In the fall and autumn, our thoughts turn towards rich hearty meals that will keep us warm, like stews, casseroles, curries and other meat and vegetable dishes. But do you have the time to prepare them? If you are time-poor or maybe you are new to the slow-cooking craze, a slow cooker will do all of the hard work, which can result in a fully cooked delicious one-pot meal that will delight you and your family.
| Image | Product Name | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Breville BPR700BSS The Fast Slow Pro Silver | 6 Quart | $$$$ |
 |
BLACK+DECKER SC4004D Dial Control Slow Cooker | 4 Quart | $ |
 |
Cuisinart PSC-350 Programmable Slow Cooker | 3.5 Quart | $$ |
 |
Maxi-Matic MST-250XS Elite Gourmet Slow Cooker | 1.5 Quart | $ |
 |
Ninja MC950Z4-in-1 Cooking System (Slow Cooker Multi-Cooker) | 6 Quart | $$ |
Our Top Pick for The Best Slow Cooker
Our top pick for the best slow cooker is the Cuisinart PSC-350 3.5-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker. The Cuisinart slow cooker makes it so easy to learn the art of slow-cooking. It boasts a superior cooking performance and can prepare delicious one-pot meals for up to 4 people, it has a beautiful brushed stainless steel finish, a highly responsive easy to use control touch pad and a lot of safety features, and with a 3-year limited warranty, the Cuisinart slow cooker is great value for money.
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Slow-cooking
A slow cooker, which is very similar to a crockpot, is quite a simple appliance, it has a cooking pot, a glass lid, and a heating element. But the secret to its cooking success is the slow cooking process that cooks your food at a low temperature over a long period of time, which allows it to seal in and enhance the full flavors of your food. Slow-cookers may have basic functions like the Black+Decker 4-Quart Dial Slow Cooker, while other slow cookers allow you to perform a lot of different functions like slow cooking, baking and steaming like the Ninja Multi-cooker.
Another reason why a slow-cooker is a “must-have” kitchen appliance is that it is an excellent time-saving appliance. Whether you live alone or have a large family, it takes all the hard work out of cooking a meal. All you have to do is cut up the vegetables and meat, add salt and pepper and spices and any other flavor enhancing ingredient, set the controls on the cooker and let it work its cooking magic. The result? A delicious, rich stew, casserole, curry, lamb or chicken roast that will keep you warm on those long winter nights. But the benefits of a slow-cooker does not stop there. You can use a slow cooker for all sorts of meal requirements from breakfast to dessert like:
- Porridge
- Soups
- Sauces
- Dips
- Fondues
- Desserts
- Vegetables
- Risotto
- Stock
- Beans
Features to Consider When Buying a Slow-Cooker
If you are new to the wonders of slow-cooking, here are six features to consider before you buy your own one-pot cooking machine.
1. Size
The size of a slow cooker is determined by the amount of food and liquid that can fit inside the pot. Slow cookers range in size from 1.5 quarts up to 6 quarts. If you are just cooking for one or two people, why not invest in a mini slow cooker like the Maxi-Matic Elite Gourmet 1-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker. For a family of four, a three- to four-quart slow cooker should suffice, but if you have a large family, choose a 6-quart cooker like Breville Fast Slow Pro Slow Cooker.
2. Heating
Some slow cookers just have a crock or cooking pot that sits on top of the heating unit, which means the heat may not be evenly distributed and you may have to stir the food more often. While other more advanced slow cookers like the Ninja Multi-cooker use a triple heating system that utilizes heat on the bottom and side of the cooker and also steam heat to lock in the foods' natural juices.
3. Construction
While most slow cookers have their housing or exterior made out of stainless steel, the cooking pot can be made out of ceramic like the Breville BPR700BS or the Cuisinart PSC-350. Some manufacturers make their cooking pots out of stoneware like the BLACK+DECKER SC4004D, while other cookers have their cooking pots made from aluminum like the Ninja 4-in-1 Cooking System Multi-Cooker. Whether you choose ceramic or porcelain or aluminum, they all conduct and hold heat very well, although stoneware may be heavier to lift than an aluminum cooking pot. Cleaning is always an important factor to consider in relation to the cooking pot, so look for a cooking pot that has a non-stick surface and one that is dishwasher-safe.
