Slow cookers are a blessing to those who love stews and chilis. With the ability to leave something cooking the whole day while you go to work, or work on something in the house, without the worries of it burning, or burning down the house, they are a must in every kitchen. You can cook almost everything in them and for meal preppers they are the heavy lifter in their arsenal of cooking. With this knowledge, we are going to take a look at the best slow cookers on the market, to find the one that is the best for you.
360 Cookware Gourmet Slow Cooker
The three layer construction of this slow cooker is made to make sure there are no accidental burns from bumping into, or little ones touching it. This slow cooker can cook without using water or oil, meaning that you can make roasts in it just as you would the oven. With its simple design and 4 quart capacity, this is the best slow cooker for a large family, or that office potluck.
Pros
- Pot can be removed and used on stovetop
- Not breakable like ceramics
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Heavy
- No timer
- Lid not see through
Hamilton Beach Premiere Cookware
The Hamilton beach model comes with a removable aluminum pot, with large handles for easy gripping with potholders. Its 5.5 quart pot has more than enough room for roasts, or large batches of your favorite stew. It has a glass lid, so you can see how its contents are cooking without losing valuable steam and 3 settings to get it to the right level of doneness. This is the best slow cooker for someone who does a lot of roasting and wants to avoid the stove.
Pros
- Pot can be used on the stove to brown meat
- Easy to clean
- User friendly
Cons
- Lid must be placed securely
- No timer
- Handle will get very hot
Professional Kitchenaid® Slow Cooker
This model comes with some bells and whistles, boasting a timer, automatic settings and self-monitoring. Each of the four settings has a time to them, and the digital display will show the time remaining on the side of the body. No more wondering exactly how long it has been cooking. The major thing that makes this one of the best slow cookers is that is has handles that are cool to the touch, so you can move from the body to the table without oven mitts or burns.
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Under the body cord storage
- Plastic handles
Cons
- Heavy
- Lid must be secured
- No vent
All-Clad Deluxe 7-QT. Slow Cooker
This is where you would cook you thanksgiving turkey if you wanted to avoid the oven. This 7 quart machine can handle your biggest slow cooker job, and with its removable basin, it can go from base to stove top to brown before you cook. This is the best slow cooker for a feast, where you have 20 or so guests. With a simple digital control panel and timer, it is the whole package of cooking for the masses.
Pros
- Large capacity
- User friendly
- Warming function
Cons
- Not good for small batches
- Hard to clean
- Not dishwasher safe
Crock-Pot Triple Dipper
This is the entertainer’s slow cooker, with three 1 quart basins to make dips, individual soups, or stews. Also the best slow cooker for a single person or a family of picky eaters, making single servings is a breeze in this. Each basin has its own individual controls and the lids and basins can be safely washed via dishwashers. It comes with built-in areas for appetizers or cutlery making it easy to serve ready to eat and with a lazy Susan food warmer, it is easy to share. Other features include the stainless steel material, glass lids as along with their travel covers. The slow cooker also comes with 3 appetizer containers.
Pros
- Multi-function
- Single servings
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Not good for large batches
- A lot of clean up
- Heavy
Having a meal ready as soon as you come home because you put it to cook before you left is a great way to stay healthy with stews and other home cooked meals. Hopefully this helped you to find the best slow cooker to fit your needs.
