Reviews You Can Rely On

The 5 Best Slow Cookers of 2024

We put slow cookers to the test from brands like Instant Pot, Hamilton Beach, Crock-Pot, and more
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Best Slow Cooker Review
Credit: Matt Lighthart
By Genaveve Bradshaw, Ruth Bruckbauer, and Aaron Rice  ⋅  Aug 1, 2024

The Best Slow Cookers for 2024


Looking for the best slow cooker? Our culinary experts researched dozens of the top models on the market today, selecting 10 of the best to purchase for side-by-side testing. To bring you a comprehensive review of this classic kitchen appliance, we tested the competition in real kitchens with all kinds of meals. From stews and soups to BBQ brisket and chicken wings, we cooked extensively — albeit slowly — in each of these so that you can decide which is the best model for your kitchen. Our team also developed objective tests to deliver conclusive advice and help better inform your purchase decisions.

If you'd prefer to go a more traditional route, we have rated the most popular dutch ovens on the market, perfect for slow roasting in the oven when you can test temperatures with one of our favorite meat thermometers. We've also reviewed a long list of kitchen tools over the years to help your cooking endeavors. We have compared top toaster ovens side-by-side and have hands-on experience with cookware sets and cast iron skillets. If you'd rather take your cooking outside, our review of charcoal grills includes smokers. The options are endless, and we can help you tailor your kitchen to perfection.

Editor's Note: Our slow cooker review was updated on August 1, 2024, after buying and testing four new cookers.

Top 10 Slow Cookers - Test Results

Displaying 1 - 10 (scroll right)
 
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Slow cooker
Top Pick Award
Most Versatile Slow Cooker
Top Pick Award
Best for One-Pot Meals
Best Buy Award
High Value Cooking Performance
 Best Buy Award
Best on a Tight Budget
    
Price $150 List
$99.99 at Amazon
$100 List
$99.95 at Amazon
$160 List
$144.00 at Amazon
$75 List
$74.99 at Amazon
$170 List$70 List
$69.99 at Amazon
$70 List
$69.99 at Amazon
$60 List$40 List
$12.99 at Amazon
$50 List
$49.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
90
87
85
80
72
69
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Star Rating
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Pros Easy cleaning, easy to carry, multiple functions, sleekExtremely feature-rich, locking lid, delicious rice and veggies, offers much more than just slow cookingGood handles for easy lifting, pot is safe for oven and stove topTemperature probe, locking lid, excellent cooking performanceSleek appearance, pot is oven and stovetop safe, lightweight, easy to cleanTimer is easy to use, nice large size, lid locksIncluded temperature probe, adjustable settings, locking lidCan use the base as a griddle and sauté in pan, comes with an insulated travel bagLightweight, portable, easy to useLarge capacity, easy to use
Cons Steam release hole is larger than ideal, lid isn't insulatedLid involves careful cleaning, steeper learning curve, pot scratches and scuffs easilyNonstick materials, pricey, no lid ventHandles rattle, heavyNo locking lid, limited cooking programs, priceyHeavy, sides get hotStoneware pot holds onto gunk after soakingMediocre cooking performance, lid does not lock, no indicator lights, very limited settingsNo programs or timer, small pot, no vent in lidPower cord is short, too large for many regular meals
Bottom Line This is the most functional and easy-to-use slow cooker on the marketA fairly priced top performer with the functionality of seven different devices in one machineA consistently great performance and a variety of features make this a wonderful option for one-pot mealsA strong performer with an accessible price point and the convenient option to cook and carryThis sleek and simple design will appeal to those who prioritize aesthetics, but it comes at a premium priceThis model boasts intuitive programming, high-quality performance, and enough capacity to feed everyone at your next potluckThe included thermometer and ability to cook n' carry are the standout features, but the pot tended to streak after cleaningCompact size, simplicity, and functionality are standout features, but this cooker isn't for those looking for superior cooking performance or extensive interface optionsA pot for solo meals or for serving sauces at parties, though we can't recommend for those looking for multiple functionalities or family mealsA simple slow cooker with enough capacity to easily feed an entire family
Rating Categories Ninja Foodi Possibl... Instant Pot Duo Cuisinart 6-Quart 3... Hamilton Beach Temp... Calphalon Digital S... Crock-Pot 6-Quart C... Hamilton Beach 6-Qu... WestBend 5-Quart Ob... Crock-Pot 2-Quart Crock-Pot 7-Quart O...
User Friendliness (35.0%)
9.5
9.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
6.5
6.0
5.0
5.0
Cooking Performance (30.0%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
Cooking Features (25.0%)
9.5
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
4.0
4.0
Ease of Cleaning (10.0%)
9.0
6.0
7.0
5.0
9.0
5.0
5.0
10.0
9.0
4.0
Specs Ninja Foodi Possibl... Instant Pot Duo Cuisinart 6-Quart 3... Hamilton Beach Temp... Calphalon Digital S... Crock-Pot 6-Quart C... Hamilton Beach 6-Qu... WestBend 5-Quart Ob... Crock-Pot 2-Quart Crock-Pot 7-Quart O...
Pot Material Nonstick Aluminum Stainness Steel Nonstick Aluminum Stoneware Stainless Steel Stoneware Stoneware Nonstick Aluminum Stoneware Stoneware
Measured Weight 5.0 Ibs 1.8 Ibs

