In the fall and autumn, our thoughts turn towards rich hearty meals that will keep us warm, like stews, casseroles, curries, and also other meat and vegetable dishes. However, 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.
The 5 Best Slow Cookers
- Breville BPR700BSS Pro Slow Cooker
- Crock-Pot SCR503SP Smudgeproof Slow Cooker
- Cuisinart PSC-350 Programmable Slow Cooker (Our Top Pick)
- Elite Gourmet MST-250 Slow Cooker
- Ninja FD401 9-in-1 Foodi Deluxe Pressure Cooker
Our Top Pick for the Best Slow Cooker
Our top pick for the best slow cooker is the Cuisinart PSC-350 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 also prepare delicious one-pot meals for up to 4 people.
It also has a beautiful brushed stainless steel finish, a highly responsive easy to use control touchpad, and also a lot of safety features. With a 3-year limited warranty, the Cuisinart is great value for money.
Check the price on AmazonWelcome 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 also a heating element. However, 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 while other cookers allow you to perform a lot of different functions such as slow cooking, baking, and steaming.
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 also 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. Still, the benefits of a slow-cooker do not stop there. Additionally, you can use it for all sorts of meal requirements from breakfast to dessert such as:
- 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 6 features to consider before you buy your own one-pot 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 1 or 2 people, why not invest in a mini slow cooker such as the Elite Gourmet MST-250 Slow Cooker. For a family of 4, a 3, 4, or 5-quart slow cooker should suffice.
However, if you have a large family, choose a 6-quart cooker such as Breville BPR700BSS 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 also have to stir the food more often. While other more advanced cookers use a triple heating system that utilizes heat on the bottom and side of the cooker and also steams heat to lock in the food’s 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, such as the Breville BPR700BSS Pro Slow Cooker or the Cuisinart PSC-350 Programmable Slow Cooker.
Some manufacturers make their cooking pots out of stoneware such as the Crock-Pot SCR503SP Smudgeproof Slow Cooker, while other cookers have their cooking pots made from stainless steel such as the Ninja FD401 9-in-1 Foodi Deluxe Pressure 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 about 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 also the cooking time can be longer. If you use the cooker for true slow-cooking meals such as stews, casseroles, and also roasts, it is best to choose a glass tempered lid.
A glass lid allows you to see what is happening 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. However, 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 Elite Gourmet MST-250 Slow Cooker is a great choice.
It has a compact size and therefore will fit into a small space nicely. It is also 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 such as the Breville BPR700BSS Pro Slow Cooker that has 11 settings. Or the Cuisinart PSC-350 Programmable Slow Cooker, which allows you to set the slow cooker to cook up to 24 hours in advance.
Some cookers come 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 such as 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 benchtop.
5 Best Slow Cookers – Reviews
1. Breville BPR700BSS Pro Slow Cooker
If you want a slow cooker that gives you more control over your cooking, the Breville BPR700BSS Pro Slow Cooker is the perfect match for you. The sophisticated silver stainless steel cooking dynamo can cook a large range of meals. 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, and also natural pressure release.
The dual sensors that are located at the top and bottom of the unit monitor the progress of the ingredients inside the pot and also 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, chili, and also stew, desserts, and custom.
You can use the machine for pressure cooking, slow cooking as well as steaming, sauteing, and also searing.
You can also adjust the temperature from low to high heat and the timer to cook for 2-12 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.
The pot and lid are also 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
- Three-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. Crock-Pot SCR503SP Smudgeproof Slow Cooker
If you are looking for a new way to cook up a wide range of delicious hot meals for your family, or you are new to the slow-cooking craze, the Crock-Pot SCR503SP Smudgeproof Slow Cooker is an excellent choice for busy people who are short on time.
Whether you want to slow cook a lamb roast, a casserole, hot chili, or a creamy pumpkin soup, the Crock-Pot cooker features a simple but effective operating system that makes this original slow cooker so easy to use.
Just add your ingredients into the sturdy stoneware crockpot, secure the transparent tempered glass lid, set the dial to your desired setting. Choose the “high” setting for a quick hot meal, the “low” setting for 8-9 hours of cooking, and the cooker will get to work on turning the raw ingredients into a spectacular meal.
It also has a convenient “warm” setting that keeps your food warm until you are ready to serve it.
One of the highlights of the Crock-Pot slow cooker is its stylish design. The black stoneware pot and the sleek smudge-proof stainless steel housing are perfect for a modern kitchen and will look fantastic on your dining table.
For safe usage and easy transport to the table or fridge, the lid has a sturdy black handle and also black handles on the pot. It is also oven safe up to 400°F. Clean-up is a breeze as the stoneware pot and lid can go in the dishwasher.
Crock-Pot includes a bonus Little Dipper Warmer which is perfect for warming dips and sauces. To help you get creative in the kitchen, there are easy-to-follow recipes in the user manual. The slow-cooker is covered by a 1-year limited warranty.
Pros
- High quality
- Affordable price
- Very effective slow cooker
- Three heat settings: low, high, and warm
- Sturdy removable stoneware crockpot
- Tempered glass lid
- Sturdy handles
- Oven safe up to 400°F
- Easy to use
- Dishwasher safe pot and lid
- Stylish black pot and stainless steel housing
- Easy-to-follow recipes in the user manual
- Bonus Little Dipper Warmer
Cons
- Not ideal for a large family
- No cool-touch handles
- “High” setting can get very hot
3. Cuisinart PSC-350 Programmable Slow Cooker
With high cooking functionality, an attractive appearance, and also sturdy design, the oval-shaped Cuisinart PSC-350 Programmable Slow Cooker is excellent value for money. You will become a slow cooking expert with the Cuisinart cooker. You and your family can enjoy a large range of hearty meals at just the press of a button.
