Top 4 Best Slow Cookers in 2018 – Reviews

Best Slow Cookers in 2018

A slow cooker can be a great way to cook quality nutritious meals.

Since it is internally heated you don’t have to worry about gas so you can leave it unattended for a long time.

Many modern models are usually very durable and have many exceptional qualities that would make them a centerpiece of any kitchen.

The market has more slow cookers that can be accounted for, however, there is a handful that is exceptional.

Each of these slow cookers has unique advantages or differences in their design that makes them stand out.

 

#1 Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Oval Manual Portable Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel

 

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Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-R-A, 6 Qt, Red Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-R-A, 6 Qt, Red 1,142 Reviews

This is a large sized programmable cooker which is able to cook a fairly large meal. The strength of this brand is the ability to be programmed to heat in a way that means it can be left unattended.

Also, it has a closable lid to allow it to be carried with the food on a journey.
It is a beautiful stainless steel constructed item and is fairly durable.

You will be able to cook a wide variety of food with this item.

Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Cook

Going in depth with the brand’s programmability this brand is not necessarily set based on the temperature but rather on heating time.

The slow cooker heats to a maximum temperature and doesn’t have an internal temperature sensor. This can mean that this machine will take some getting used to when heating.

When heating you want to adjust the time taken to heat to maximum to moderate the temperature and this may not be an exact science.

You probably want to cook some trial meals on the first go with this item because of the learning curve, however, you will get used to this item in time.

The above is not saying it is not programmable.

You can definitely adjust the rate of heating.
You can adjust the rate and maintain that rate of heating by selecting heating modes and moderate the modes afterward.

What this means is that if you are cooking something like stew, you can adjust it to heat quickly at first, then to heat more slowly, then to plateau.

Another added advantage of its design is that after the cooking time has lapsed it will automatically switch to a warming mode to keep the cooked food warm for hours on end.

Therefore you can start cooking before leaving for school or work and returned to a warm cooked meal.

The storage capacity is large as it can hold up to 16 quarts so you can cook for a family of four. In addition, the lid is sealable allowing you to carry it anywhere.

When looking at how well it heats there are some problems that may arise. This is because this model heats very quickly. This can be an advantage as well as a disadvantage.

That is because the slow cooker can end up burning your food, but if you want to prepare a dish where you want to heat the food quickly then this fast heating is a plus.

Overall the item is a beautifully crafted slow cooker with an excellent aluminum finish. The polished finish contrast well with the black insulated handles and bezels.

The item performs well and there are no major issues with it. That is why this is a great pic for slow cookers.

 

#2 Morphy Richards 48715A Oval Slow Cooker, 6.5L – Silver

This item is a stainless steel constructed slow cooker with insulated handles and a glass cover. It is a large slow cooker with variable internal heating and a large size.

This item is also fairly large in terms of inner capacity and can cook a large meal for a family of four. The glass lid is toughened and reinforced so it won’t break easily if dropped.

The slow cooker has a light to show when it’s on and heating.

This item redefines what it means to be a large slow cooker. Most slow cookers have an inner capacity of a few pints or up to 2 gallons, this model by Morphy Richards surpasses them all.

The reported size by the manufacturer is 6.5 liters, however, the inner capacity is actually about 4.5 liters contrary to what they advertise. The first figure is the overall volume that the device occupies and the second value is how much the volume is inside the cooker.

Even though the capacity is not at what they advertised it is very large, one of the largest in its line of items. With this item, you can cook larger meals which may be a plus.

This machine is not programmable and can only be set at three temperatures as is. It doesn’t have an internal temperature gauge which means that it is a learning curve to learn how to manipulate the heater and cook.

You can overcome this issue with some amount of practice and the more you use it the better you will be at not undercooking or burning your food.

The other major issue with it not being programmable is that if you want to cook for a long period of time you will need to be on hand to check in occasionally.

When thinking about how well it heats it can be said that it heats well. It heats gradually and levels out at a plateau temperature.

It can be said that once the temperature has plateaued it doesn’t deviate much meaning that there is some consistency in the cooking.

The heat is spread evenly on the heating surface and as such you don’t have to expect the food burning on the bottom easily.

The pot does not have a sealable lid meaning you can’t carry it easily. It is not even designed to be carried around, therefore, you can’t cook then move with it or place it in your vehicle trunk.

The major issue with the model also happens to come from the lid which has a plastic bezel. The plastic bezel may become brittle over time due to the intense heat but this will only happen in a few of the cases.

 

It is dishwasher friendly due to its ceramic cooking surface though it doesn’t mean that you may not need to scrub it once in a while.

Also, the item doesn’t look bad and is durable.

The warranty is extensive and you will have much good use for this item.

 

#3 Sage by Heston Blumenthal the Fast Slow Cooker Pro

This is another slow cooker beast. It has a great capacity and is programmable. When compared with the other entry on the list it offers far more options in terms of use than the others.

Therefore if you want to cook with an expert level of precision then this is the machine with which to cook with.