(pot only, lid not applicable)
8.8 Ibs N/A N/A N/A 8.4 Ibs N/A 3.1Ibs 8.8 Ibs
Capacity 8.5 qt 6 qt 6 qt 6 qt 5.3 qt 6 qt 6 qt 6 qt 2 qt 7 qt
Programmable? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Measured Temperature on High 199 F 203.9 F N/A N/A N/A N/A 197.4 F N/A 188.4 F 192.3 F
Measured Temperature on Low 161.3 F 200.8 F N/A N/A N/A N/A 188.2 F N/A 152.9 F 186.4 F
Locking Lid? No No No Yes No Yes Yes No No No
Lid with Gasket? No No No Yes No Yes Yes No No No
Steam Release Valve or Holes in Lid? Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No No No
Features -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.
-Functions: Slow Cook, Sauté, and Steam (includes steaming rack)

-Programmable time and temp (50°F increments); manual setting, sleep mode; auto warm

-Auto shut off after 8 hours

-Audible beeps to indicate on / off / start.

-Removable cooking pot can be used on the stovetop or in oven.
-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
-Removable cooking pot can be used on the stovetop or in oven. -Programmable time (30 min increments)

-Temp Settings (high, low, auto warm)

-Pot can be used in oven up to 400 degrees
-Functions: Defrost, Program, Manual, Probe

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

-Beeps 3 times to indicate end of cook cycle

-Auto shot off at 24 hours
-4 manual heat settings (warm, low, high, griddle)

-Cooking vessel can be used in the oven, on the stovetop, and in the fridge and freezer

-Cooking base can be used as a griddle

-Comes with a travel (nonlocking) lid and a thermal carrying case
-Temp Settings (high, low, 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


Best Overall Slow cooker


Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro 8.5-Quart


90
OVERALL
SCORE
  • User Friendliness 9.5
  • Cooking Performance 8.0
  • Cooking Features 9.5
  • Ease of Cleaning 9.0
REASONS TO BUY
Multi-use functionality
Sleek aesthetic
Easy to clean
Lightweight pot
REASONS TO AVOID
Steam release hole is too large
Cooking temperature runs hot
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight 5.0 Ibs
Pot Material Nonstick Aluminum
Capacity 8.5 qt
Programmable? Yes
Measured Temperature on High 199 F
The Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro 8.5-Quart is your one-stop shop for a multi-functional slow cooker. It's straightforward to use, has a clean and simple digital display, and is easy to wash. With eight different cooking functions, you can really do anything, from slow cook and sear, to sous vide and bake. We absolutely loved how it performed while cooking, making deliciously moist meals at the push of a button. Testers were elated by the results, noting that their pot roast and vegetables were “moist and tasty”. The Ninja Foodi replaces 14 different kitchen tools and appliances and includes an integrated spoon/ladle that attaches to the lid, thus preventing you from having to soil the countertop with a dirty spoon. The removable pot can go in an oven up to 500 degrees and can also be used on the stovetop. This truly is a remarkable kitchen product, and we highly recommend you check it out if it's within your budget.

There are very few drawbacks to the Ninja Foodi. We found the steam release hole in the lid to be too large. This isn't ideal for slow cooking, as it fully evaporated four cups of water while running for five hours during our temperature tracking test. The lid also isn't insulated. If you prefer an insulated lid so you can keep meals warm on the go for longer, check out the Instant Pot Duo.

