The 8 Best Slow Cookers, According to Our Tests

Our Favorite Slow Cooker

The Cuisinart Cook Central 6-Quart Multi-Cooker checks all the boxes of things we want in a multifunctional slow cooker. It has a variety of settings that aren’t fussy or complicated to program, a roomy cooking surface, an easy-to-use design, and — most importantly — it performs well. If you’re shopping with a budget in mind, the Instant Superior Cooker came in close as our value pick. The round design is compact and lightweight, with a large capacity that will be a fit for meals of any size.

How We Tested Slow Cookers

To find the best slow cookers on the market, we tested a total of 18 models, assessing them on factors including ease of use, design, performance, and cleanup. We put each cooker through a round of in-house lab tests and at-home kitchen tests to determine their overall functionality and how well they stacked up against each other in terms of features and performance.

• Performance: Each slow cooker was used to prepare three dishes: a meat entree, a vegetable entree, and chili. We used the same reliable recipes as a method of control for any variables and compared the estimated cook time listed in our recipes to determine if the slow cookers were performing on schedule. We noted the results of each recipe from the different slow cookers, looking for differences in temperature and observing any over/under cooking or burning.
• Ease of Use: We also noted how easy or difficult each slow cooker model was to use during our cooking tests. We observed how each function of the different models operated, how hot the outside of the slow cooker was during cooking, and how much control and versatility were offered.

• Design: Other factors we kept in mind included the durability of the slow cooker, the materials it was constructed from, how sturdy the lid was during cooking, and any storage difficulties. We also took into consideration the outer appearance of the slow cookers, including the buttons and/or panel for putting the settings to use.
• Cleanup: For each slow cooker, we followed the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the model, taking note of whether the pot and lid were marked as being dishwasher safe. We also kept in mind if the interior of the slow cooker was nonstick and whether or not any food was stuck on the pot during cleaning.
  

Factors to Consider

Pot Shape

Slow cookers are traditionally round, oval, or rectangular in shape, each with its own benefits to keep in mind regardless of the capacity. Oval and rectangular slow cookers are typically more shallow, making them ideal for dishes such as a casserole.

These longer pots are also a better option for large cuts of meat like a rack of ribs or a whole chicken because they provide more even browning and can fit the pieces more comfortably. Chili, soups, stews, or any other saucy dishes may work better in a round pot because the higher sides can prevent potential sticking or overflowing.

Material

A slow cooker’s interior cooking pot is usually made of aluminum, steel, or ceramic/stoneware. Ceramic and stoneware pots are heavier and maintain temperatures more evenly than their metal counterparts. However, they are also more fragile and can crack if dropped or if they experience sudden temperature changes.

Metal pots are the more lightweight option, but they may lead to hot spots or burning because of how quickly they heat up. A nonstick coating may be added to aluminum or steel pots, which can prevent sticking and mimic the properties of ceramic or stoneware.

Size and Capacity 

We consulted chef Darian Bryan to determine how to find the best-sized pot. The Jamaican chef uses a slow cooker with some frequency and shared insight on selecting the right capacity. “It depends on the person’s lifestyle,” he advises. “How large is their family? Do they entertain often?”

He suggests that smaller slow cookers, like 5- to 6-quart capacity pots, are more than enough for single or two-person households. At that size, a slow cooker will be big enough for occasional batch cooking, meal prepping, or dinner for a family of four. The large-capacity slow cookers, like 8-quart appliances, are best for those who entertain or batch cook with frequency.

Programmability

Sometimes, slow cookers operate with nothing more than a range of settings as rudimentary as low, high, and warm. This is enough to cover most foods a slow cooker can tackle: everything from chilis, soups, and stews to roasts, sauces, and braises. In those cases, any color you might want to develop by browning or searing may have to be done on a stovetop before transferring your meal to the slow cooker. Otherwise, all the magic can happen inside the pot with just those three temperatures.

You can do plenty with such simple settings, but some slow cookers now come with a full panel of options. If you want to do something more specific — like sear proteins, steam vegetables, or even make yogurt — there are slow cookers with built-in programming for uses such as these. Some models even allow you to custom program specific temperatures and cook times so that you can literally just set it and forget it. But extra features also come with extra cost, so determine how you are most likely to use the cooker and buy the one that best suits your lifestyle.

