10 Best Slow Cookers

Slow cookers come in all shapes and sizes, but they’re all designed for long-term heated cooking. Their best feature is how easy they are to use—add ingredients to the insert, set the temperature to the desired setting, and then come back after 6 or 8 hours to perfectly cooked food. Slow cookers save countless families and cooks hours of time, and these kitchen workhorses are great for busy households.

Let’s take a look at the 10 best slow cookers on the market today, based on actual user reviews.

1. Crock-Pot Programmable 6-Quart Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker

With its nice red color that’s attractive for many kitchens, the Crock-Pot Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker is one you can set and not worry about having to shut off, since it automatically goes to the warm setting. It has a programmable and settable digital control that works from 30 minutes up to 20 hours with three temperature settings for high, low and keep warm. It comes only in a 6-quart capacity, which is nice and large for family households. It’s 15” x 15.2” x 10” and weighs 13 lbs.

Pros

• Double-clamping locking lid feature to keep the lid in place while moving it. This makes it great to take to parties, events, and for tailgating
• Both the lid and the oval stoneware insert are dishwasher safe, and the stoneware insert is removable

Cons

• The lid is not microwave safe, oven safe, or stovetop safe
• The stoneware insert is not stovetop safe
• It needs to be manually shut off and unplugged
• Does not have the ability to preset cooking times
• Some users have reported it gets very hot on the “Hot” setting

2. Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker

This Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker comes in a nice large size of 7 quarts. Since it’s programmable, you can select from 2 up to 10 hours of cooking time ahead of time. There are three temperature settings—warm, low, and high. It also features a digital countdown timer that shows you the remaining cooking time. It’s 11.7” x 17.6” x 9.9” in size and weighs 12.3 lbs.. As for appearance, it has a brushed-silver aluminum outside surface and glass lid with black handle, along with nice sturdy black handles on the outside.

Pros

• Also available in a 6-quart size
• After it’s done cooking, it automatically switches to a warm setting
• Stoneware insert and lid are both dishwasher safe

Cons

• No built-in clamps to hold the lid down
• The stoneware insert does not have a nonstick coating
• Exterior is made of aluminum, not stainless steel

3. Elite Platinum Maxi-Matic 8.5 Quart Digital Programmable Slow Cooker

The Elite Platinum is the largest slow cooker on this list, with a big 8.5-quart stoneware ceramic insert that comes in a slight oval shape. Due to its size, it’s great for large families and feeding plenty of eaters or making meals days ahead of time. You can definitely fit whole chickens and large cuts of meat in it. There are three temperature settings—low, high, and keep warm. The programmable timer can be set for up to 20 hours of both cooking and warming time. It’s 16.3” x 11.7” x 11.8” in size, with a weight of 14.6 lbs.

Pros

• The biggest of our 10 best slow cookers
• It automatically switches to warm after cooking time
• Both the lid and removable ceramic insert are dishwasher safe
• The lid is made of strong tempered glass, and the exterior is stainless steel

Cons

• No locking or clamping lid, plus the lid sits loosely and doesn’t have a steam escape hole
• No preset programs to have the slow cooker begin cooking at a certain time, and no way to tell what temperature the food reaches
• The outside of this slow cooker gets very hot, and it cooks hot as well

4. Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Oval Slow Cooker with Digital Timer

The Crock-Pot Programmable Oval Slow Cooker is similar to older slow cooker models, but with 21st century features, like a digital timer. It’s made of durable stainless steel, and the outside has sturdy handles to carry it. When closed and clamped, the lid has a gasket for extra sealing if you’re transporting it somewhere. It comes with two clamps on either side to hold the lid in place. It’s 6.7” H x 19” W x 11.6” D, weighs 14.8 lbs., and the cord is 24” in length.

Pros

• Three temperature settings—low, high, keep warm
• The insert is easy to clean, dishwasher safe, oven safe, and microwave safe. Only the lid is dishwasher safe
• After cooking, it automatically goes to the “keep warm” setting

Cons

• There is no way to set the time for the crock pot to start
• Some users have reported a distinct plastic smell that is present before use
• It has been reported by users that this model cooks hot, so you might have to adjust cooking temperatures

5. Hamilton Beach Set n’ Forget Programmable 6-Quart Slow Cooker with Temperature Probe

This Hamilton Beach slow cooker comes with its own custom-designed temperature probe for poking through the lid while it’s cooking, to check the temperature of the food inside. This makes slow cooking much more precise and heat doesn’t escape. It’s also programmable and comes with three cooking settings: probe, program, and manual. On the probe setting, the slow cooker automatically shifts to “Keep Warm” when the temperature is reached. With the program setting, you set the cooking time. It’s 10.2” x 16” x 16.1” and weighs 14.4 lbs.