Read More: Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro 8.5-Quart review

Cooking with the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro 8.5-Quart is easy, efficient, and delicious.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

High Value Cooking Performance


Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6-Quart


80
OVERALL
SCORE
  • User Friendliness 8.0
  • Cooking Performance 9.0
  • Cooking Features 8.0
  • Ease of Cleaning 5.0
REASONS TO BUY
Temperature probe included
Locking lid
Awesome cooking performance
REASONS TO AVOID
Rattly handles
Heavy
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight N/A
Pot Material Stoneware
Capacity 6 qt
Programmable? Yes
Measured Temperature on High N/A
The Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6-Quart takes top honors as it consistently cooks flavorful meals, is simple to operate, and is very reasonably priced. With a digital screen that has clear indicator lights to choose your temperature and an easy-to-use dial for adjusting cooking time, we found the Temp Tracker to be almost too irresistible to pass up. If you go to a lot of family gatherings or potlucks, this slow-cooker is a cook 'n' carry beauty with a handle on top of the lid and latches on the sides to keep all the yummy ingredients inside where they belong. This unit especially shines when it comes to cooking meat, which testers mentioned was “tender and moist throughout.

While the Temp Tracker is a breeze to work with, it's also rather hefty. It becomes downright heavy when you put in a four-pound roast and vegetables. But even that didn't dampen our enthusiasm for this slow cooker. The cooking features are so easy to use, and the food always comes out tasty. Even the user manual is a gem as it is in-depth and useful and has charts for the best probe placement and an ideal temperature chart for meats. But if you plan on bringing your slow cooker to gatherings like potlucks and chili cook-offs, a lightweight model like the Calphalon Digital Sauté may suit you better.

Read more: Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6-Quart review

The Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker has the best overall cooking performance.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Best on a Tight Budget


Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry


69
OVERALL
SCORE
  • User Friendliness 8.0
  • Cooking Performance 7.0
  • Cooking Features 6.0
  • Ease of Cleaning 5.0
REASONS TO BUY
Easy-to-set timer
Locking lid
Large enough for a party
REASONS TO AVOID
Hot sidewalls
Heavy when filled
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight N/A
Pot Material Stoneware
Capacity 6 qt
Programmable? Yes
Measured Temperature on High N/A
The Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry is designed with that quintessential purpose in mind: cook up a large batch of your favorite meal at home, and bring it with you to heat up and serve at a community-style meal. This model has an impressively long cook time of up to 20 hours, making it an excellent option for slow-cooking stews overnight. It did a great job cooking down vegetables in a braising liquid during testing: onions and tomatoes perfectly stewed, carrots and celery still with a bit of crunch, and no mushy mess when it came to potatoes.

The Cook & Carry sports a super intuitive timer with an auto-warming function. However, it doesn't feature an auto-shutoff, making us less comfortable using this product while we're not at home. Also, although this is offered up as a “cook & carry” model, it's pretty heavy when filled, and the stainless steel sidewalls can get very hot. But should you decide to take it out to your next tailgate, it has oversized handles and a well-designed locking lid to keep your favorite dish safely secured in the pot. However, if no auto-shutoff is a dealbreaker for you, check out the Instant Pot Duo, which allows you to set it and forget it.

Read more: Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry review

slow cooker - our meat meal cooked low and slow came out perfectly tender and...
Our meat meal cooked low and slow came out perfectly tender and flavorful, with no tough or dry areas.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Most Versatile Slow Cooker


Instant Pot Duo


87
OVERALL
SCORE
  • User Friendliness 9.0
  • Cooking Performance 8.0
  • Cooking Features 10.0
  • Ease of Cleaning 6.0
REASONS TO BUY
Tons of features and cooking options
Variety of safety features
Great cooking performance
REASONS TO AVOID
Cylindrical pot feels small
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight 1.8 Ibs

(pot only, lid not applicable)
Pot Material Stainness Steel
Capacity 6 qt
Programmable? Yes
Measured Temperature on High 203.9 F
The Instant Pot Duo is a 6-quart 7-in-1 cooker that takes the top pick for most versatile with good reason. This stainless steel beauty is completely programable and has a laundry host of great features. Those features include an insulated lid shape that is easier to remove than previous versions, as well as improved steam vents. From pressure cooking to a yogurt setting, this is a truly impressive kitchen appliance. Though it's expensive compared to units that only slow cook, we find high value in the Duo because it's so versatile. This device also creates impressive rice and beans and delicious veggies. “Crushed it.” One tester boasted, “Veggies had proper texture — carrots were firm, zucchini melted in the mouth, potatoes were soft but not squishy.”

