Reviews You Can Rely On

Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6-Quart Review

A strong performer with an accessible price point and the convenient option to cook and carry
gearlab tested logo
Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6-Quart Review (Easy-to-use controls with a dial that gives you more options make this slow cooker a real gem.)
Easy-to-use controls with a dial that gives you more options make this slow cooker a real gem.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $75 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Hamilton Beach
By Genaveve Bradshaw and Ruth Bruckbauer  ⋅  May 15, 2023
80
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 10
  • User Friendliness - 35.0% 8.0
  • Cooking Performance - 30.0% 9.0
  • Cooking Features - 25.0% 8.0
  • Ease of Cleaning - 10.0% 5.0

Our Verdict

A very reasonable price point and outstanding features make the Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6-Quart one of our top value-minded recommendations. Perfect for those gone-all-day meals, this classic cooker is solid and dependable, good for cooking anything. The temperature probe is an added feature for those meat lovers among us, and we found that no matter which meat we cooked, it always came out tender and juicy. We also like the locking lid for carrying this cooker to gatherings. The only downsides we found are that the handles rattle while the unit is cooking, and the stoneware insert is rather heavy. Our review of the best slow cookers shows how it stacks up versus competing products.
REASONS TO BUY
Temperature probe
Locking lid
Excellent cooking performance
REASONS TO AVOID
Handles rattle
Heavy

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Best Buy Award
High Value Cooking Performance
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Slow cooker
Top Pick Award
Most Versatile Slow Cooker
Best Buy Award
Best on a Tight Budget
 
Price $75 List
$74.99 at Amazon
$150 List
$129.96 at Amazon
$100 List
$99.95 at Amazon
$70 List
$69.99 at Amazon
$40 List
$16.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
80
90
87
69
58
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line Convenient and dependable, this slow-cooker can be left all day on the counter or easily taken with youWith eight easy-to-use cooking functions , this is the most versatile slow cooker we testedThe features and options in this reasonably priced pot make it much more than a slow cookerThis simple, easy-to-use classic Crock-Pot has all the performance and capacity you wantAn OK pot if you're only cooking for yourself, but when cooking for multiple people, it misses the mark
Rating Categories Hamilton Beach Temp... Ninja Foodi Possibl... Instant Pot Duo Crock-Pot 6-Quart C... Crock-Pot 2-Quart
User Friendliness (35.0%)
8.0
9.5
9.0
8.0
5.0
Cooking Performance (30.0%)
9.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Cooking Features (25.0%)
8.0
9.5
10.0
6.0
4.0
Ease of Cleaning (10.0%)
5.0
9.0
6.0
5.0
9.0
Specs Hamilton Beach Temp... Ninja Foodi Possibl... Instant Pot Duo Crock-Pot 6-Quart C... Crock-Pot 2-Quart
Pot Material Stoneware Nonstick Aluminum Stainness Steel Stoneware Stoneware
Measured Weight N/A 5.0 Ibs 1.8 Ibs

(pot only, lid not applicable)
N/A 3.1Ibs
Capacity 6 qt 8.5 qt 6 qt 6 qt 2 qt
Programmable? Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Measured Temperature on High N/A 199 F 203.9 F N/A 188.4 F
Measured Temperature on Low N/A 161.3 F 200.8 F N/A 152.9 F
Locking Lid? Yes No No Yes No
Lid with Gasket? Yes No No Yes No
Steam Release Valve or Holes in Lid? Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Features -Probe Functions: four probe locations, probe storage area, set and maintain temp for up to 24 hours, Keep Warm or Hold Temp feature (adjustable setting) for after cooking timer goes off

-Digital screen to display selected settings, temp from probe, or timer count-down.

-Beeps to indicate on / off / finish.

-Includes steamer rack
-Functions: Slow Cook, Sear/Sauté, Steam, Keep Warm, Sous Vide, Braise, Bake, and Proof.

-Removable cooking pot can be used on the stovetop or in oven.

-Pot can be used to bake in the oven up to 500 degrees

-Includes integrated detachable spoon-lade and recipe guide

-Digital screen to display selected settings and timer count-down

-beeps to indicate end of timed cycle
-Functions: Pressure Cook, Slow Cook, Rice, Yogurt, Saute, Steam, Food Warm, and 14 customizable Smart Programs

-Pot can be used to sauté on stove top or Instant Pot base

-10 safety features like a locking lid and overheat protection

-Includes stainless-steel steamer rack

-Beeps to indicate on / off / finish.
-Programmable time (30 min increments)

-Temp Settings (high, low, auto warm)

-Pot can be used in oven up to 400 degrees
-Temp Settings (high, low, warm)

-Pot can be used in oven up to 400 degrees

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Temp Tracker is an easily programmable unit with a helpful digital screen showing your selected features. The cooker will automatically switch to warm when the desired cooking time has elapsed, and the temperature probe is an excellent added feature if you like to make roasts, low-and-slow pulled pork, or other meats. The probe assures that the meat is at the proper temperature and eliminates overcooking that results in tough and dried-out food. Best of all, this slow cooker comes with a price point that is very reasonable.

Performance Comparison


hamilton beach temp tracker 6-quart - the temperature probe for this low-and-slow cooker helps cook meats...
The temperature probe for this low-and-slow cooker helps cook meats to be especially tender.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

User Friendliness


Any kitchen electronic that is confusing or difficult just won't get used, but the Temp Tracker excels in how easy it is to set up and get cooking. Its digital screen has straightforward buttons, and there is a dial on the left side of the screen that allows you to scroll through different options. This cooker is perfect for those busy mornings when you only have time to dump in the ingredients, set the temp and time, and head out the door. If you do get stumped, the user manual is in-depth and useful, with a chart for temperatures and probe placement as well as tips for slow cooking and troubleshooting.


