Top 13 Slow Cooker for Flavorful, Hassle-Free Meals

Best Overall Slow Cooker

Pros

• Reasonable price
• Smart technology
• Automatic temperature control with included probe
• Clip-tight gasket lid
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Pot is not stovetop-safe
• Probe can be hard to insert accurately

Price at Amazon: $69.99

Capacity: 6-Quart

One major issue with slow cooking is the risk of overcooking your food. The Hamilton Beach Set & Forget slow cooker tackles this problem with a thermometer probe. You can set it to switch to the warm setting when your meat reaches the desired temperature. Simply insert the probe into the meat, and the temperature shows on the outside of the slow cooker.

Runner up Slow Cooker

Pros

• 7-quart size is sufficient for feeding an extended family
• Smooth aluminum insert is easy to clean and dishwasher-safe
• LCD digital screen
• Easy-to-grip handles

Cons

• Liquid may boil rather than simmer
• Insert shouldn’t be used in an oven

Price at Amazon: $279.99

Price at Sur La Table: $279.95

Capacity: 7-Quart

This 7-quart slow cooker is perfect for creating flavorful and tender dishes like beef stew, chicken soup, and pot roast, all cooked to safe internal temperatures. The removable aluminum pot allows you to easily brown ingredients on the stovetop. With digital controls, you can choose from settings like low, high/low, and high, and it even comes with a convenient programmable 20-hour timer for added flexibility.

Best Splurge Slow Cooker

Pros

• Large capacity
• Built-in temperature probe
• 6 cooking modes
• Programmable controls
• Intuitive LCD panel

Cons

• Expensive
• Complicated controls

Price at Amazon: $606

Price at Williams Sonoma: $699.95

Capacity: 7-Quart

The Wolf Gourmet Multi-Function Cooker offers six user-friendly modes, including meal timer, slow cook, and saute/sear, making it versatile for a variety of recipes. Its removable stainless steel cookware insert is compatible with gas, electric, or induction cooktops, enhancing its flexibility.

Additionally, the built-in temperature probe allows you to monitor the internal temperature of your foods, adding a convenient feature to this cooker.

Best Large Capacity Slow Cooker

Pros

• Large capacity
• Consistent heating
• Affordable
• Classic, sturdy, and easy to use
• Digital timer
• Removable, dishwasher-safe lid and stoneware pot
• Recipes included
• Durable

Cons

• Bulky and heavy
• A brief power outage or blinking will clear previous settings, requiring a reset

Price at Amazon: $63.74

Capacity: 8-Quart

This Crock-Pot could be the large-capacity slow cooker of our dreams, especially for those who entertain or have big families. It can comfortably feed 6–10 people. Keep in mind that its generous size means it requires ample storage space and maybe a bit challenging to clean on your own.

It's not the best choice for smaller living spaces. However, the handles make it easy to carry, and the short cord simplifies storage and transportation.

Best Programmable Slow Cooker

Pros

• Cooking insert is oven and cooktop safe
• Lightweight
• Durable
• Ceramic cooking surface
• Digital programmable controls

Cons

• Slightly pricier than some comparable small-capacity pots

Price at Amazon: $160.24

Capacity: 5.3-Quart

Not everyone requires a large-capacity slow cooker, and the Calphalon Digital Sauts Slow Cooker is a great fit for those situations. Its compact size makes it ideal for small apartments and crowded countertops. Despite its small footprint, no aspect of this cooker, whether in design or functionality, has been overlooked.

The nonstick interior pot can be used directly on the stovetop for browning veggies and meats. Additionally, it provides enough space for a modest pot roast with leftovers and ensures even and efficient heating.

Best Multi-Cooker

Pros

• Extra-large blue backlit LCD display
• Glass lid with a cool-touch handle
• Dishwasher-safe
• Steaming rack included
• Allows temperature control throughout the cooking process

Cons

• The ample cooking space results in a larger footprint, and it's somewhat heavy

Price at Amazon: $159.95

Capacity: 6-Quart

The Cuisinart Cook Central is crafted for a seamless user experience with each use. Its spacious interior surface simplifies the browning of proteins or stirring saucy and soupy dishes without creating a mess. The lid fits securely and remains in place throughout the cooking process, although it's important to mention that the lid doesn't lock.

The timer is thoughtfully designed for cooks, allowing you to program it up to 24 hours in advance on high or low heat. After cooking is finished, it automatically switches to the warm setting, enhancing convenience.

