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Slow cookers have become increasingly popular, as healthy eating has become central to the new American lifestyle. If you want to eat foods that are fall-off-the-bone good, you will definitely want the best slow cooker on the market.
You can choose from an Instant Pot, a Crock-Pot – or one of many other brands. Since there are a lot of low-quality products out there, we aggregated millions of actual customer reviews, and then tested the top models.
Unlike in the past, slow cookers nowadays can perform many different functions – they’re no longer limited to just slowly cooking your food. So without further ado, here are our top picks, for the best slow cooker on the market today.
Our Top Pick
Instant Pot Duo
The Instant Pot has taken over not just the slow cooker market, but the pressure cooking market as well. These versatile machines can handle 7 completely different functions, and yet are still very affordable.
If you need to slow cook, pressure cook, make yogurt, rice – or practically any other food you can think of – an Instant Pot is a great choice. Backed by hundreds of thousands of five-star customer reviews, this is easily our top choice.
Other Great Picks
Ninja Foodi 9-In-1
Ninja isn’t just well-regarded for its innovative blenders – they make amazing slow cookers. This 9-in-1 machine is even more versatile than the Instant Pot – and did extremely well throughout all of our testing.
You can also use this machine not just as a slow cooker – but as a pressure cooker, air fryer, and much more. With tens of thousands of glowing customer reviews, we highly recommend this unique machine.
Hamilton Beach Portable Slow Cooker
Hamilton Beach makes some of our favorite kitchen blenders (not to mention other appliances), but this slow cooker really takes the cake. Coming in at a budget price point, and with flawless performance – we were definitely impressed with this model.
We tested this one by cooking some tasty barbecue ribs, as well as making some fondue – but any food will cook flawlessly in this machine. If you want a dedicated slow cooker, with a budget-level price point – this is a wonderful choice. Highly recommended.
Crock-Pot Smart-Pot
Crock-Pot is an innovator in the field of slow cooking, and this Smart-Pot will easily cook any dish you can dream up. We particularly loved the automatic heat setting, which made it even easier to slow cook some tender chicken.
Another excellent budget choice, the Smart-Pot is one of the lowest priced models on our entire list. With a myriad of five-star customer reviews, it’s well-loved, and will be sure to warm up your kitchen.
Cuisinart Slow Cooker
Cuisinart is one of the more famous kitchen brands out there, and this slow cooker shows exactly why. It’s very affordable, yet can still cook up any type of food imaginable.
Throughout our testing, every dish came out perfectly cooked – which is certainly not always the case with some slow cooker models. We made ribs, chicken – and even tested some desserts. With thousands of great customer reviews, we highly recommend this flawless machine.
Calphalon Digital Sauté Slow Cooker
This unique slow cooker lets you sear, sauté, and brown foods – not just cook them slowly. The plethora of customer reviews are unanimously positive, and we ran into no issues with this model, throughout our extensive testing.
You can sauté onions, cook beans, and flawlessly cook any other dish you can dream up. Calphalon is well-known for making high-quality kitchen appliances, and this machine is another great addition to their catalog. Definitely recommended.
Elite Gourmet Stainless Steel Slow Cooker
This stainless steel slow cooker is extremely affordable, yet still offers top of the line performance. We made a roast with this machine, and were very happy with the results.
We also cooked up a batch of potatoes, as well as multiple types of vegetables. Backed by a myriad of flawless customer ratings and reviews, this is another slow cooker model we definitely recommend.
De’Longhi Livenza 7-In-1
De’Longhi is known for their high-end kitchen appliances, and this 7-in-1 cooker is another addition to their upscale catalog. While it is not the cheapest option on our list, if you care about high-quality parts and performance – this is definitely the right choice for you.
We tested this model by slow cooking a pot roast, but this appliance also has 6 other functions besides slow cooking. You can brown and sauté foods, while still easily being able to slow cook any food you want. If you want a high-end option, this is definitely the right slow cooker for you.
Presto 6013 Slow Cooker
We were surprised that this slow cooker from Presto became one of our favorite choices. While it certainly looks good from the outside, the amazing performance of this machine is what really blew us away.