The 3½-quart oval-shaped ceramic cooking pot can cook enough food for 4 people.
The cooker’s stylish brushed stainless steel exterior will make it an attractive addition to your kitchen. Also, its compact size will fit even the smallest of kitchens.
Cuisinart has designed this slow cooker with very simple operating features: a large and also easy to read touchpad. The bright blue LCD allows you to monitor the progress of the meal. There are 4 highly responsive cooking modes: high, low, simmer, and also keep warm.
A 24-hour countdown timer for extra cooking flexibility and also 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 also keep an eye on your meal’s progress with the see-through glass lid that has a chrome-plated knob, which fits securely to lock in the food’s flavors. 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. 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 also includes a full instruction manual and various recipes to kickstart your slow-cooking journey. 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 4 people
- Cool to touch handles on the lid and unit
- Sturdy and secure glass lid
- Bright blue LCD
- Four menu settings
- 24 hours capacity timer
- ON and OFF switch
- Automatically switches to warm mode after cooking
- BPA-free and non-stick ceramic bowl
- Nonslip rubber feet
- Dishwasher friendly
- Instruction manual and recipes
- Three years limited warranty
Cons
- Side handles are too short
4. Elite Gourmet MST-250 Slow Cooker
Became a one-pot wonder with the Elite Gourmet MST-250 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 also delivers a superior cooking performance, which makes it great value for money.
It might be on the small side, but the Elite Gourmet slow cooker can cook enough food for 1-2 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. 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. The cool-touch handles also allow you to safely handle the cooker without burning yourself.
To bring your casserole or chili creation to life, the cooker has 3 settings, low, high, and keep warm. The power indicator button illuminates when the slow cooker is on, and the “keep warm” setting lets your meal stay warm until you are ready to serve it.
The Elite Gourmet is very easy to clean and the removable inner stoneware pot and glass lid can go straight into the dishwasher. Elite Gourmet offers a 1-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Very good price
- Ideal for 1-2 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 FD401 9-in-1 Foodi Deluxe Pressure Cooker
The amazingly versatile Ninja FD401 9-in-1 Foodi Deluxe Pressure Cooker is an excellent choice for a slow cooker, as it can do so much more than prepare slow-cooked meals. It’s a one-stop multi-cooking machine with 9 cooking functions: pressure cook, slow cook, steam, yogurt, sear/sauté, bake/roast, air crisp, broil, and dehydrate, all of which are contained in the one pot.
This revolutionary cooking appliance will change the way you look at the traditional slow cooker.
You can cook a complete meal from an entree to a decadent dessert. A slow-cooking feature allows you to cook casseroles or stews at a lower temperature for a longer period of time so that the food can build in flavor intensity. All your meals will be cooked to perfection as the innovative TenderCrisp Technology locks in the food’s juices and creates a crispy golden-air-fry finish.
The cooker has a temperatures range from 80-450°, which allows you to cook just about any type of meal, roast chicken, steamed fish, chips, and even a creme brulee. If you want to start a healthier eating lifestyle, the Ninja FD401 can also dehydrate meats, fruits, and vegetables.
If you think a slow-cooker with all these cooking functions would be lacking in some way, not this one. The Ninja delivers delicious meals that will make you a super chef in the kitchen and a one-pot wonder at the dining table. As well as its high-quality slow-cooking performance, this marvelous maestro cooks up to 70% faster than traditional cooking methods, so you will be able to spend less time cooking and more time enjoying home-cooked meals with family and friends.
Ideal for any cooking enthusiast, the Ninja cooker is visually appealing with an attractive silver design and black matt accents. The appliance is very sturdy, has a tight-fitting pressure lid for tenderizing and sealing in the flavor of slow-cooked meals, a crisping lid for air-fried foods, and a large control panel with an LCD screen that is very easy to read.
You can choose from 3 settings: low, high, and keep warm. There is a setting for making quick meals in just 20 minutes, a digital timer, a power light, and a start/stop dial.
Designed for a large family, the 8-quart non-stick, dishwasher-safe, ceramic cooking pot can contain enough food for 8-10 people. The deluxe reversible rack lets you steam, broil, or TenderCrisp up to 8 chicken breasts or salmon fillets. The strong handles allow for safe and easy portability from your kitchen to the dining room.
Ninja is dedicated to helping home cooks create fabulous professional-style meals and the included 45-recipe inspirational guide will get you started on your journey to culinary success. Ninja offers a 1-year limited warranty on the Foodi Deluxe cooking system.
Pros
- Excellent versatility
- High cooking performance
- Nine cooking functions
- Smart TenderCrisp Technology
- Extra-large 8-quart non-stick ceramic pot
- Sturdy lid and strong handles
- Sleek silver design with black accents
- Dishwasher safe
- Bonus recipe book has 45 recipes
Cons
- Expensive
- Lid can wobble when you carry the crockpot
- Heating can take a while to respond
- Too bulky for a small countertop
Our Top Pick for the Best Slow Cooker
Our top pick for the best slow cooker is the Cuisinart PSC-350 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 also prepare delicious one-pot meals for up to 4 people.
It also has a beautiful brushed stainless steel finish, a highly responsive easy to use control touchpad, and also a lot of safety features. With a 3-year limited warranty, the Cuisinart is great value for money.
Check the price on Amazon