Pros

• It has a clip-tight gasket lid and handles on the outside for carrying
• Three cooking settings
• You can also cook manually using the high, low or keep warm settings
• It has power interrupt protection in the event the power goes out

Cons

• It does come with a factory “new” smell that some might find off-putting
• Several customers have reported malfunctions such as melting, electronics issues with the digital display, and cracking after short periods of use
• The outside of this crock pot is aluminum and is not as durable as stainless steel, so it’s prone to dents and dings

6. Cuisinart MSC-600 3-in-1 Cook Central Multi-Cooker

The Cuisinart 3-in-1 Multi-Cooker functions not just as a slow cooker, but also as a meat browner, a sauté pan, and a steamer. You can brown your meat in the slow cooker insert before adding other ingredients. It also comes in three sizes for you to choose from—the 4-quart, 6-quart, or 7-quart. It also has an extra-large blue backlit LCD display to easily read both the time and temperature settings. The 6-quart size is 12” x 19” x 9.5”, weighs 16 lbs., and the non-retractable, non-detachable cord is 44” long.

Pros

• Has handles on both the outer body of the slow cooker as well as the insert for carrying either easily
• The central cooking insert is aluminum with a Teflon coating
• After cooking, it turns to the “warm” setting and stays on for up to 8 hours
• Both the lid and insert are dishwasher safe

Cons

• The insert is not microwave safe, oven safe, or stovetop safe, since it’s made of aluminum, not ceramic as many other models
• There is no delay timer for preprogramming or presetting cooking times and temperatures
• If you fill this slow cooker to the top of the insert, it will overflow once it reaches temperature
• The aluminum could be prone to scratching, so wooden utensils are recommended

7. KitchenAid 6-Quart Slow Cooker Stainless Steel

With four temperature settings—keep warm, low, medium and high—the KitchenAid Slow Cooker can be programmed for a specific time up to 24 hours ahead and within 30-minute increments of time. It’s made of stainless steel and has a removable oval-shaped insert. It is 10.5” x 17.5” x 10.8” in size, and it weighs 16.1 lbs.

Pros

• Two lid options – easy serve lid or standard lid
• Sturdy handles on both the insert and the outside of the unit to safely carry either one
• After the cooking time, the slow cooker automatically goes into “keep warm” mode for up to 4 hours

Cons

• The temperature settings are lower than compared to other slow cookers. It does not boil, so might not be hot enough
• Reports have been made by some buyers that the lids are defective and don’t fit properly or the lid handles are off center

8. Crock-Pot Swing and Serve Slow Cooker

The Crock-Pot Swing and Serve Slow Cooker is three slow cookers in one—a 3.5-quart slow cooker on the base level, and two 1.5-quart slow cookers on the upper level. Each of the three slow cooker units can be used independently, which is great for parties and tailgating. There are three separate ceramic stoneware inserts and three lids. Each slow cooker has three temperature settings—warm, low and high. Overall, the dimensions are 12.8” x 16.3” – 21.6” x 13.2”, with a 24” long cord.

Pros

• Comes in two colors—stainless steel or black
• Easy to clean and has a removable and washable spoon slot in the back

Cons

• There is no timer function. The three inserts are each operated with a manual knob
• Each of the three separate slow cooker units is much smaller than many other models. The main large unit is only 3.5 quarts in size
• It’s not portable when it’s hot, so it can’t be carried to a party or event

9. Crock-Pot 3.5 Quart Casserole Crock Manual Slow Cooker

Would you like a casserole dish that can also function as a slow cooker? This Crock Pot is a slow cooker casserole dish, so it’s perfect for your 13” x 9” pan dishes and recipes. It comes in four colors—black/white, charcoal, navy blue, or perfect plum. It’s 6.7” x 19” x 11.6”, weighs 13.5 lbs., has a 24” cord, and has manual low, high, and warm settings.

Pros

• The stoneware insert is oven safe
• Handles on the outside to carry
• Has a locking lid system for transporting

Cons

• No programmable features or presetting
• No way to measure the temperature of the food or the settings
• The handles are plastic and some users have reported them melting due to the heat
• This slow cooker doesn’t automatically switch to any settings after you’ve set a cooking time. It’s completely manual, so it must be manually changed from setting to setting

10. Focus Electrics West Bend 84915 5-Quart Oblong-Shaped Slow Cooker with Carrying Tote

The West Bend 5-Quart Oblong Slow Cooker comes with its own carrying insulated tote; it can also be purchased without the tote. It has a unique design in that the base is a heating base and the pot itself is not an insert. You can remove the cooking pot and use the heating base as a nonstick mini griddle. The cooking pot is oven, range-top, and freezer-safe. It can also be used to brown meat before other ingredients are added. It measures 7.25” x 12.75” x 8.75” in size and has a weight of 6.8 lbs.

Pros

• Five heat settings, from 1 to 5
• Small and light
• Both the heating base and cooking pot are nonstick

Cons

• There is no off setting, so you have to unplug it to turn it off
• There are have been reports that the nonstick coating deteriorates. It’s recommended to hand wash the cooking pot rather than washing it in the dishwasher to preserve the interior
• Some lids have not fit correctly on the slow cooker due to warping after only a few times of use

Slow cooker, fast favorite

Choose the best slow cooker for your household and your family based on what you’re looking to use it for. Those with larger quart capacities are perfect for feeding a lot of people. You also have your choice of either metal or stoneware ceramic inserts, added digital and electronic technological features, and a variety of different temperature settings.

These 10 best slow cookers offer a sturdy and long-lasting blend of low, slow cooking with modern features to deliver amazing meals you and your family will love. The slow cooker can become a favorite kitchen appliance in your home, thanks to their versatility and delicious results.