Because of the shape, the 6-quart pot can feel a bit small compared to rectangular models. You have to pay a little bit more attention when stirring if you've put a lot inside. And while the Duo has many super great features, it could overwhelm someone new to cooking. Thankfully, the manual is well-laid out, and there are tons of recipe books and websites dedicated solely to the art of Instant Pot cooking. Truly, this is the greatest bang for the buck if you want to expand your cooking beyond just pot roasts and chili. If you prefer a rectangular model, the Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central has a lot of great features to offer, like a steaming rack and the pot's ability to be used in the oven.

Read more: Instant Pot Duo review

The Instant Pot Duo has a variety of safety features that we found to be quite useful.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Best for One-Pot Meals


Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central


85
OVERALL
SCORE
  • User Friendliness 9.0
  • Cooking Performance 8.0
  • Cooking Features 9.0
  • Ease of Cleaning 7.0
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent handles for easy lifting and avoiding burns
Lightweight, aluminum pot
Pot can be used in the oven or on the stovetop
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
No venting on lid
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight 8.8 Ibs
Pot Material Nonstick Aluminum
Capacity 6 qt
Programmable? Yes
Measured Temperature on High N/A
For a multi-function cooker, we love the Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, thanks to dual screens that allow you to set time and temperature simultaneously without having to cycle options. The other functions of this model, like brown/sauté and steam, directly support the process required by many slow-cooked recipes — without any extra fluff. We could sear meat directly in this pot and then easily transition to adding the rest of our ingredients for slow cooking instead of browning a roast in a cast iron skillet first. The pot can also be used in the oven or on the stovetop, and the cooker comes with a rack for steaming vegetables. This unit excels at cooking everything but is especially great at cooking meat, which testers noted as “…moist, tender, and falling apart.”

We very much appreciated the consistency of this slow cooker with every meal we prepared. Each one was perfectly cooked, with every individual ingredient evenly textured and fully flavored. This cooker does have a nonstick coating, so that's something to be aware of and delicate with during the cleaning process. And though we appreciate many of the options this slow cooker gives, especially the simplicity of cooking start-to-finish in one pot, that convenience still makes the cost of the Cook Central higher than most, especially if you are on a budget. But if you like the idea of one cooker that can do it all, this is a great consideration. Still, we know some folks have reservations about nonstick cookware. If you fall into this category, consider one of the stainless steel or stoneware models like the budget-friendly Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry.

Read more: Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central review

Large plastic handles on the sides make carrying the Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-In-1 Cook Central Multi-Cooker so easy, but the best part is that the meals prepared inside it are so consistently savory, tender, and flavorful.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Compare Products

select up to 5 products to compare
Score Product Price
90
Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro 8.5-Quart
Best Overall Slow cooker
$150
Editors' Choice Award
87
Instant Pot Duo
Most Versatile Slow Cooker
$100
Top Pick Award
85
Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central
Best for One-Pot Meals
$160
Top Pick Award
80
Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6-Quart
High Value Cooking Performance
$75
Best Buy Award
72
Calphalon Digital Sauté
$170
69
Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry
Best on a Tight Budget
$70
Best Buy Award
69
Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Defrost
$70
64
WestBend 5-Quart Oblong
$60
58
Crock-Pot 2-Quart
$40
56
Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual
$50

We didn't just rely on our tastebuds to find the best slow cooker (though we sure ate a lot of pot roast).
Credit: Matt Lighthart

How We Test Slow Cookers


Before starting each review at GearLab, we perform our due diligence, spending hours researching the market before purchasing the best products available. For this review, our culinary experts have tested 13 slow cookers, devoting more than a week to side-by-side cooking sessions of various meals. To evaluate all aspects of a slow cooker's performance, we developed a set of testing metrics, ultimately subjecting each slow cooker to over 18 tests. A cooker's score in each testing metric makes up a portion of their overall performance score.