4. Lid material
As a slow cooker does its flavor enhancing work in secret, taking the lid off can let the heat and flavor out and the cooking time can be longer. If you use the cooker for true slow-cooking meals like stews, casseroles, and roasts, it is best to choose a glass or glass tempered lid like the BLACK+DECKER SC4004D Slow Cooker. A glass lid allows you to see what is happing inside the pot so that you do not have to constantly take the lid off to monitor the progress of your culinary creation.
5. Shape
Most slow cookers have a round or oval shape, but the ideal size will depend on the size of your kitchen and the amount of space you have on your kitchen bench. If you live in an apartment and have limited bench space, then the Maxi-Matic MST-250XS Elite Gourmet Slow Cooker is a great choice as it has a compact size and will fit into a small space nicely and it is easy to store away when you are not using it.
6. Extra Operating Features
The best type of slow cooker has an easy to read digital display, preferably one that lights up with a bright color to catch your attention. A timer is another handy feature, to give you more cooking control and to make sure that your food is cooked to perfection. Some more expensive models give you extra settings for particular types of food like the Breville BPR700BS that has 11 settings, or the Cuisinart PSC-350, which allows you to set the slow cooker to cook up to 24 hours in advance.
Some slow cookers, like the Ninja Cooking Centre, comes with an extra searing function so that you can brown the meat or saute onions before adding them to your stew or casserole, which saves you extra cooking time. Safety features are an extra important feature like cool-touch handles that will protect your hands from getting burnt from the high heat that slow cookers can generate or nonslip rubber feet that keep the cooker secure on your kitchen bench top.
Best Slow Cooker Reviews
1. Breville BPR700BSS The Fast Slow Pro, 6 Quart, Silver
If you want a slow-cooker that gives you more control over your cooking, the Breville BPR700BSS The Fast Slow Pro 6-quart slow cooker is the perfect match for you. The sophisticated silver stainless steel cooking dynamo can cook a large range of meals and its super smart technology can automatically adjust the time, temperature and pressure between fast and slow cooking so that all your meals are cooked to perfection. You can choose between auto-quick, auto-pulse or natural pressure release and the dual sensors that are located at the top and bottom of the unit monitor the progress of the ingredients inside the pot and fine-tunes its temperature to match the different cooking stages.
With such a high level of cooking flexibility and versatility, the Breville slow cooker will become your favorite appliance in the kitchen. There are 11 settings that can be pre-programmed to suit your favorite recipes or meals: vegetables, rice, risotto, soup, stock, beans, poultry, meat, bone-in meat, chilli and stew, desserts and custom, and you can use the machine for pressure cooking, slow cooking as well as steaming, sauteing and searing. You can also adjust the temperature from low to high heat and the timer to cook for 2 to 12 hours depending on the type of ingredients you want to prepare.
The Breville slow cooker has so many user-friendly features that make it one of the most popular cookers on the market. The color changing LCD screen shows you when the cooker is pressurizing, cooking or releasing steam. To keep you safe when you are using the unit, there is a 3-Way Safety System: a safety locking lid, an automatic hands-free steam release, and a safety valve. The “Keep Warm” function turns on after the cooking has been completed so that your food stays at an optimal temperature until you are ready to serve up your latest delicious creation. The removable bowl has a PTFE and PFOA free ceramic coating, so you can use the Breville slow cooker with peace of mind, knowing that no nasty chemicals will leach into your food and the pot and lid are very easy to clean.
Pros
- Great quality
- Ideal for a large family
- Stainless steel housing
- PTFE and PFOA free ceramic coated bowl
- 11 menu settings
- High level of cooking flexibility and versatility
- Dual sensors
- 3-Way safety system
- Fully interactive color changing LCD screen
- Keep-warm function
- Removable bowl
Cons
- Expensive
- Ceramic bowl retains the flavor of the food
2. BLACK+DECKER SC4004D 4 Quart Dial Control Slow Cooker
The Black+Decker SC4004D 4-Quart Dial Control Slow Cooker can make up to 5 servings so it can feed 2 to 4 people and its simple yet effective approach to cooking all sorts of dinner choices makes this cooker an excellent choice for busy people who are short on time. If you are new to the slow-cooking craze, the Black+Decker slow cooker is the right cooker for you.
