Best Slow Cookers in 2022

Instant Pot took the world by storm, revitalizing the need for a slow cooker in your kitchen. One of the top gifts in 2016, along with the gold medal earner for our extensive list, Instant Pot comes with a crazy amount of features, truly taking the place of seven different small appliances. For one, you get programmable modes that work well with the long list of attachments you receive with your purchase, The auto-warm setting kicks in after your initial cooking process, which you can set into motion with a 24-hour cooking delay feature.

At this fantastic price, there’s going to be a couple of glitches in the system. While the manufacturer is good at replacing or exchanging damaged or defective items, it’s still an inconvenience either way. Users have run into issues with the seal being dodgy, and while it includes a drip tray feature, it’s not among the best quality. You’ll still have to clean around the bottom of the pot. Your interior cooking pot does come made of 304L stainless steel, making it simple to clean, and leaving no residue left behind by non-stick coatings. Instant Pot had to go up against a long list of competitors here; based on the value and durability, it emerged victorious. One of the most popular, best slow cookers reviewed on Amazon. 

You’ve seen them all over the shelves of every department store. Hamilton Beach is a lower-cost brand that packs some serious value, albeit it with a few minor quirks. For starters, you get up to six quarts of capacity in this bad boy, but that does come in a mildly imperfect pot. The stoneware seems to have been glazed improperly, on more models than just ours. Many users report little nicks and bumps in the pot, which doesn’t sound too bad, but if you’re stirring with a metal spoon, you don’t want to chip off a bit of porcelain in your dish.

The interactive LED display on the front lets you know the internal temperature when you prod it with the included, patented thermometer, and comes with other programmable features. When it comes to the locking gasket lid, whether it’s for transit or retaining heat, this thing is the real deal. In total, you’re going to get about two years of steady, heavy use out of this. Infrequent use will save you some of that time. For more foddie related products make sure you check our list of food gifts.

The ones who started it all, Crock-Pot keeps true to their initial mission from day one. For starters, your stonwear is opted to go up to 450F in the oven if you’re low on pans and in a pinch. When it comes to the slow cooker base itself, it’s only fitted for four settings: off, low, medium, and high. While that may be enough for some, when you look at all these programmable models with timers and additional functions, it falls short. For the long-term use and longevity of Crock-Pot, the value and quality just can’t be denied.

As a word of caution, the lid can’t go in the dishwasher. Well, it can, but water will get stuck between the top handle and the glass, and the metal rim surrounding the edges will distort and warp after a few uses. The sturdy ABS plastic handles make this quick to carry to and from functions, so you won’t be caught last-minute without bringing something along. Overall, the price is what really grabs you, and holds onto you tight. Cheap, durable, and from a brand name that everyone’s owned at one point or another; a clear choice.

Coming in for round two with Crock-Pot, we have their eight quart slow cooker model. Similar to the previous model, you’re not going to get many function apart from the four main dial positions, and the lid runs into the same issues. On this model, you’re also going to see that the side handles are barely wider than the lips of the stoneware, making them fairly unnecessary. With that out of the way, Crock-Pot is known for being one of the most energy-efficient slow cooker brands on the market today.

Nobody wants to “set and forget,” only to remember again when the utility bills come around at the end of the month. Crock-Pot does its best to ensure that never happens. Their stoneware is notoriously fitted to handle up to 450F in the oven if you need to, and comes in a brushed stainless steel exterior basin. If you are looking to upgrade your kitchen, make sure you check our top blenders review.

HB has dipped their toes into every aspect of the kitchen that you can imagine. Known best for small to medium-sized kitchen gadgets, these buggers brought us a stainless steel, six quart slow cooker with programmable features. Flip between two separate timers, one for stirring/adding ingredients, and one for when the product is finally complete. When you’re done, clan-up is a breeze with the dishwasher-safe lid.