Our testing of slow cookers is divided across four different metrics:
  • User-Friendliness (35% of overall score weighting)
  • Cooking Performance (30% weighting)
  • Cooking Features (25% weighting)
  • Ease of Cleaning (10% weighting)

A good perspective to see how each slow cooker differs in size and shape.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Why Trust GearLab


Among the testing metrics, user-friendliness holds the most weight of a product's overall score. We believe a slow cooker is the epitome of easy, low-maintenance cooking, and a model's design and interface should support this. To flush out the details of this test metric, we took note of multiple factors, such as the various temperature settings, timer (i.e., will the model automatically turn to warm after cook time?), ease of programming, and cook and carry capability. Following close behind user-friendliness is cooking performance. For this test metric, we cooked meat, grains, beans, and veggies, plus took notes regarding the slow cooker's size and cooking temperature.

Have you ever been asked the question, “If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?” For our home-cooking expert, Aaron Rice, his answer is BBQ — and that answer alone should qualify him as an authority on slow cookers. Aaron has devoted much of his life to sharing delicious food with anyone and everyone. After working in and around professional kitchens for the better part of a decade, he currently co-manages an on-site culinary garden with his wife for a fine-dining restaurant in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Genaveve Bradshaw has spent hundreds of hours testing food categories at GearLab. She's a foodie at heart and has been called a “spice girl” after her fondness for carrying around various spices and hot sauces in her purse, car, and camping kit became public knowledge. Exploring new recipes, improving beloved favorites, and expanding her understanding of flavor pushes Genaveve both in her personal and professional life, and she continues to expand her knowledge with each food category she dives into.

Ruth Bruckbauer is not really a foodie and has never even set foot in a professional kitchen, but that doesn't mean that she hasn't made a lot of great food. Ruth figures she has cooked well over 46,500 — and counting — made-from-scratch meals. Although her youngest son told her, “I wouldn't classify you as an adventurous cook, mom,” her five children are now five strong, smart, and healthy adults who also enjoy cooking. In fact, some of them would even classify themselves as adventurous cooks and foodies.

Brooke Hess is a science journalist who brings a scientific angle to everything she tests and writes about. She's worked in science labs, in science communication, and in the field, and ensures all her tests result in the highest level of accuracy. Brooke has multiple severe food allergies that force her to cook all of her own food, which is the motivating factor behind wanting to find the best possible tools that make her life in the kitchen easier.

We bought out the local produce stand to make dozens of pounds of...
We bought out the local produce stand to make dozens of pounds of pot roast, rice and beans, and slow-cooked vegetables.
We know hauling your slow cooker around can be a pain, so we...
We know hauling your slow cooker around can be a pain, so we measured their weight to see which was the least cumbersome to carry.
We cooked up dozens of batches of pot roast.
We cooked up dozens of batches of pot roast.

How To Buy The Right Slow Cooker For You


Slow cookers are built with busy people in mind. Don't have time to cook dinner for your family after work? Craving slow-cooked meat, but have no time to sit around and watch it while it cooks? Or do you simply like the ease of adding the ingredients, pressing a button, and having dinner ready for you when you get home at the end of the day?

If any of these sound familiar, then a slow cooker is the right kitchen product for you! So, with that in mind, here are some things you should consider when deciding what slow cooker to buy:

Who you're cooking for

If you are just cooking for yourself, then a smaller cooker will work just fine with the added simplicity of an easier cleanup. If you're cooking for a family or a party, you'll want to check out the larger 7-8 quart slow cookers.

The menu

The functionality of slow cookers crosses a wide range. Some slow cookers just perform one function — slow cooking. Others have multiple functions with different cooking settings that can do everything from slow cooking to pressure cooking to sauteing and air frying. You can purchase an all-in-one kitchen appliance with many different cooking functions, or you can bring home a simple tried-and-true machine.

Your price range

With prices ranging from $20 to $300, there is a slow cooker out there for every budget. We've found that you don't actually need to spend hundreds of dollars on a slow cooker to feed a large family.

Analysis and Test Results


Preparing ingredients in the morning and then returning home to the fragrance of a warm, home-cooked meal wafting through the house is convenient and a thing of beauty. To help make this dream a reality for you, we identified four testing metrics that define a great slow cooker. It is important to note that all of the slow cookers in this review are ranked relative to one another — we believe that even the lowest-scoring units are still a worthy investment for any kitchen.


What's the Best Value?


Value can be entirely subjective. But here at GearLab, we pit price versus performance in our stringent testing to give you unbiased opinions of the products. We take value very seriously because it translates to how you spend your hard-earned money and, more importantly, if you will be happy with your purchase. That's why we bought every single slow cooker we tested at full price, just as you would. We then made meal after meal and fed them to our co-workers and families, gathering opinions and data points along the way.

The Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry is a solid option. It retains what's best about a classic slow cooker with some helpful modern upgrades. However, if you want more and can afford to spend a bit more, the Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6-Quart provides the most impressive bang for the buck. It is a strong performer that excels at cooking meat, beans, rice, and vegetables at a still accessible price point. At the end of the day, the important thing is to choose something you'll use — a slow cooker will easily pay for itself time and again (in regards to both money and time invested) as long as you like it enough to put it to good use.

slow cooker - after a long day out-and-about, it is a beautiful thing to be able...
After a long day out-and-about, it is a beautiful thing to be able to come home to some delicious pulled pork, and have a quick meal ready in minutes with minimal prep.
Credit: Aaron Rice

User-Friendliness


What is a slow cooker if not convenient? If it is not easy to get one of these appliances up and running, you may as well spend that time cooking that same meal over the stovetop. Many of these models offer similar cooking performances, so user-friendliness looks at the first impression and the qualities that ultimately set each cooker apart.


The aspects contributing to how user-friendly a slow cooker is will vary depending on the type of product it is. For example, with programmable models, how intuitive is the interface? Can you pull the appliance from the shelf and effortlessly set the temperature and time, or do you have to go back and refer to the owner's manual to get going? Whether digital or analog, another consideration is the footprint. How much storage space does it require? Can it live on the countertop for easy access? Does it offer a locking lid, so you can bring your favorite dish to a potluck without making a mess of your car? These are important factors to consider when deciding which product to purchase.


Regardless of its computing power, the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro 8.5-Quart offers an easy answer to all of these questions. This multi-functional model is intuitive to operate, and its plethora of options to make cooking just about anything possible. It allows users to keep their food warm after it's done cooking, and its interface is clean and easy to understand. For those who find themselves multitasking in the kitchen, the Ninja also beeps when the timer is finished to remind you that it's ready.

slow cooker - cooking up some garden fresh veggies for our lunch in the instant...
Cooking up some garden fresh veggies for our lunch in the Instant Pot Duo.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

The Cuisinart 3-in-1 Cook Central is our other top performer in this metric and is fantastic for transporting for family picnics. The handles on both the slow cooker and the pot never get too hot, the lid locks securely, and the overall weight is moderate. Also, the internal pot can be used on the stovetop or in the oven, adding versatility and overall convenience.

slow cooker - the features on the cook central are awesome, including simmer as...
The features on the Cook Central are awesome, including Simmer as well as a Steam function.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker is also highly convenient. The Temp Tracker automatically turns to warm when cooking is complete, and times can be set for up to 24 hours. It has a temperature probe, and the manual is in-depth, with tons of helpful information.

slow cooker - we appreciate the kitchenaid's simple, programmable function...
We appreciate the KitchenAid's simple, programmable function, particularly the bright LCD timer that is large enough to read from across the kitchen.
Credit: Aaron Rice

We also sincerely appreciated the simple button layout and locking top of the Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry for many similar reasons. And while their size and footprint don't make them very practical for daily use in most kitchens, the Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual has its time and place — particularly when it comes to serving party-sized portions.

slow cooker - we made three classic recipes: a pot roast, rice and beans, and a...
We made three classic recipes: a pot roast, rice and beans, and a vegetable medley to assess each slow cooker's performance. The top scorers were able to handle every recipe with ease, creating delicious dishes that we were more than happy to eat!
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

Cooking Performance


When choosing one of these appliances, the qualities of cooking performance are undoubtedly relative to the style of cooking you prefer and the types of recipes that this style favors. The time frame required for this type of cooking calls for efficiency through consistency — namely, the ability to maintain a set temperature for an extended period — and low-and-slow is the name of the game. Although somewhat debatable, many professional sources agree that the ideal slow cooking temperature falls between 190 - 200 degrees Fahrenheit.