We also loved that you could smoke foods (with cold smoke and hot smoke options), and the taste of each food was just off the charts. If you love southern barbecue, or any foods with great smoked texture – we highly recommend this machine.
Cuisinart Cook Central
This deluxe 4-in-1 slow cooker can also roast, steam – and even sauté. With just one touch of a button, you can switch cooking modes – even while in the middle of the process.
Backed by tons of five-star ratings from customers, it offers everything you could want from a slow cooker. While it’s certainly not a budget option, if you want a machine that performs absolutely flawlessly, and lasts forever – this is a great pick.
What Is A Slow Cooker?
A slow cooker is an excellent kitchen appliance that allows you to cook meats, beans, grains, and plenty of other foods – all without needing to watch it happen. It cooks food at a low temperature – but maintains that temperature for a large number of hours.
The downside to using slow cookers is that they certainly won’t quickly cook your food. However, nearly every other aspect of the cooking process is improved by using a slow cooker.
Chicken will literally be so moist and tender that it practically falls apart in your mouth. Barbecue ribs will be some of the best you’ve ever had, if you properly prepare them in a slow cooker.
At its core, a slow cooker is simple – it uses heating elements to cook your food – typically inside of a porcelain or stainless steel pot. Since the cooker is closed, the heat is maintained – allowing for a steady cooking temperature for as long as the device is plugged in to a power source.
All you need is just a little bit of liquid, and to turn on the device – and a slow cooker will do the rest. It should be noted that many foods will produce liquid during the cooking process – such as chicken.
Therefore, you will need less water added to recipes that involve cooking chicken in a slow cooker. You can prepare a pot roast, carrots, celery, beef stew – and so much more – all while going about your day, and doing something else entirely.
How To Use A Slow Cooker
Using a slow cooker is extremely easy. In fact, since most of our staff is extremely lazy (no judgment!) – the ease of use of the slow cooker is one of our favorite parts of cooking with it.
Start by plugging in the device, and making sure there is plenty of free space available on your counter. Next, look up the cook time for whatever food you are preparing.
Next, pour just 1 cup of water into the bottom of the slow cooker, which will allow for a smooth cooking process. Lastly, add your prepared food, and then close the lid.
After setting the cooking time – you’re done! You just walk away, and come back when the cooking is complete.
For those of us who love to meal prep for the week, the slow cooker is a great time-saver. It also helps you save lots of money, as you can buy chicken (or other meat) in bulk, and have it all cooked for you – without any hassle whatsoever.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Food In The Best Slow Cooker?
The only downside of using a slow cooker? As the name implies, it’s definitely not a fast cooking process.
Most foods will be fully cooked in 5 hours – though there is one interesting caveat here. The longer you cook a food in a slow cooker, the better it often tastes.
For example, chicken becomes more tender and juicy. Ribs become more succulent, and pot roast seems to have more flavor.
We did many tests with the best slow cookers, and without fail – the longer we cooked foods, the better they tasted. Of course, it’s not always feasible to cook chicken for 10 hours, so you may not always want to use a slow cooker for your cooking needs.
Can I Cook Raw Meat In A Slow Cooker?
Yes, you can definitely cook raw meat in a slow cooker. Of course, always be sure to follow all safety precautions when handling raw meat.
The trick is also to make sure you have water in the bottom of the slow cooker, before cooking any raw meat. Otherwise, your meat could stick, and even burn in the bottom of your pot.
A good rule of thumb is to always have at least 1 cup of water at the bottom of your slow cooker before starting any cooking. Some foods may call for a little bit more than this, and some will require slightly less – but 1 cup is always a safe starting point.
How We Chose The Best Slow Cookers
Besides the many taste tests we engaged in (what fun!) – we also used many other ranking factors, to decide what the best slow cookers would be. To start with, we aggregated millions of actual customer reviews.
This gave us a good overview of what the best slow cookers might be, and allowed us to narrow down our selection for further comprehensive testing. Once we had the best machines to test, we cooked as many different foods as possible with each model – with the goal of obtaining a complete understanding of what each device could really do.