The first feature you will notice is its impressive size.

The item is roughly similar in size to the previous entry. It is reported to be around 6 liters when in fact it is only 4 liters which is misleading and weighs in around 9kg.

This is therefore suited for large family cooking and is also great for cooking stews.

When it comes to the second big feature that is notable is its programmability. It has a panel and screen that allows you to easily direct and monitor the setting of the device.

You can adjust the time it takes to heat and even the temperature it heats to thus giving some level of control over how you choose to cook. Gourmet meal anyone?

The additional feature of its construction is that it can work well as a pressure cooker. With as little as 1 Litre of water/stew, you can pressure cook lamb, chicken, beef, you name it.

Also due to the fact that it has a tough stainless steel lid means it can easily pressure cook anything you add to it.

In addition, because the lid is sealable and it is internally heated it is good for carrying with you on trips.

You can hold it by the insulated handles and store it in your car or move it to the backyard; these are just examples but hopefully, you can see the applications.

The way it heats is consistent. There are three heat settings which control the rate of heating which heat consistently at any option it is set to.

There is an internal temperature sensor within the machine meaning you can see whether or not it is getting hot.

The item is as strong as it feels and is crafted from stainless steel so you can rest assured that it will last a long time.

Not much more needs to be said other than it is a great buy. It is a beautiful item that will look well on your countertop and will definitely replace any other slow cooker you have as well as being an excellent pressure cooker.


#4
Crock-Pot CSC038 Duraceramic Saute Slow Cooker with Hinged Lid, 4.5 Litre, White

The final Item on this list is another masterpiece by Crock-Pot.

This time they offer a slow cooker with a hinged lid and a removable aluminum bowl. The versatility in this item is remarkable even though it may lack specialized features.

Additionally, it has an inner capacity of that is moderately large giving it the ability to serve for a proper family.

The first major feature is the hinged lid. This allows for serving right out of the pot. You can, therefore, bring it with you and serve right away without worrying about the lid getting dirty.

This means that it also has great carrying potential.

It would be a good item to bring to a sporting event or even an outing.

The second important feature is the removable aluminum bowl.

The cooking surface is an aluminum bowl that is removable. This means you can bring the cooked item wherever you want. Also, you can eat it if you so choose.

When looking at how much it can cook we will see that it does deviate a little from the manufacturer’s value.

They say that the slow cooker is 4.5 liters in volume when the actual cooking volume is 3.5 litres. Nevertheless this is still enough to serve 4 to 5 people which is really good for a small family.

It heats consistently and there are no real serious problems with cooking. The aluminium bowl and inner heating spreads heat evenly throughout.

Therefore you don’t have to expect one part of the food you are cooking burn while the other part remains uncooked.

This slow cooker by Crock-Pot has three heat settings; low, high and warm. The first two heat settings are basically different modes of cooking.

However the heat setting is there to keep the food warm and not to hot. The warm setting can keep food warm for several hours before it is ready to be eaten.

The low point is that without a time setting it means that you can’t set how long it heats. The device is not programmable and as such you would need to be actively present during the cooking process or at least check in just so often.

The surface is non-stick because it is coated over with Dura-ceramic layer which makes it easy to clean. The surface is dishwasher safe but it will require some scrubbing to clean up as not everything can be removed with a dishwasher.

The item is a brilliant white outer color and absolutely gleams in the light. The item’s aluminum build makes it lightweight and strong. Overall it is a good buy and an item to consider for your kitchen.

 

When Looking at Other Options

If however the Slow Cooker Items in this list are not the ones you are looking for then the checklist below will show you how to go about gauging the best one for you.

  • Internal Temperature sensor: An internal temperature sensor means you are able to get a signal or a gauge of whether or not your meal is getting to hot. This feature is optional but would be good if you want to leave your meal cooking for a long time.

 

  • Temperature Setter Panel: The more options of temperature settings you have the better. Also digital panels with a small screen usually have more options for settings.

 

  • Programmability: This is the feature that would allow you to cook and leave for extended periods. If the item has this capability you could set how quickly it cooks, at what temperature it cooks, for how long it cooks and whether or not it turns off or goes to a warming setting afterwards.

 

  • Travel capabilities/Locking Lid: If you want to use a slow cooker for a backyard event or you intend to take your meal with you then this is a must. You would easily be able to take it with you or store the item in your trunk without creating a mess.

 

  • Storage Capacity: If you want to cook for a family of 4 to 5 or you want to just be able to cook for 2 is important. Usually a size above 3.5 litres is for family but under that and you are looking to cook for 3 persons at most.

 

  • Rate of Heating: You want the rate at which it heats to be consistent at each different setting.

 

  • Stick/Non-stick surface: You don’t necessarily want to spend forever cleaning up. The clean-up should be easy after cooking. That is why slow cookers with a ceramic coat are better if this is a non-negotiable priority.

 

  • Aesthetics: This is last on the list as even though you may want a beautiful machine to fit on your counter, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So do get a machine that looks good just don’t make it a first priority.