Best Slow Cooker to Buy in 2018: 9 Reviews and a Buyer’s Guide

Purchasing the finest slow cooker on the market is an excellent investment. It’s one of those gadgets that, like the food processor and the cast iron skillet, you can’t go wrong with. Slow cookers are ideal kitchen devices for beginners or those who don’t have a lot of time to spend cooking.

To begin with, they are really simple to use. Second, by using your kitchen assistant, you may prepare wonderful meals with no work. With this gizmo, you can master any dish, whether it’s a festive dinner, a nutritious meal, or a heavy decadent feast.

We’re looking at the top slow cookers on the market today. We chose the top slow cookers and highlighted their greatest features. There is also a brief buyers guide with recommendations on how to choose the ideal device for your requirements.

We’ve selected models ranging in price from low to high. There is something to suit every budget.

 

1) Crock-Pot SCCPVL610 6-Quart Slow Cooker: Best Overall Pick

The SCCPVL610 slow cooker is the clear winner of the best crock-pot award. It is easy to operate, more contemporary and convenient than previous types, and quite reliable.

With a six-quart capacity, this slow cooker is ideal for family dinners. Although it does take up some counter space when set up, the quantity of food you can put within is well worth it.

You may quickly customize the cooking parameters to meet your own requirements. To begin, adjust the temperature to high or low depending on the slow cooking recipe you’re using. After it’s finished, push the remain warm button to keep your meal warm.

Another amazing feature of this slow cooker is that you can set how long it will operate for. Set a timer for 30 minutes to 20 hours and relax while your meal cooks. This manner, you may begin cooking your meals ahead of time and walk away from the slow cooker without fear of your food burning. When the timer expires, the stay warm function is instantly enabled.

Is it necessary to complete your dish in the oven? If so, you’re in luck with this model. The cooking bowl insert may be securely placed in an oven heated to 400°F. Don’t worry, it won’t melt or leak chemicals into your meal.

Also, the glass lid securely closes. This is a fantastic feature to have whether you’re taking your slow cooker to a potluck, family meal, or a social function. Prepare your lunch at home, then shut the slow cooker and depart without spilling anything!

The oval insert is dishwasher-safe and detachable, making cleanup a breeze.

The Positive:

• The ideal size for families.
• With an integrated timer, it is simple to use and program.
• The locking lid secures the container and prevents spills.

The Drawback:

• Temperature settings may sometimes be uneven.

 

2) Crockpot 4.5-Quart Round Slow Cooker: Best Budget Pick

Don’t worry if you can’t afford to spend hundreds of dollars on one of these slow cookers. The Crockpot 4.5-quart circular slow cooker is inexpensive, dependable, portable, and simple to use.

This 4.5-quart manual slow cooker has just enough capacity to feed a family of four. It is also compact, making it ideal for tiny kitchens.

Although there is no sophisticated control panel, this crockpot is quite simple to operate. Just crank the knob to the appropriate level to alter the heat intensity. Select between low, medium, or high temperatures, or use the keep-warm option.

That’s about all you can do with this slow cooker. So don’t be disheartened. It’s more than enough for a variety of slow cooker dishes, including mac & cheese, chili, robust soups, and much more.

Finally, the charming hexagon-style and black accent handles stick out and go nicely in any kitchen.

The Positive:

• Large enough for a modest family yet nonetheless compact
• Has an excellent internet reputation
• Easy to use and clean
• Affordably priced and of high quality

The Drawback:

• Not as adaptable as other models
• The glass cover will not stay in place.

 

3) Calphalon Digital Slow Cooker: Best Premium Pick

The Calphalon Digital Programmable Slow Cooker is on the more costly end of the range. It is multifunctional as well as easy to use. Its elegant simple style makes it an even more appealing alternative. That is well worth the money.

With this device, you’ll receive some of the most tender and evenly seared steak pieces you’ve ever eaten. This is because the pot is composed of ceramic (rather than stainless steel), which distributes heat more evenly throughout the slow cooking procedure.