Other Slow Cookers We Tested

Strong Contenders

Ninja Foodi Everyday PossibleCooker Pro 6.5 Quart MultiCooker ($120 at Amazon)
We appreciated how lightweight this slow cooker was and the diverse cooking settings it offered compared to other models. However, due to the design of this model where the cooking pot is on the outside, it gets extremely hot during cooking and wouldn’t be a family-friendly option. This also had the most burning during testing and required additional cleaning time.

Calphalon Slow Cooker ($107 at Amazon)
Lightweight and durable, this pot is the right size for your cupboard and your counter. It is a little more expensive than some of the other small-capacity pots we tested, but it’s worth the price.

Green Life Cook Duo Nonstick Slow Cooker ($60 at Amazon)
We appreciated how reliable and easy it is to operate, with a control panel that is manageable for enthusiasts and beginners alike. There are some inconveniences — like the lid not locking in place — and it has pretty basic functions, though this is a great value pick.

Wolf Gourmet Multi-Function Cooker ($700 at Amazon)
We loved the Wolf Gormet’s overall performance, design, and functionality, but we’re not sold on the price. If you’re a big fan of Wolf appliances and aren’t opposed to the incredibly steep price tag, then this wouldn’t be a bad pick.

Crock-Pot Programmable Slow Cooker with MyTime Technology ($60 at Amazon) 
This machine is perfect for the “set-and-forget” cooking style, featuring clear labels and several options for scheduling and cooking types. However, it’s not comfortable to cart around, and the affordable price translates to some of its elements feeling flimsy.

KitchenAid 6-Quart Slow Cooker ($70 at Amazon)
The KitchenAid 6-Quart Slow Cooker is comfortably lightweight without losing quality. What we didn’t love were some of its other design features: an outside that gets too hot, handles that are too small, and an inconveniently placed power cord.

All-Clad Electric Dutch Oven ($330 at Amazon)
Advertised as an electric Dutch oven, this slow cooker features a beautiful cast iron insert that doubles as a standard Dutch oven. This makes it versatile and rugged but difficult to transport based on weight. We also had some issues with achieving a desired and consistent temperature while cooking, meaning we couldn’t just set it and forget it.

Instant Pot Precision 6-Quart Dutch Oven ($96 at Amazon)
We ran into similar problems with Instant Pot’s version of an electric Dutch oven. While the enameled cast iron insert is a great feature, and it has several useful functions (like searing and braising), it leaves much to be desired when it comes to slow cooking. Plus, we noticed that the non-enameled edges of the pot and lid tend to rust easily.

What Didn’t Make the List

We tested several other slow cookers, but they just didn’t measure up to our favorites in terms of performance. The DeLonghi Livenza Slow Cooker surprised us by cooking a little bit too low and slow. Even on its highest temperature setting, we struggled to get it up to a strong simmer, which resulted in a recipe (that should’ve taken only six hours to cook) clocking in at 16 hours total cook time. However, most of the other cookers we tried had the opposite problem: The Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker and Ninja’s Foodi PossibleCooker PRO both ran a bit on the hot side.

We struggled with the PossibleCooker PRO only having two temperature options on its slow cooker setting (250 or 300°F), which left our brisket thoroughly burned in the end. Some of the other slow cookers we tried only missed the mark due to their small capacity — we thought they’d fit in better with the best mini slow cookers. 

Our Expertise

• Jacqueline Weiss is a professional food writer with over five years of experience and a lifelong passion for working in the kitchen. Her writing has appeared in Eat This Not That, EatingWell, AllRecipes, Simply Recipes, and more. For this article, she used insights from our editor-led tests to determine which slow cookers are worth the investment.  
• Christa Glennie has been a writer and food editor for nearly 20 years. She is also the author of two cookbooks and specializes in food and drink trends, agriculture, the regional foodways of Western New York, and the restaurant business. 
• For this piece, she interviewed Jamaican chef and restaurant owner Darian Bryan of The Plating Society and Bratts Hill. He regularly uses slow cookers — both at home and in his restaurant — to make some of his most requested dishes, like his tender short ribs with red wine sauce.