneware and metal are the most common. The ceramic/stoneware inserts are heavy and cook evenly. They also retain heat once the cooker reaches the set temperature.
Metal inserts offer to sauté and browning functions. As such, you can prepare your meal in one pot. They also provide easy transport since they are not heavy. If you will remove the insert, it’s best to ensure you pick a model with reasonable side handles.
Budget
Slow cookers range in price from as little as $30 to over $200. The price often reflects the features you get and the quality of the slow cooker. If your slow cooker breaks down and it’s not under warranty, it’s usually better to buy a new one rather than have it repaired.
Features
There are so many different features to have on a slow cooker. The first distinction is whether you want a programmable or a manual slow cooker. The former has a digital timer and electric controls, and you can program it for up to 26 hours. Manual crock pots have low, medium, and high settings, so you may have to monitor the cooking.
Useful features to watch out for include temperature probes, automatic warming, precision temperature, and accessories like serving spoons.
The Hamilton Beach Portable Set & Forget Slow Cooker offers great value in a user-friendly design. Its digital display and temperature probe setting ensure delicious meals that practically cook themselves.
Honorable Mentions
We’ve reviewed the slow cookers that are the best models on the market. However, our list would only be complete by letting you in on other options that offer great cooking results with one or two drawbacks.
Hamilton Beach 33866 Portable 6-Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker: While this slow cooker gets high marks for being programmable and having a “keep warm” setting, many reviewers found that the lid is a bit flimsy and can break when dropped.
Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker, Extra Large 10 Quart: This is an excellent option for a large and efficient crockpot. However, the temperature setting can be confusing to nail down at first.
Instant Pot Max 6 Quart Multi-use Electric Pressure Cooker: This model has many positive reviews because it’s a game changer for briskets and turkeys. Nonetheless, the gasket retains odors, meaning odors from a spicy meal can transfer to a neutral meal. You’ll have to buy replacement gaskets for spicy or neutral meals.
Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker 8-Quart: The Duo Nova from Instant Pot has 14 programs, including a yogurt maker. It is super versatile for the hearty foodie. Again, its silicone seal retains odors, but you get an extra one just in case the first one carries an odor you don’t want to transfer to another meal.
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker 6-Quart: This smaller version of the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is suitable for family dinners. It takes a while to understand all the features, even with the booklet provided.
Breville BPR700BSS Fast Slow Pro Cooker: This option is super easy to program and heats up quite fast to the pressure-cooking stage. As a Breville product, it does not heat evenly and can sometimes overcook food.
BLACK+DECKER SCD7007SSD 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker: This is a low-heat appliance for cooking over 10+ hours. Because of this, some users find it cooks too slowly for a typical meal.
All-Clad Gourmet Plus Slow Cooker 7-Qt.: This slow cooker gets marks for excellent browning and cooking large meals. However, there are reports that the cooker does not retain heat after cooking.
Cuisinart PSC-650 6.5-Qt. Programmable Slow Cooker: This model is programmable for up to 24 hours. But some customers have complained that the Teflon coating is very delicate and can easily be damaged on high heat.
Crock-Pot Portable Cook 6 Qt. And Carry Slow Cooker: This brand removes the stress if you want a perfectly-designed portable slow cooker. Nevertheless, the locks can fail if water seeps into the lock and handle.
Crock-Pot – Express 6-Quart Easy Release Multi-Cooker: This is another great investment from Crock-Pot, but there are issues with quality control since some users have received models that need to seal properly.
Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker: This is a traditional slow cooker with manual settings. While its overall performance is top-notch, its lowest heat setting seems too hot for pot roasts and can end up burning them.
Ninja FD401 Foodi 12-in-1 Deluxe XL 8 qt. Pressure Cooker: This is a versatile appliance that can do it all except being good at searing. It produces subpar results unless you want it for soups and stews.
Ninja MC1001 Foodi PossibleCooker PRO 8.5 Quart Multi-Cooker, with 8-in-1 Slow Cooker: This slow cooker can perform as a pressure cooker and Dutch oven. It’s great if you’re going to use all the features, but without the option of using it on the stovetop, it’s too pricey.
