The 6 Best Slow Cookers 2023

Best slow cookers are among the most convenient kitchen gadgets. They’re ideal if you’re willing to wait a little longer for excellent dinners that take no work on your side.

Even unskilled cooks may produce culinary wonders thanks to these merciful equipment. You can create so many different sorts of foods in a slow cooker that you’ll never run out of ideas.

Best Slow Cooker America’s Test Kitchen 2023

1. Zojirushi EL-CAC60XZ Multicooker

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The Zojirushi Multicooker EL-CAC60XZ, a six-quart, 1,350-watt slow cooker, seems like it was developed by somebody who is well-versed in slow-cooker recipes and theory but had never seen one before. Somebody wanted higher multicooker that wasn’t a pressure cooker, against existing trends.

It may be simpler to just state what the machine performs. Zojirushi’s slow cooker has four remarkable to-the-degree temperature presets, unlike other slow cookers, which only feature high and low options. It also produces yoghurt, steams vegetables, cooks rice, offers two simmer settings, and maintains food temperature. This one can sear nicely, unlike many other electric pressure cookers (sometimes referred to as “multicookers”) and practically all specialist slow cookers. It wasn’t ideal, but it was good enough. It’s a fantastic feature, given how crucial a nice sear is to slow-cooker meals, with searing choices of 350 degrees Fahrenheit or a no-slouch 410.

Cooking using a pressure cooker is rapid but requires a lot of attention; slow cookers allow you to relax and appreciate what you’re doing. However, if Zojirushi can come up with a means to manufacture a pressure-cooker equivalent of this (with, say, induction heat), we’ll have ourselves a great countertop gadget.

Nevertheless, the Zojirushi has accomplished an outstanding job of widening the spectrum of what a slow cooker can accomplish and the way we understand about cooking with its clever redesign.

Pros

• The LCD display.
• Free of chemicals.
• The glass cover may be opened partially.

Cons

• Inefficient use of energy (1,350 watts).

2. BLACK+DECKER SCD7007SSD 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker

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This was our first manual slow cooker, and we immediately saw the advantages of a programmable cooker. The absence of a timer on the Black+Decker 7-Quart Slow Cooker detracts from the pleasure of utilizing a slow cooker to prepare a meal in the morning and coming home to a flawlessly cooked meal.

Once the time is up, this slow cooker will not immediately shut off or transition to a warming mode. Alternatively, set your personal external timer & make absolutely sure you’re home when it goes off, or you’ll have to deal with the consequences of cooking on your specified setting continually until you arrive home.

Furthermore, in our water test, this slow cooker warmed up quickly and kept the temperature at a gentle simmer for the bulk of the cooking time. The lid was unstable and noisy during all of our testing. This slow cooker’s ceramic pot was also the most difficult to clean of the group. The sauce from the chicken we prepared was set aside, and cleaning the saucepan took a lot of soaking and elbow sweat.

Pros

• Excellent dining-compatible design.
• The display is an LCD.
• Automated stay-warm mode.

Cons

• Plastic handles frequently melt.

3. Calphalon Digital Sauté Slow Cooker

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Calphalon’s Digital Sauté Slow Cooker does more than slow cook. The pot is intended to be removed to be used on the stovetop, which is a distinctive feature among the slow cookers we evaluated, and allows you have the most flavor and aroma while keeping things simple.

The pot features a nonstick ceramic covering that might be an issue for individuals who want to prevent nonstick cookware (it’s PTFE- and PFOA-free, like all nonstick cookware available on the market, though there’s no way to assure that no additional PFAS is there). The pot is compact and simple to clean, however it is not dishwasher friendly, and the handles were quite hot throughout the cooking time.

The pot is also round, although the rest are oval, which makes it difficult to cook a stew or a whole chicken. This slow cooker, however, with its 5.3-quart capacity and tall sides, will occupy up the lowest amount of counter room.

Pros

• Excellent features
• Cleaning is simple.
• Cooking timings that are precise

Cons

• Handles get heated.

4. Breville BPR700BSS Fast Slow Pro Slow Cooker

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Breville is a household name when it comes to kitchen equipment, featuring some of the greatest coffee machines and blenders on the market at the moment. Breville has a multi-cooker which can compete with the top Instant Pots when it refers to an all-in-one gadget that offers a variety of cooking ways, in addition to its other devices.

The 6-quart/ 6-liter capacity Breville Fast Slow Pro may be used to pressure cook, slow cook, reduce, steam, sear, and sauté. Select from a variety of pre-sets for anything from stews, risottos, and grains to green leafy vegetables, or modify the pressure and cooking time yourself. It combines the perfect combination and is an excellent choice for both experienced and novice cooks.

The Breville Fast Slow Pro, like many other electric pressure cookers on the marketplace currently, emits steam by pressing a button on the front instead of a lever on the top, making it significantly less probable to hurt your fingers. There’s also a useful stay warm feature.

The basic interface is simple to handle with a clear LCD screen, however the cooking bowl has a minimum size of 1-quart/ 1-liter, so it’s excellent for bulk cooking but not the greatest solution for tiny batches.

Pros

• One-touch cooking is a time-saving convenience.
• Simple to use and maintain

Cons

• Sometimes the lid does not seal correctly.

5. KitchenAid KSC6223SS 6-Qt. Slow Cooker

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This slow cooker ticks all of your favorite’s list criteria. It may be programmed or operated manually. A temperature probe is included to determine the temperature of your food while it cooks. It’s also the right size for most purposes, at 6 quarts. The cooker shifts to a warming mode after the cooking time or temperature has been met.