When you get down to it, there’s a bit of a plastic, burning odor for about a week after operating. It’s due to dust getting into the components during storage and shipping; you’ll be overjoyed when it finally dissipates. The base is going to get very hot, so don’t put it down on top of papers. Altogether, for the low price HB charges, and the six quart capacity with a sturdy set of stoneware, it’s an excellent, budget-friendly buy.

It’s a solo ride when you get home, but you’re sick of take-out. Crock-Pot Round Mini Cooker is super simple to set up right before you head out the door, giving you a home-cooked meal the second you walk in the door. It only comes with a two quart capacity, making it ideal for a max of up to three people, but that’s what we love about it. As a result of the size and brand, it’s super energy-efficiency, but it is a pain in the rear end to clean the stoneware.

The exterior gets hot, but those handles aren’t going to do much for you; they’re relatively flimsy, so be warned when transporting the hot base from one counter to the next. If you’re not too keen around the kitchen and you want to be, use the included recipe book, designed for small-sized meals that are perfect for this Crock-Pot. Make sure you also check out our guide to the best electric skillets.

All-Clad has fallen out of the spotlight, but it’s a nostalgic brand for us that’s always delivered a boatload of quality. This model is built sturdy, with screw-in steel handles on the exterior that don’t heat up with the rest of the basin. That durability blends into the high-density ceramic insert and tough-as-nails glass lid, which can be cleaned in the dishwasher. That same insert, however, can’t go in the oven, and we don’t recommend putting it in the fridge to cool; transfer your food into a food-safe bag or container.

This also doesn’t come with a warm setting; 215F is the lowest temperature, so even though it’s programmable, it can’t flip to warm if you’re running home late. That programmable feature displays on a high-end LED display, allowing you to access timers and other cooking modes, making the most of all six-and-a-half quarts in your slow cooker.

Crock-Pot; we can’t stay away from them. This seven quart machine comes with all the features you already know and love, including the heat-safe handles, energy efficiency, and the ability to slap that stoneware in the oven, up to 450F. Time and time again, they’ve been the reliable brand that everyone turns to, nad the notoriously low price tag doesn’t hurt.

The actual base is a bit dodgy to keep clean, and the rubber legs beneath it wear out, or get dirty and slide on the countertops, fairly easily. Seven quarts of power and a compact size makes this excellent, as well as the fact that it doesn’t throw much heat into the room. This one is simple, straight to the point, and deserve a spot beside the stove. Make sure you also check our guide to the best deep fryers.

For cost, power, dish size, it’s all HB, all the way. This ultra low cost slow cooker comes with a programmable LED panel along the bottom, and a base that doesn’t slip or slide on the countertops; it’s rock solid, and stays in place. That base doesn’t have a lot of ventilation as a result, so it will throw off a considerable amount of heat. That, and it’s difficult to keep clean.

If you’re going from place to place, the sturdy side handles will take you there. They don’t retain heat, and refuse to budge for anything. You can set this to cook for up to eighteen hours, which can be a blessing if you’re working graveyard or twelve-hour shifts, and just want something that isn’t a freezer meal when you get home. For the cost, power, and longevity that HB has always offered, this is an excellent model. After you have saved money with this product, you can invest it in one of the top juicers from our list.

Timers and functions galore, Cuisinart comes into play with a reasonably-priced and stellar slow cooker. Program this to cook for anywhere within a twenty-four hour period, reducing to warm when that timer is done. It’s as simple as set, forget, and enjoy whenever you return home. Prolonged use (twelve-hour uses or longer) will warp the plastic chiclet-style panel on the front. It’ll still work, but it does look deformed after time.

The durable ceramic insert isn’t going into the oven, but it can go in the dishwasher; it’s ultra simple to clean, so a hot jet spray from the faucet hose should do the trick. Cuisinart threw in a recipe booklet, as well as a roasting rack to properly position your meats. At its most basic element, it’s quick to clean, reliable, and gets the job done. Our selection of the best electric pressure cookers offers more great products like this so check it out.