Whether you want to slow cook a lamb roast, a casserole, hot chili or create a creamy pumpkin soup, the Black+Decker cooker features a simple operating system which makes this very affordable slow cooker so easy to use. Just add your ingredients into the sturdy stoneware pot, close the tempered glass lid holder and set the dial to your desired setting, choose the low setting for 8-9 hours of cooking or the high setting for 3-4 hours, and let the cooker get to work on turning the raw ingredients into a spectacular meal. The slow cooker also has a warming setting to keep your food warm until you are ready to serve it.
One of the highlights of this durable and high-quality slow cooker is the pot's exterior which doubles as a chalkboard surface, so you can use the included pieces of chalk and jot down cooking instructions or recipes, let your kids get creative by drawing on the pot, or turn your kitchen into a pot-luck dinner party and invite your guests to discover their artistic abilities.
The cooker has extra large handles for easy portability and a removable stoneware pot and a glass tempered lid, all of which can be put straight in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. Black+Decker offer a 2-year limited warranty.
The cooker comes in three attractive designs; as well as the chalkboard surface, there is a polka-dot black and white design and a bright purple pulse pattern.
Pros
- Affordable price
- High-quality
- Very effective slow cooker
- Simple functionality
- Ideal for 2 or 4 people
- 3 heat settings: low, high, and warm settings
- Sturdy removable stoneware crockpot
- Built-in tempered glass lid holder
- Easy to use
- Dishwasher safe
- Fun chalkboard surface
- Choice of 3 attractive designs
- 2-year limited warranty
- Very good customer service
Cons
- Not ideal for a large family
- Limited operating functions
- The low setting is very slow
3. Cuisinart PSC-350 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
With high cooking functionality, an attractive appearance and a sturdy design, the oval-shaped Cuisinart Slow Cooker is excellent value for money. You will become a slow-cooking expert with the Cuisinart cooker and you and your family can enjoy a large range of hearty meals at just the press of a button. The 3-1/2 quart oval-shaped ceramic cooking pot can cook enough food for 4 people and the cooker's stylish brushed stainless steel exterior will make it an attractive addition to your kitchen and its compact size will fit even the smallest of kitchens.
Cuisinart has designed this slow cooker with very simple operating features: a large and easy to read touchpad and the bright blue LCD display allows you to monitor the progress of the meal. There are 4 highly responsive cooking modes: high, low, simmer, and keep warm, and a 24-hour countdown timer for extra cooking flexibility and an ON and OFF button.
To make cooking even easier, Cuisinart has incorporated an extra feature, the cooker can automatically shift from the cooking mode to warm mode when the cooking time has been completed so that your food stays warm until you and your family are ready to share a rich hearty meal.
You can keep an eye on your meal's progress with the see-through glass lid that has a chrome-plate knob, which fits securely to lock in the food's flavors, and the lid stays cool to the touch even while the food is cooking and there are cool-touch handles on the side of the cooker as well, and the non-slip feet keep the cooker securely on your kitchen counter. Washing up is simple as the cooking pot and lid can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Cuisinart includes a full instruction manual and various recipes to kickstart your slow-cooking journey, and the cooker is covered by a 3-year limited warranty.
Pros:
- Great value for money
- Heats up quickly
- Attractive brushed stainless housing
- Ceramic pot is non-stick resistant
- 3-quart capacity can cook for 2 to 4 people
- Cool to touch handles on lid and on the unit
- Sturdy and secure glass lid
- Bright blue LCD display
- 4 menu settings
- 24 hours capacity timer
- ON or OFF switch
- Automatically switches to warm mode after cooking
- BPA-free and non-stick ceramic bowl
- Nonslip rubber feet
- Dishwasher friendly
- Instruction manual and recipe hints
- 3 years limited warranty
Con:
- Side handles are too short
4. Maxi-Matic MST-250XS Elite Gourmet 1.5 Quart Slow Cooker
Became a one-pot wonder with Maxi-Mati Elite Gourmet 1.5 Quart Mini Slow Cooker. Whether you enjoy soups, stews, or meatballs, or like to prepare your own dips, sauces or fondues for entertaining, or even enjoy porridge to start your working day, the Maxi-Matic slow cooker is very versatile and delivers a superior cooking performance, which makes it great value for money.
It night be on the small side, but the Elite Gourmet slow cooker can cook enough food for 1 to 2 people and can serve up to 6 cups, depending on what type of food you want to cook. If you want to prepare dips, sauces or desserts, it can make quite a lot, and its compact shape means it will not take up a lot of room on your kitchen bench.
