Quizience is supported by you the audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
A good slow cooker can help you create largely hands-off meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert. The set-it-and-forget-it approach means you can simmer foods while you’re at work or overnight, and it helps keep your stovetop and oven available for other tasks. It works by cooking foods at a low and steady temperature, similar to braising in a Dutch oven, with the ability to keep foods warm after cooking.
All-Clad 7-Quart Slow Cooker with Aluminum Insert – BEST OVERALL SLOW COOKER
In our tests, this 7-quart slow cooker made a rich and tender beef stew and cooked chicken soup and pot roast to safe internal temperatures. We like that you can use this model’s removable aluminum pot for browning on the stovetop. However, we did find that, unlike other models in our test, it boiled the broth for chicken soup, which made the meat and vegetables a little overcooked.
The digital controls offer settings for slow cooking on low, high/low and high, plus a programmable 20-hour timer. The six-hour automatic “keep warm” setting will hold your dish at a safe serving temperature when cooking is complete. Both the insert and unit have riveted handles that make it easy to carry them together or separately. The insert is removable for easier cleaning and is dishwasher safe.
| Capacity | 7 qts |
|---|---|
| Settings | High/low/warm |
| Probe | No |
| Weight | 18 lbs |
| Dimensions | 18″ x 11.5″ x 10.5″ |
Black + Decker 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker – BEST VALUE SLOW COOKER
In our tests, the Black + Decker 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker nicely slow-cooked a beef roast on low and high, as well as a chicken soup on low. Beef stew had a rich, uniform broth, but the meat was a bit drier compared with other slow cookers.
This updated model offers the same standout features as previous versions — an easy-to-program control panel, large side handles and a locking lid for toting (not for cooking) — plus a sous vide function and an included temperature probe to help prevent overcooking. If you’re new to slow cooking or sous vide, the price point makes it a nice way to give it a try.
| Capacity | 7 qts |
|---|---|
| Settings | Time/Temp, Temp Probe, Sous Vide, Slow Cook (which includes high, low and keep warm) |
| Probe | Yes, plus sous vide rack |
| Weight | 17.8 lbs |
| Dimensions | 18″ x 15.25″ x 11.5″ |
Calphalon Digital Sauté Slow Cooker – BEST PROGRAMMABLE SLOW COOKER
The Calphalon Digital Sauté turned out some of the most tender beef in our Lab tests; the stew broth was rich and the vegetables held their shape. Though you cannot brown foods in the cooker itself, you can remove the nonstick insert and use it directly on the stovetop or in the oven. When we used it to brown meat on the stove, it earned top ratings for even heating.
The dial features settings for low, high and warm. And the digital display for the timer is large and easy to read, making it simple to program your cook time.
| Capacity | 5.3 qts |
|---|---|
| Settings | High/low/keep warm |
| Probe | No |
| Weight | 9.83 lbs |
| Dimensions | 17.78″ x 14.37″ x 23.19″ |
Cuisinart 6-Quart High Pressure Multicooker – BEST MULTI-COOKER FOR SLOW COOKING
Cuisinart’s multicooker earned high marks for its slow cooking function on our list of best pressure cookers: It made a more tender beef stew than the other multicookers in our Lab test. It offers 12 preprogrammed settings, but we found the large and well-lit LCD screen kept the menus easy to navigate. We like that you can remove the sealing gasket for deeper cleaning to help remove lingering odors; it’s dishwasher safe as well.
We also liked that — if you are using the pressure cooking function — progress bars show you the stages of coming to full pressure; after cooking, the bars will reverse so you can track when it’s time to release pressure. The lid has a unique twisting design that gives a visual indicator of whether the lid is properly aligned for sealing. But it is attached via a hinge, so you’ll need sufficient clearance above the machine to use it.
| Capacity | 6 qt |
|---|---|
| Settings | Time, Steam Release, Temp/Pressure (which includes low/high/high+ and presets for Meat, Stew/Chili, Soup, Stock, Beans, Rice/Grains, Risotto, Slow Cook, Custom, Steam, Reduce and Sauté/Brown) |
| Probe | No |
| Weight | Not provided |
| Dimensions | 13.7″ x 14.9″ x 13.5″ |
Instant Pot Electric Precision Dutch Oven – BEST SLOW COOKER FOR BROWNING
Instant Brands — maker of the Instant Pot, our best overall pressure cooker — has rethought the slow cooker. The Instant Electric Precision Dutch Oven uses an enamel cast iron Dutch oven as the cooking vessel. The company states that, when paired with the electric base, the pot delivers five functions: braise, slow cook, sear/sauté, manual and food warmer.
We were very impressed with the browning capabilities when making beef stew in our tests. Searing right in the pot is a time-saver, and it helps you capture more flavor for the resulting dish. That additional flavor helped the overall stew, because while the meat was tender, we did note that the liquid didn’t reduce (and therefore concentrate in flavor) very much. Though we tested the Dutch oven only in the base, Instant does say that you can also use it on the stovetop and in the oven. And the classic look makes it easy to bring to the table for serving.
| Capacity | 6 qts |
|---|---|
| Settings | Braise, Sear/Sauté, Slow Cook (lets you adjust time), Manual (lets you set time and temperature in low range [77˚F to 203˚F and high range [212˚F to 400˚F]) |
| Probe | No |
| Weight | 21 lbs |
| Dimensions | 14″ x 13″ x 10″ |