Its 5.3-quart volume makes it suitable for vacation and everyday meals for a family of six. Moreover, since it is programmed, you may set it to cook and leave it to do something else around the home. Calphalon slow cookers automatically switch to the keep-warm option when the cooking time is up, preventing your food from burning or becoming cold.

The easy-to-read LED display is another fantastic feature. The control panel allows you to change the settings of the crockpot without having to fiddle with too many buttons.

Surprisingly, you may use this pot with electric, gas, or induction heat sources. You may even bake it to get a nice finish. It is one of the few crock-pot cook sets with this feature.

The Positive:

• Excellent for preparing huge meals.
• Constant 5-star ratings on retail websites
• The ceramic cooking surface evenly distributes heat.
• Simple to clean and program

The Drawback:

• Some families’ budgets may be slightly exceeded.
• The pot’s lid does not lock.

 

4) COMFEE’ 6-Quart Multi-Cooker Pot: Best Slow Cooker for Small Kitchens

If you need to prepare big dishes but don’t have a lot of counter space, the COMTEE programmable slow cooker is ideal. Its tiny design helps it fit in the tightest cabinet while yet letting you to prepare wonderful meals for a family.

You won’t need another huge kitchen equipment for a long time with its twelve digital multi-cooker programs. That is another reason why it is ideal for small living areas. On top of slow cooking, this one cooks rice, pasta, soup, stews, sautes, steams, and produces yogurt. The sole drawback is that it does not function as a pressure cooker.

A family of five or six will appreciate the 5.2-quart (or 20-cup) capacity. Because of its tiny form, this model takes up less counter space than others. Moreover, the keep-warm option maintains your food at serving temperature for hours, ensuring that everyone has a great dinner no matter when they sit down to eat.

There are other helpful features as well, such as the cool-touch handles. Moreover, all sections that are likely to get filthy are dishwasher-safe.

The Positive:

• The pot has twelve different built-in cooking modes.
• Ideal for families and small kitchens.
• The locking lid and cold-touch grips provide security.
• Simple to clean
• Affordable

The Drawback:

• It does not include a high-pressure setting.

 

5) Crock-Pot Oval Manual Slow Cooker in Silver

This slow cooker is one of the most capacious versions available. It is ideal for preparing meals for big groups. It also has a very fair and economical price tag.

You can simply and swiftly meal prep for the week with this 8-quart manual slow cooker. For a rare occasion, you can even fit a whole 6-pound roast for slow cooking.

The interior is made of stainless steel. This allows your appliance to heat up quicker and makes cleaning simpler. Both the bowl insert and the lid are dishwasher safe.

This gadget does not provide you as much control as a programmed slow cooker would. But, this also makes it simple to set up, even if you’re not a techie. Turn the black plastic knob to the desired heat setting and set a timer with the recipe’s cooking time on the side. It’s really that easy.

The Positive:

• Extremely large and roomy, ideal for vacation dinners
• Simple to clean and use

The Drawback:

• The bowl insert cannot be removed since there are no handles.
• There is no indication light to indicate whether the appliance is turned on or off.
• When touching the exterior of the pot, be caution since it will be quite hot.

 

6) KitchenAid KSC6223SS 6-Quart Slow Cooker

KitchenAid is known for producing high-quality slow cookers. They have exceeded our expectations with this slow cooker model.

Families will like the 6-quart capacity. You may make a beautiful meal of delicate beef stew and have leftovers for the next day.

There are four temperature settings on this model: low, medium, high heat, and stay warm. As a result, you have much more control over the outcome of your home-cooked dinner.

The programmability of this circular slow cooker is another another appealing feature. You may choose a time period of up to twenty-four hours. This way, you may start preparing your dinner the night before and have it ready when you come home from work.

The Positive:

• It is simple to use due to its simplistic design.
• The dishwasher is safe for the ceramic bowl.
• You may select a timer ranging from 30 minutes to 24 hours.
• The four temperature settings allow you to fine-tune your recipes.