As well as its compact size, the Maxi-Matic has an attractive stainless steel finish and a sturdy tempered glass lid with a metal rim that allows you to keep an eye on the culinary delights that are simmering away inside. The stoneware pot is removable if you want to serve your meal at the dinner table and the cool-touch handles allow you to safely handle the cooker without burning yourself.
To bring your casserole or chili creation to life, the cooker has two settings, high and low, and the power indicator button illuminates when the slow cooker is on, and the “keep warm” setting lets your meal stay hot until you are ready to serve it.
The Elite Gourmet Maxi-Matic is very easy to clean and the removable inner stoneware pot and glass lid can go straight into the dishwasher. Maxi-Matic offers a one-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Very good price
- Ideal for one or two people
- Three settings: low, high and keep warm
- Compact design
- Attractive stainless steel finish
- Sturdy tempered glass lid
- Cool-touch handles
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Not big enough for a large family
- No timer
- Limited settings
5. Ninja MC950Z 4-in-1 Cooking System (Slow Cooker, 6-Quart Multi-Cooker)
The highly versatile Ninja 4-in-1 Cooking System is your one-stop cooking centre, and even though it is more expensive than other similar sized slow cookers, the Ninja is a super multi-cooker with 4 cooking functions: Stove Top, Slow Cook, Oven, and Steam, all contained in just one pot, which makes it excellent value for money.
This revolutionary cooking master will change the way you look at the traditional slow cooker. You can use it to cook a complete meal from the entree to a dessert. The slow-cooking feature allows you to cook your roasts, casseroles or stews so they can build in flavor intensity, the stove top function uses an innovative element on the bottom of the cooker to sear meat before you add it to your casserole, and the roasting and baking function turns the cooker into an oven with temperatures that range from 250 to 450-degrees, which allows you to cook perfect roast lamb or chicken or even bake a cake or bread. And its smart features do not stop there. If you want to peruse a healthier eating lifestyle, the Ninja can also steam vegetables and fish.
If you think a slow-cooker with all these cooking functions would be lacking in some way, you will not be disappointed, as the Ninja Multi-Cooker delivers delicious meals which will make you a super chef in the kitchen and a culinary master at the dining table. Its high-quality cooking performance is due to its triple heating system that uses three types of heat on the bottom and side of the cooking unit and also steam heat to lock in the foods' natural juices and flavors.
The Ninja slow-cooker has a lot of visual appeal, with an attractive sleek design and a black matt finish and easy to read dual dial settings. For slow cooking, there are three settings, warm, low and high: the stove top function has a low and high setting, and the oven function has a bake and roast setting. There is also a timer and an oven temperature dial and two indicator lights, a power light, and an automatic warming light.
The 6-quart cooking pot is made from aluminum with a dark, non-stick coating that is dishwasher-safe, and it is large enough to contain enough food for a large family. The glass lid lets you keep an eye on the food inside and there are extra large handles on the cooker for easy portability.
One of the other highlights of this amazing slow-cooker is that you can choose a color that will match your kitchen's décor. As well as black, there are two colors: red or stainless steel. The cooker comes with a glass lid, a steaming/roasting rack, a multi-purpose pan, roast lifters, silicon mitts, cookbook, and a travel bag. The Ninja Cooking System is covered by a 1-year limited warranty.
Pros
- 4-in-1 cooking system: stove top, slow cooker, oven, and steamer
- Great versatility
- High cooking performance
- Triple heating system
- Non-stick aluminum pot
- Strong glass lid
- Sleek design
- Dishwasher safe
- Three attractive colors: black, red, and stainless steel
Cons
- Expensive
- Handles get very hot
- Heating takes a while to respond
- Lid can slip off when you move the cooker
Our Top Pick for The Best Slow Cooker
Our top pick for the best slow cooker is the Cuisinart PSC-350 3.5-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker. The Cuisinart slow cooker makes it so easy to learn the art of slow-cooking. It boasts a superior cooking performance and can prepare delicious one-pot meals for up to 4 people, it has a beautiful brushed stainless steel finish, a highly responsive easy to use control touch pad and a lot of safety features, and with a 3-year limited warranty, the Cuisinart slow cooker is great value for money.
