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Slow cook your way to an easy, healthy, delicious weeknight meal.
Photo:EatingWell / Russell Kilgore
From amazing goulash and tender roasts to scratch-made soups, the slow cooker sustained our family year-round.
It also makes more time for me to get to the gym because dinner is done.
I read through each manual and played with all the controls.
PHOTO: Wayfair
In the end, I cleaned each cooker, inside and out, to ensure it was easy.
What to know:The display is challenging to clean.
I want something to look great when it sits on my countertop for hours.
PHOTO: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore
This cooker, true to the Cuisinart brand, is sleek and has a brushed metal exterior.
The nonstick coating inside the vessel makes it a dream to clean by hand and in the dishwasher.
Priced in the middle of our overall range, this cooker deserves a spot in any kitchen.
What to know:There isnt an insert available for the full eight-quart capacity.
The Crock-Pot MultiMeal is a genuinely versatile cooker with the unique double-pot design.
The clear lids are flat with stay-cool knob handles, great for any size of hand.
I was disappointed I couldnt change out the two inserts for a large, eight-quart cooking pot.
Wilting the spinach would have been easier, as navigating the smaller sides meant working in batches.
What to know:The metal exterior comes across as cheaply made.
I loved the functionality of this slow cooker from the Instant line.
What to know:The outside of the machine gets hot while cooking.
When making warm dips and sauces, I found this cooker held the temperature for over a two-hour period.
What to know:This cooker is low on extra functions.
The insert worked well on the stovetop for searing or browning meats and it is oven safe as well.
For fans of environmentally friendly options, the GreenLife is a terrific cooker with a wallet-friendly price point.
What to know:This cooker has a steep price tag.
The Wolf is a serious multifunctional appliance with the most additional features among the cookers I tested.
The brushed stainless exterior resembles the Wolf large appliance line with a sturdy, well-made, professional look.
Large cuts of meat are a sweet spot for the Wolf.
I found it made perfectly shreddable pork and a deliciously tender pot roast.
Pick the Right Shape
Most slow cookers are round or oval.
Though I tested a couple with rectangular footprints, I found those were specific to a particular function.
Round cookers are therefore best for soups, stews, baking and side dishes.
Round cookers are also often smaller in capacity than their oval counterparts.
If you truly want to put the whole cut in the cooker, buy an oval cooker.
Features, Features, Features!
As with any appliance, balancing the functions with the price is personal but important.
Fork-tender was the goal, as was shreddable in some cases.
I checked the handles, lids and sides to see what stayed cool and what didnt.
Both specialty-pop in cookers were also tested with a more evergreen recipe to evaluate their flexibility.
We Also Considered
In addition to our winning slow cookers, we tested other models.
Without any silicone on the feet, this unit slides very easily on the countertop.
However, it operated at a hard boil, evaporating the liquid and drying out my recipe.
However, the pressure cooker design made it clunky for slow cooking, and I found temperature regulation challenging.
Common Questions
Are slow cookers dishwasher-safe?
Are slow cookers toxic?
What is best to cook in a slow cooker?
Slow cookers are extremely versatile as long and slow cooking works well with so many proteins and vegetables.
Braising tougher cuts of meat or slow-cooking fattier cuts to fork-tender both take time.
What should you not cook in a slow cooker?
Lean meats generally require some fat to cook properly in a slow cooker but do better with other methods.
Are slow cookers the same thing as Crock-Pots?
Crock-Pot is a brand name for a pop in of slow cooker.
All Crock-Pots are slow cookers; not all slow cookers are Crock-Pots.
Slow cookers vs.
Instant Pots: Whats the difference?
Can you cook rice in a slow cooker?
A slow cooker’s slow and steady cooking style is great for preparing rice.
Our Trusted Expertise
Tiffany Vickers Davistested the slow cookers featured in this article.
She is a chef, writer and food entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience.
She now operates a fresh-prepared meal company that ships nationally.
PHOTO: Amazon
PHOTO: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore
PHOTO: Amazon
PHOTO: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore
PHOTO: Amazon
PHOTO: EatingWell / Jaclyn Mastropasqua
PHOTO: Amazon
EatingWell / Sona Charaipotra
PHOTO: Bloomingdale’s
EatingWell / Riddley Schirm
