Best Slow Cookers
Updated How we research
Crock-Pot 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Timer, Stainless Steel
Crock-Pot 6 Quart programmable slow cooker with timer in stainless steel for hands-off weekday batch meals.
Crock-Pot 7 Quart Cook n' Carry Programmable Countdown Slow Cooker
Crock-Pot 7 Quart Cook n' Carry programmable countdown slow cooker with a travel-friendly locking lid.
The slow cooker is the original set-and-forget prep tool. Load it in the morning, and by evening you have a big batch of chili, pulled pork, or stew ready to portion into containers for the week. It frees up your stove and your attention, which is exactly what you want when you are cooking in bulk. Size is the first thing to nail down, since a batch worth freezing needs real capacity, followed by programmable timers and a keep-warm setting. Below we compare classic dial models, programmable units with automatic warm modes, and larger cookers built for families or anyone stocking the freezer.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 7.4 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:Crock-Pot 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Timer, Stainless Steel. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Hamilton Beach Portable 7 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker (33474G). Value score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:Crock-Pot 7 Quart Cook n' Carry Programmable Countdown Slow Cooker. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Feature-rich:Crock-Pot Large 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Black Stainless Steel. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Crock-Pot 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Timer, Stainless Steel8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Crock-Pot 7 Quart Cook n' Carry Programmable Countdown Slow Cooker8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Crock-Pot Large 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Black Stainless Steel8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Hamilton Beach Portable 7 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker (33474G)8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Hamilton Beach 7 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Silver (33473)7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Hamilton Beach Portable 6 Quart Set & Forget Programmable Slow Cooker (33969A)7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Hamilton Beach 7-Quart Portable Slow Cooker, Brushed Silver7.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.Crock-Pot SCV700SS 7-Quart Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel7.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Crock-Pot 6 Quart programmable slow cooker with timer in stainless steel for hands-off weekday batch meals.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Programmable timer switches to warm so food does not overcook
- + 6 Quart crock fits stews, chili and pulled meats for several days
- + Crock-Pot is the most familiar name in slow cooking
- - Slow cooking needs planning hours ahead, unlike pressure cookers
- - Stoneware crock is heavy and can crack if shocked with cold water
#2Crock-Pot 7 Quart Cook n' Carry programmable countdown slow cooker with a travel-friendly locking lid.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Cook n' Carry lid locks down for taking chili to potlucks
- + Countdown programming shows exactly how long cooking has left
- + 7 Quart crock suits big batches and entertaining crowds
- - Locking lid clips add a little extra effort when cleaning
- - Portable features are wasted if you only cook at home
#3Crock-Pot Large 8-Quart programmable slow cooker in black stainless steel for big families and bulk batches.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 8-Quart crock handles double batches for freezer meal prep
- + Programmable controls let meals finish while you are at work
- + Black stainless finish hides fingerprints better than bright steel
- - Very large crock takes more time to fill and heat evenly
- - Needs a big sink or dishwasher space to clean the stoneware
#4Hamilton Beach Portable 7 Quart programmable slow cooker (33474G) combining timer control with a travel lid.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Programmable settings switch to warm when cooking finishes
- + Portable lid design is handy for carrying meals to events
- + 7 Quart crock covers family dinners with leftovers for lunches
- - Clips and seals on portable lids need regular cleaning
- - Large oval crock takes up plenty of fridge space when storing leftovers
#5Hamilton Beach 7 Quart programmable slow cooker in silver (33473), a straightforward programmable home model.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Programmable timer suits long workdays with dinner ready on return
- + 7 Quart capacity leaves room for weekly batch cooking
- + Simpler than the portable version if you never travel with food
- - No locking lid, so it is not ideal for carrying food in a car
- - Stoneware insert is heavy when full of stew or chili
#6Hamilton Beach Portable 6 Quart Set & Forget programmable slow cooker (33969A) with smart cooking controls.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Set & Forget mode helps cook meat to a set doneness without guessing
- + 6 Quart size is a good fit for smaller families and couples
- + Portable design makes it easy to take meals to gatherings
- - Programmable probe style features take some reading to set up
- - Smaller capacity than the larger Hamilton Beach crocks for big batches
#7Hamilton Beach 7-Quart portable slow cooker in brushed silver for simple big-batch cooking and transport.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 7-Quart capacity handles whole roasts and large soup batches
- + Portable design helps with bringing food to family gatherings
- + Hamilton Beach usually offers solid value in countertop cookers
- - Check whether programmable controls or a timer are included
- - Brushed silver exterior can show water spots and smudges
#8Crock-Pot SCV700SS 7-Quart manual slow cooker in stainless steel, a no-frills dial model for large batches.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Manual dial is simple, with no programming to learn
- + 7-Quart capacity comfortably covers family meals and leftovers
- + Fewer electronics means fewer parts that can fail over time
- - No timer, so you must switch to warm yourself when food is done
- - Manual control risks overcooking if you are away all day
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Slow cooking needs planning hours ahead, unlike pressure cookers (Crock-Pot 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker...)
- Locking lid clips add a little extra effort when cleaning (Crock-Pot 7 Quart Cook n' Carry Programmable...)
- Very large crock takes more time to fill and heat evenly (Crock-Pot Large 8-Quart Programmable Slow...)
- Clips and seals on portable lids need regular cleaning (Hamilton Beach Portable 7 Quart Programmable...)
- No locking lid, so it is not ideal for carrying food in a car (Hamilton Beach 7 Quart Programmable Slow...)
- Programmable probe style features take some reading to set up (Hamilton Beach Portable 6 Quart Set & Forget...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among slow cookers?
Crock-Pot 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Timer, Stainless Steel is our top overall pick. Crock-Pot 6 Quart programmable slow cooker with timer in stainless steel for hands-off weekday batch meals. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Crock-Pot 7 Quart Cook n' Carry Programmable Countdown Slow Cooker is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Crock-Pot 7 Quart Cook n' Carry programmable countdown slow cooker with a travel-friendly locking lid.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Meal Prep Gear Hub independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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