Not surprisingly, many of the models that are closest to hitting this mark also score the highest in overall cooking performance.

slow cooker - we filled each pot with four cups of water and measured the...
We filled each pot with four cups of water and measured the temperature after cooking for two hour and three hour durations. We were quite surprised to see that the water completely evaporated for the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro after the 3 hour test.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

The low setting of the Instant Pot Duo came the nearest to this ideal temperature — indeed, this unit can cook meats that are fall-off-the-bone tender. The Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker is another superb cooker, producing excellent textures and flavors no matter what we prepared.

slow cooker - the hamilton beach temp tracker produced the most delectable pot...
The Hamilton Beach Temp tracker produced the most delectable pot roast that's ever hit our tastebuds.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

The Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker cooked pot roast that was juicy, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Slow cookers often get a bad rap for making vegetables mushy, but not this pot. Vegetables were soft and hard just the right amount of firmness. Each vegetable retained its flavor and most of its texture — not an easy feat with different kinds of veggies all requiring different cooking times.

slow cooker - the instant pot produced some of the best vegetables, though the...
The Instant Pot produced some of the best vegetables, though the meat did not fall apart as we had hoped.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

Another notable performance came from the Cuisinart Cook Central. It cooked a stellar pot roast and excellent grains and beans. For our rice and beans test, though, the Cook Central was noticeably impressive. The beans and rice each retained their unique textures, and both were properly cooked without getting too soft.

slow cooker - the hamilton beach temp tracker was again the star of the show when...
The Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker was again the star of the show when it came to cooking rice and beans.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

Cooking Features


Not all slow cookers are created equal, and the cooking features may be the best defining differential quality outside of user-friendliness. Therefore, when judging this metric, we considered specific features like lid design, safety features, and cooking indicators. But the best way to differentiate between your options is to divide them into two distinct categories: programmable and non-programmable.


A non-programmable model is a basic version and what you likely remember from your grandmother's kitchen. It has three heat settings: Low, High, and Warm. Beyond that, most of these simple crocks offer no additional cooking features. The difference, then, is in design features that influence cooking.

slow cooker - we love the temperature probe that comes with the hamilton beach...
We love the temperature probe that comes with the Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Of course, the multi-function options blew the competition out of the water. For the price, it is nearly impossible to top the programmable functions, lid design, safety mechanisms, and display of the Instant Pot Duo — not to mention that this model also offers the ability to pressure cook, sauté, and steam. There are specific settings for cooking rice and making yogurt too.

slow cooker - the buttons on the duo are easy to use and give you lots of options.
The buttons on the Duo are easy to use and give you lots of options.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

Also notable for distinctive cooking features is the Ninja Foodi, which features a myriad of different cooking functions (Slow Cook, Sear/Sauté, Steam, Keep Warm, Sous Vide, Braise, Bake, and Proof). It is easy to use, easy to clean, and comes with a handy spoon/ladle holder on the lid. The Calphalon Digital also has a pot that is stove and oven-compatible if that's a feature you know you want.

slow cooker - the easy-to-see numbers and  lit buttons on the cook central allow...
The easy-to-see numbers and lit buttons on the Cook Central allow you to set cook time and temperature easily.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Cleaning


Not only are these appliances easy to cook with, but they also tend to be incredibly easy to clean. Most of the models we tested are designed with the classic stoneware crock; exceptions are the Instant Pot Duo and Calphalon Digital, stainless steel options, and the Cuisinart Cook Central, Ninja Foodi, and WestBend 5-Quart Oblong, nonstick aluminum contenders. These inserts are much lighter, but we have reservations about the long-term durability of nonstick coatings. The enamel pots are very easy to scrub clean with your favorite dish sponge, and all models are dishwasher safe.


Outside of the crock material, ease of cleaning is determined by the size and shape of the pot itself. A smaller model will easily fit into a standard dishwasher without taking up too much space. In contrast, the oversized pot on the Crock-Pot 7-Quart requires pretty much the entire lower rack.

slow cooker - a classic stoneware crock or stainless steel is our preference for...
A classic stoneware crock or stainless steel is our preference for cleaning and long term durability.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

Conclusion


It doesn't have to be a slow process to find the best slow cooker to add to your home kitchen. Fortunately, you can reap the benefits from our hard work. We devoted a ton of time to using these slow cookers so we could narrow down the selection and find the right one for your needs. There's no doubt that this countertop kitchen appliance is worth the investment and free smells — just prep your ingredients and let the slow cooker do the rest. As Julia Child often said, Bon appetit!

slow cooker - imagine walking in the door to the smell of a delicious home-cooked...
Imagine walking in the door to the smell of a delicious home-cooked meal!
Credit: Aaron Rice

Genaveve Bradshaw, Ruth Bruckbauer, and Aaron Rice