One of the best features of the Temp Tracker is its consistently outstanding cooking performance. No matter what we were making, this cooker gave us tender, fully-cooked stews, meats, beans, and rice. It has a medium setting (not all cookers do), and the stoneware insert isn't excessively heavy. Above all, we appreciate the consistency of the Temp Tracker. Knowing that everything you put in a slow cooker will be cooked through and ready when needed is a great feeling.

hamilton beach temp tracker 6-quart - easy to use and very affordable, this slow cooker has many, many...
Easy to use and very affordable, this slow cooker has many, many excellent features.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Cooking Performance


One of the things that people love about slow cookers is that you can dump in all the ingredients in the morning and come home to a flavorful dinner that is ready for you and the family in the evening. We cooked a number of meals: roast with veggies, beans and rice, and straight vegetables, and the Temp Tracker 6-Quart gave us consistently delicious and well-cooked food.


Each of the above meals has tricky components — you want your meat to be tender and juicy but don't want the veggies to be mushy. That's why we use certain ingredients that require varying cooking times and temperatures. For instance, in the roast and vegetable meal test, the Temp Tracker cooker was masterful. The meat was tender and juicy, the potatoes were fully cooked without being too soft, the carrots were fully cooked without being too soft or mushy, and everything retained its full flavor and juiciness.

The consistency of this slow cooker made every meal we prepared an easy, but delicious, treat.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Next up was our beans and rice meal. The Temp Tracker gave us evenly cooked rice with none of the rice floating above the liquid and sticking to the sides, becoming crunchy. And the beans were just as well-cooked, with great texture and flavor. This cooker reviled other cookers that sell for much more money.

In the vegetable test, we cooked potatoes, carrots, onion, zucchini, and mushrooms with broth. No one likes hard potatoes, but neither does anyone like mushy zucchini. The Temp Tracker was able to balance everything pretty well. The potatoes were perfect, the carrots were still just a little firm but not crunchy, the onion and celery still retained their shape and flavor, and the zucchini was just a little too soft. But overall, each veggie, from potatoes to zucchini, was tasty with excellent flavor.

hamilton beach temp tracker 6-quart - fully flavorful and of a great texture, our vegetables in this slow...
Fully flavorful and of a great texture, our vegetables in this slow cooker were done evenly and well.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Cooking Features


So you have a new slow cooker, and now you have to figure out how to use it. With the Temp Tracker, you will have options that aren't overwhelming. The digital screen is clear, with large numbers that show you the temperature and the cooking time you have selected, plus there is a dial on the left that allows you to scroll through more options. Once you begin cooking, the numbers on the screen will count down, showing the amount of time left before the meal is ready. Once the time has expired, the heat selector will automatically move to warm. This cooker also allows a longer cooking time of an impressive 14-20 hours, if needed.


If you wish, you can see the exact temperature of your meat when the probe is being used, and the lid has four different probe locations, giving you many options. Additionally, there are handles on either side of the slow cooker, so you can lock the lid in place and carry it off. The lid also locks into place for transport with a gasket and clips. When the clips aren't engaged during cooking, the lid can be rattly when everything is cooking, but it's not overly loud. Be aware that the outside of the pot gets warm — not hot, but warm. Finally, there is a noise indicator when the cooking time is both starting and finishing.

The digital screen is easy to read and gives you the temperature and...
The digital screen is easy to read and gives you the temperature and the time remaining until your meal is finished. Then it automatically goes to warm.
The lid has four holes in which the temp probe can go, as well as...
The lid has four holes in which the temp probe can go, as well as steam holes. And it locks securely on for ease and safety of carrying.
The lid locks on securely for transport.
The lid locks on securely for transport.

Ease of Cleaning


Dinner is finished, and everyone is happy. Except now they all have somewhere they need to be and things that need to be done, so they can't help clean up. Sound familiar? Well, while we can't do anything about family dynamics, we can tell you that cleaning up with the Temp Tracker is pretty easy.


The oval stoneware crock and lid can both go in the dishwasher, although the crock may need to be soaked and scrubbed a bit, depending on what was prepared. But still, even though cleaning up is no one's favorite job, this one won't cause you too much grief.

hamilton beach temp tracker 6-quart - clean up is never fun, but both the stoneware insert and the lid are...
Clean up is never fun, but both the stoneware insert and the lid are dishwasher safe.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Should You Buy the Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6-Quart?


This is a fantastic slow cooker for the money. You will get consistent, evenly-cooked and tasty meals for an exceptionally reasonable price. If the size of this cooker is right, we highly recommend it.

What Other Slow Cookers Should You Consider?


If you need or prefer a full-sized slow cooker, check out the Instant Pot Duo, which is way more than just a slow cooker, allowing you to pressure cook, steam, and more. If that is too much appliance for you, then look at the Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central, which is ideal for cooking different types of meals.

hamilton beach temp tracker 6-quart - we researched over 50 slow cookers and bought a slew of them for...
We researched over 50 slow cookers and bought a slew of them for head-to-head testing just for you.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Genaveve Bradshaw and Ruth Bruckbauer
 

You Might Also Like