This type includes solid handles as well as a gasket on the lid to prevent spillage for anybody who has to move with their slow cooker. You may even take it to a picnic or a family supper because the cover is secure. A spoon that hooks on to the unit for feeding keeps it from becoming lost in transportation.

There are three options: program (which enables you to select a cooking time), probe (that also determines doneness using a temperature probe), and manually.
If you live in a region where power outages are common, you’ll enjoy the fact that this version will continue to cook or maintain your meal warm until you return home.

Pros

• Consistent cooking
• Transportable
• Price is reasonable.

Cons

• Casing is thin.
• The control panel is hard to interpret

6. Wolf Gourmet Programmable 6-in-1 Multi Cooker

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One of the several finest and most luxurious slow cookers available is the Wolf Gourmet Programmable 6-in-1 Multi Cooker. It has everything you could want for individuals who are serious about slow cooking.

With the Wolf Gourmet slow cooker, you can make rice, sear and sauté meat, and sometimes even sous vide. Because it has a deeper insert, you may sous vide a variety of foods at once. You may choose between manual and digital preset settings using the iconic red dial.

The stainless steel insert is dishwasher safe and may be used on induction hobs. Because it isn’t non-stick, this is a gain. The stainless steel substance, on the other hand, will make searing simple and flavorful.

Pros

• The iconic, high-end appearance
• Warranty period of five years
• There are six cooking modes.

Cons

• The most costly option

What Is The Best Slow Cooker?

The greatest slow cookers are capable of producing enough food to serve a household. Alternatively, to serve one or two persons for the following several days for lunch and dinner. This makes them ideal for people who have jobs and responsibilities and don’t have the energy left to prepare each day.

Zojirushi’s slow cooker has four remarkable to-the-degree temperature presets, unlike other slow cookers, which only feature high and low options. It also produces yoghurt, steams vegetables, cooks rice, offers two simmer settings, and maintains food temperature.

This one can sear nicely, unlike many other electric pressure cookers (sometimes referred to as “multicookers”) and practically all specialist slow cookers. It wasn’t ideal, but it was good enough. It’s a fantastic feature, given how crucial a nice sear is to slow-cooker meals, with searing choices of 350 degrees Fahrenheit or a no-slouch 410.

Cooking using a pressure cooker is rapid but requires a lot of attention; slow cookers allow you to relax and appreciate what you’re doing. However, if Zojirushi can come up with a means to manufacture a pressure-cooker equivalent of this (with, say, induction heat), we’ll have ourselves a great countertop gadget.

How to Choose the Best Slow Cooker?

Slow cookers include a variety of characteristics that you might find handy, such as roasting racks for roasting chicken meat or steaming vegetables, wrap-around cable storage, and heated carrying bags.

Pots

The majority of the slow cookers we evaluated feature an oval ceramic pot, which handles best slow cooker roasts or other large portions of meat better than a circular slow cooker.

Lids

A glass or transparent plastic lid allows you to keep an eye on your work without leaking heat. Many slow cookers feature a hinged lid, which is useful for serving meals, however none of the slow cookers in our overall rankings have. A locking lid keeps food from leaking when being transported to potlucks and gatherings, and some slow cookers feature a grip on the lid to make carrying the slow cooker simpler.

Capacity

How much food will you prepare? Slow cookers perform nicely when they’re at minimum half filled, so purchasing a large cooker if you only cook in little batches is pointless. A big cooker, on the other side, is your top pick if you frequently create huge amounts of meals to freeze.

Shape

Oval-shaped slow cookers are perfect for making entire turkeys or feasts. If you’re just planning to utilize your cooker to make soups, keep this in mind.

Timer

A timer is useful since it runs down on the time in your slow cooker and afterwards notifies you when it’s done cooking. This is not to be confused with a delayed-start timer. A slow cooker featuring a delayed timer, that you can set to turn on or off when you’re gone, has piqued the interest of a few users.
We don’t think so, because keeping food in the oven at a warmish temperature encourages germs to grow. If your slow cooker shuts off unexpectedly, toss the food out right away; it’s not actually worth the risk of food-borne illness.

Optional Extras

Slow cookers today come with a number of handy functions. You’ll discover all kinds of gadgets that make preparing food simpler, from programmed timers to special heat-containing lids. Those capabilities, though, may make your gadget more sophisticated (and pricey) than it has to be if your requirements are basic.

Probes for measuring temperature

Slow cookers don’t come with a lot of new features, although some do include temperature probes. Insert the probe into a big chunk of meat, select the temperature you would like the meat to achieve, and the slow cooker will change to keep-warm mode when it reaches that degree.

Cleaning Efficacy

An easy-to-clean pot and cover that can be washed in the dishwasher is useful. Also, touchpad controllers are less difficult to clean than dials and buttons.

Conclusion

Regardless of how hectic your day is, the best large slow cooker can modify weekday dinners so that you always arrive home to a delicious, healthy supper. Slow cookers are especially good for inexpensive meat cuts and veggies, so they’re a great way to save money. They may also be able to assist with cost-cutting within the home.

Slow cooking does not require a large financial investment to begin started. Although more expensive machines have additional features like as keep-warm and deferred start settings, the basic slow cook option produced nearly identical results.

Before purchasing anything, regardless of your budget, you should think about capacity. Usually best 4 quart slow cooker contains between 3.5l and 4.5l of liquid, enough to feed four people easily. However, if you have a larger family or want to bulk cook, a bigger model is recommended.