The Drawback:

• The glass cover will not stay in place.
• Even when set to high, the temperature may be too low for certain recipes.

 

7) Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Set ‘n Forget Programmable Cooker: Runner Up

The Set n Forget Programmable model is the last Hamilton Beach device on our list. It works wonderfully and has received constantly extremely favorable internet consumer feedback. It’s no surprise that this brand has such a solid reputation!

Our favorite feature of this item is how hands-free it is. As the name implies, you may just switch it on and leave it alone! This is due to the ease of use of the controls and the pot’s built-in safety measures.

Assume you want to create a roast that will take six hours to cook, but you won’t be able to do it for the following eight hours. Continue with your normal recipe, then switch on the program feature, pick the heating setting, and set the timer for six hours. After the timer expires, the pot will automatically switch to the keep warm mode, keeping your meal warm (but not overdone!).

Finally, the temperature probe is a really useful tool. While cooking meat, it allows you to get the desired degree of doneness without overcooking it.

The Positive:

• This device is simple, straightforward to operate, and completely hands-off.
• The locking lead keeps spills at bay.
• You may continue to cook on the manual option and manage the heat.
• A temperature probe makes it easier to prepare foods.

The Drawback:

• The oval shape may take up too much counter space.

 

8) Crock-Pot 2097588 Express Easy Release 10-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker: Most Versatile Pick

The Crock-Pot 2097588 is the last slow cooker on our list. It’s one of the greatest slow cookers on the market, and it’s reasonably priced for how powerful, large, and dependable it is.

First and foremost, the control panel displays the vast array of cooking choices available to you. In addition to slow cooking, this multi-cooker can sauté, simmer, boil, make yogurt, cook rice, steam vegetables, and even function as a pressure cooker.

The locking cover secures the pot and prevents spills. That also implies that if you don’t want to simply experiment with slow cooker settings, it might speed up the cooking time.

By pushing the simple release button during the pressure cooking process, you may release the built-up steam. This will cause steam to escape from the valve on the opposite side of the pot, keeping your hands safe.

In addition, before you begin cooking, you may manually set the temperature, heat setting, and timer.

The Positive:

• It is quite spacious, making it an excellent alternative for families.
• It has several critical safety measures.
• The several cooking settings allow you flexibility while cooking.

The Drawback:

• Food may sometimes cling to the bottom of the ceramic insert.

 

How to Choose the Best Slow Cooker?: Buyer’s Guide

Have you still not discovered the finest slow cookers for your needs? Don’t be concerned. Finding the ideal device for your house can be a simple with this checklist.

 

Capacity

Many people wonder, “What is the best size slow cooker to buy?” It depends on the number of people you’re preparing for. The most common slow cooker sizes are three, four, six, and eight quarts. Keep in mind that one serving is typically one-quart in size. Hence, for a family of four, we suggest purchasing a six-quart pot to allow for seconds or leftovers.

 

Ease of Use

Several of these slow cookers are rather difficult to operate. Generally, the more features they have, the more difficult it is to get them started. If you’re not comfortable with high-tech slow cookers, a three-temperature-setting pot (low, medium, and high heat) is a suitable option.

 

Temperature Range

Every slow cooker is unique. What temperature does a slow cooker reach? What is the low setting on a slow cooker? It all depends on the creator! This information is usually found on the packaging or on the manufacturer’s website.

 

Quality of Materials

Selecting a high-quality pot begins with ensuring that the materials are likewise of high quality. The most often utilized materials are ceramic and stainless steel. Reading customer evaluations is the greatest approach to determine whether they are strong and durable. Has anybody complained about a cracked bowl insert? Or did it melt the outside of their pot?

 

Final Words: What Is the Best Slow Cooker to Buy?

The best manual crockpot is the Crock-Pot SCCPVL600S.

Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Set n Forget Programmable Cooker is the best programmable crockpot.

Crock-Pot 2097588 Express Easy Release Slow Cooker is the most flexible slow cooker.