Best Slow Cooker For Buffet

Pros

• Ceramic material
• Budget-friendly
• Offers separate temperature controls for each pot
• Stoneware pots and lids are dishwasher-safe

Cons

• Individual pots are small
• Bulky

Price at Amazon: $64.77

Capacity: 2.5 quarts per pot; 7.5 quarts total

This simple appliance allows you to play the role of your own caterer. Essentially, it combines three small and basic slow cookers into one, offering the functionality of a single large and basic slow cooker but at a more cost-effective price. Each of the 2.5-quart pots comes with its own separate controls, enabling you to boil, simmer, and keep warm three different dishes simultaneously.

Best Nonstick Slow Cooker

Pros

• Includes a steam function and steaming rack
• Easy-to-clean ceramic nonstick pot
• After cooking, it automatically switches to Keep Warm for up to 8 hours
• Inner pot and lid are dishwasher safe

Cons

• Not the strongest browning

Price at Williams Sonoma: $249.95

Capacity: 6-Quart

GreenPan is a top choice for the best ceramic nonstick pan, and their pot features the same excellent nonstick coating found in the company's cookware. It's easy to hand wash and is also dishwasher safe, though handwashing is recommended for nonstick cookware longevity. The pot includes handles on the base and silicone-covered handles on the pot itself, ensuring a cool grip when transporting.

Best Small Capacity Slow Cooker

Pros

• Perfect for cooking for two
• Convenient for carrying
• Dishwasher-safe stoneware and glass lid
• stainless steel exterior with black accents and plastic handles

Cons

• Minimal features

Price at Amazon: $37.95

Capacity: 3-Quart

The Crock-Pot 3-Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker is ideal for bringing warm queso to a tailgate or preparing a small beef stew for two. Cleanup is a breeze as the insert is dishwasher-safe. The exterior handles make it easy to transport, and it offers both HIGH and LOW cook settings for versatility.

Best Budget Slow Cooker

Pros

• Lightweight interior pot
• Affordable
• Ceramic pot is oven- and stovetop-safe
• Programmable up to 10 hours

Cons

• Large footprint
• Basic functions only
• Lid doesn't fit firmly

Price at Amazon: $49.99

Capacity: 6-Quart

GreenLife's traditional slow cooker may not have many extra features, but it excels at slow-cooking and comes at a very budget-friendly price. The control options are straightforward, offering three temperature settings and a timer controlled by a basic LCD screen, and everything functions as expected.

The overall design is both smart and clean, ensuring you don't have to compromise functionality or style to save money. The GreenLife Duo is available in classic black and white, turquoise, and light pink.

Best Slow Cooker For Cooking From Frozen

Pros

• Digital interface is easy to program
• Temperature probe included
• Safely cooks from frozen with a specific setting
• Flexible time and temperature options
• Clip-tight lid for mess-free travel

Cons

• Accuracy in using the probe can be challenging
• Careful programming is required for the frozen setting

Price at Amazon: $69.53

Capacity: 6-Quart

The Hamilton Beach slow cooker addresses one of the significant challenges in slow cooking: the inability to cook from frozen. This slow cooker enhances the "set it and forget it" convenience, allowing you to cook your protein directly from the freezer. There's no need to plan ahead or wait overnight for things to defrost, maximizing ease and efficiency.

Best Slow Cooker For Browning

Pros

• Achieves excellent browning in test results
• Pot is also stovetop and oven safe
• 5-in-1 functionality: slow cooking, sear or saute, cooking pan, braise, and warmer
• Cooks up to 6 servings of food
• Includes the free Instant Brands Connect App

Cons

• Liquids may not reduce as much as in an oven

Price at Amazon: $149.89

Price at Walmart: $185.50

Capacity: 6-Quart

The Instant Electric Precision Dutch Oven utilizes an enamel cast iron Dutch oven as its cooking vessel, offering impressive browning capabilities. The ability to sear directly in the pot is a time-saver and enhances the flavor of the final dish. Instant emphasizes that you can also use it on the stovetop and in the oven. With its classic look, it's easy to bring to the table for serving, combining functionality with a stylish presentation.

Best Slow Cooker For Entertaining

Pros

• Cook in the 6-quart crock or two 2.5-quart nonstick inserts
• Durable design
• Dishwasher-safe and easy-to-clean
• Crock can also be used in the oven or microwave

Cons

• Lacks a built-in timer

Price at Amazon: $64.99

Capacity: One 6-qt crock; two 2.5-qt inserts

Give your buffet table a boost with this Proctor Silex model. This slow cooker allows you to prepare one dish in the 6-quart ceramic crock or two dishes in the dual 2.5-quart nonstick inserts. The simple interface, featuring a dial to choose between high, low, or keep warm settings, is easy to use. However, it's important to note that there is no built-in timer for tracking cook times.