We then factored in price, durability, and the manufacturer’s history and reputation. This comprehensive testing protocol (as well as thorough processing of publicly available data) – allows us to pass on to you the best slow cooker recommendations possible.
Buying Factors To Look For In A Slow Cooker
There are a number of great slow cookers out there – but you still want to consider multiple buying factors, before making a purchase. You should consider what size slow cooker you need – will you be making large amounts of food regularly, or will you be okay with using a smaller pot?
Next, while less of a concern, you should consider any special features you might want – such as other cooking methods (like sautéing), programmable devices, and even specially heated lids. The Instant Pot is very well-known for all of its many special features – after all, the Instant Pot is actually a pressure cooker, in addition to being a slow cooker.
You should also look at the price of the device – though this is a less of a concern these days. The market for slow cookers has become so competitive, that almost every appliance is affordable and well-equipped.
Do I Put Water In A Slow Cooker?
Yes, you will always want to make sure there is at least 1 cup of water at the bottom of your slow cooker, before getting started. This stops the food from sticking, as well as ensuring a moist cooking environment.
Some recipes may require more water, while other recipes may require slightly less. While you should always check your individual recipes for the final call, we recommend erring on the side of more water, as this will protect you better from any sticking (or burning).
Can You Put Frozen Food in a Slow Cooker?
Yes, as long as you are aware of a few facts. Firstly, it takes quite a while for the internal temperature of frozen food to reach a safe level.
What this means for you, is that you should let frozen foods cook for a long time in a slow cooker, to ensure that all bacteria will be eliminated. This generally isn’t an issue, as no one uses a slow cooker for fast results.
What Foods Can You Cook In Slow Cookers?
Pretty much every food can be made in a slow cooker – and the results are almost always better. We personally love to use slow cookers to make pot roasts, barbecue ribs – and chicken that becomes far more succulent than ever possible, using other cooking methods.
What’s The Difference Between A Slow Cooker And A Crockpot?
This one is easy. A Crock-Pot is just a brand of slow cooker – meaning that there are many other brands of slow cookers out there, as well.
This also means that Crock-Pots have gotten such good recognition from consumers, that they are almost synonymous with the process of slow cooking itself. Lately though, the Instant Pot has become even more popular with consumers, over the last few years.
How Do I Wash A Slow Cooker?
Washing a slow cooker is fairly easy, but it does take a little while. Start by soaking the pot with soapy water – this will start to help remove any food that may have become stuck to your pot.
Let this soak for about 10 minutes, and then start working away on any food that became stuck to the sides (or bottom) of the pot. Once this is done, give the pot one more rinse – and you’ll be finished with the entire cleaning process.
The Best Slow Cooker Tricks And Tips
There are a number of easy tricks and tips that will help ease the unique cooking process that comes with utilizing a slow cooker. Here are some of our favorites.
- Don’t open the lid! This will add about 30 minutes of cooking time, every time you open the lid during the cooking process.
- Be sure to check the internal temperature of your food before serving. While uncommon, on a rare occasion your food may not be cooked all the way through – which can cause you to possibly become ill.
- If you have a thin finished recipe, you can add flour (or even cornstarch) – this will result in a thicker soup or stew.
- If you want a browned exterior – simply sear your meats first, in a normal pan.
- Generally, very expensive cuts of meat aren’t worth cooking in a slow cooker – they tend to break apart, leaving you with a less-than-optimal finished dish.
- Put your herbs and spices in the water of the slow cooker – this will give you a better flavor profile.
- Longer cook times generally result in more flavorful food.
- Bigger pieces of vegetables generally work better in slow cookers – since they are less likely to break apart into tiny shreds.
The Best Slow Cooker
There you have it – our top picks for the best slow cooker. These unique machines are no longer limited to just slowly cooking your food – most models come with many additional functions.
Testing them was a breeze, as we made pot roasts, chicken, barbecue ribs – and even desserts. No matter what type of food you want to cook – the best slow cookers will be able to do it.
Your kitchen truly isn’t complete without a slow cooker, and one of our favorite weekend pastimes is to let some juicy food simmer all day – and have it be ready just in time for a decadent dinner. And if you liked our list on the best slow cookers, be sure to check out some of our other comprehensive product reviews.